Levi's Curve ID UPDATE

As some of you already know, I recently took a quick day-trip into the city with my sister to try on a pair of the much-hyped Levi's Curve ID. In a previous blog, I reveal the unique design of the jeans, as well as my own misfortune at not finding my jean soul mate within their selection. However, my sister was way more fortunate and sent over some before and after pics of her in the fancy new jeans she bought. As you're about to see, she looks great! No gap at the back, a perfect fit through the hips and thighs, a nice length, and more importantly, her butt looks amazing! All these small elements that can make or break a pair of denim.

In my personal opinion, the Levi's Curve ID have the most potential, out of any jeans a curvy girl can possibly try on anywhere, to look great the first time. What a relief right?! Walking into a dressing room with your chances already in your favor is like having a personal stylist ;) You've heard it here first though, free of charge.
Hopefully, you'll see the difference of how a great pair of denim can transform your derriere.





















On the Left: good length but saggy knees, too relaxed in the hips, and a droopy waist.
On the Right: BETTER! Snug fit through the hips and thighs, the darker wash makes her look slimmer, but the overall length could be better. I would hem it about a 1/2" and also have a tailor taper from the back of the knee to the ankle for a slimmer cut jean. (that runs about $30).























On the Left: Pockets are too far apart. Your eye follows the top line of the pockets which gives the illusion of a wider behind. They sit too low, causing our eye to view her butt as "saggy". They look as though they're resting on her and not hugging her.
On the Right: AMAZING!! The pockets are the perfect size and close enough together to depict a smaller butt. The fit through the hips is perfectly snug, giving the impression of a nice, perky rear end. Plus, I notice a definite lift, don't you?





















On the Left: Some serious gap at the back. If she were to let go, she'd have a big case of flat-butt syndrome. Not good.
On the Right: NO GAP AT THE BACK! She looks long and lean, with a butt you can see, which if you haven't guessed it, is what makes your butt look good in jeans; when you can see it.

I'm sure you're thinking, "but they're brand new jeans. Of course they look good!" Yes, that's true but not entirely. For one, the Levi's Curve ID jeans maintain their elasticity over time and keep hugging your curves- like they should! The waistband is thicker and hips won't stretch out, saving you from a lifetime of the pants dance. (Constantly pulling up your pants throughout the day). For two, my sister took these pictures back in late September, a full week after she bought them and wore them out of the store! Her only complaint to date is that they've stretched in the leg and gotten a little more relaxed looking. Other then that, they're still her favorite pair of jeans.

~Amanda

SPANX you can layer?!

That's right! We all love SPANX. They smooth, the flatter, they diminish, and they shape. But nobody wants to wear them in the heat and sometimes they're just a little too bulky under our more delicate of garments. What's the solution? A quick slip into the new Skinny Britches by SPANX. They're sheer, lightweight, and you can layer them to control the kind of slimming and shaping you want. BRILLIANT! A blend of nylon and lyrca compose what SPANX describes as a "light weight compression mesh".

Nude Short, $42-$45

They come in three styles: shorts, high-waisted shorts (tummy trimmers), and hipster briefs. You can put on up to three layers, the third being the most slim and trim, lean and mean you can get. Personally, I think this idea is great. If you have a lightweight dress you love but don't enjoy its clingy nature around your thighs, you can put on one of two layers these Skinny Britches and feel smoother but not heavier in seconds! 

Black Tummy Tucker, $46-$50

They also come in a fun assortment of colors which are nice to add a little variety to your 'unmentionables' drawer. I suggest getting a few in the basic colors as they'll stretch your dollar and go with more items in your closet. Nude and black should suffice for most of the clothing in just about everyone's closet. The lightest color they offer is called 'pure' and looks good as the hipster brief, which is said to give you a cute and shapely behind.

Pure Hipster Brief, $32-$35

Oh and sorry gents, you're not free from the clutches of shapewear either. There are indeed SPANX for men. They also come in the new compression mesh and are meant to suck you in and give you better definition around your torso. If you ever need to fit into a small suit in a hurry (hey, it could happen!) then pick up one the SPANX shirts and you're good.

Cotton Compression V-neck, $58

Cotton Compression Tank, $55

Cotton Compression Crew, $58

~Amanda

Image(s) courtesy of SPANX

Halloween Costume Ideas from True Blood, Friday Night Lights, Mad Men, and one Govenor candidate

Halloween is creeping up on us! Several of you may be wondering about costumes and what to dress up as. Several more of you might also be waiting until the last minute to figure it out. Here's some quick ideas when you're in that 11th hour and absolutely need a costume. The good news, most of these pieces can be found right from your closet and are inspired by your TV.

Sookie Stackhouse, (Anna Paquin) True Blood. As an avid lover of Twilight (just the first book and ONLY the book) I can tell you that vampires aren't going away anytime soon. True Blood helped to further push vampires into the mainstream as an everlasting theme for entertainment. Sookie is a telepathic vampire who works at the restaurant "Merlotte's". Her simple uniform of a white T-shirt and short green skirt should be easy enough to find, or you can buy one from 80stees.com. You can make a name tag with a safety pin, cut piece of green felt, glue, and a silver marker. Buy a long, blond wig and any vampire die-hard will know you a mile away.

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Meg Whitman. Her stiff, political attire is a cinch to pull off. Thrift a boxy and unattractive blazer with matching loose black slacks. Find a simple button up blouse or plain, white shirt in your closet and you're almost there. To complete the look, buy a frizzy blond wig, some faux pearl earrings and you're as obvious as Sarah Palin with her bump-it hair style and square glasses.

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Joan Holloway, (Christina Hendricks) Mad Men. Quite possibly the most buzzed about TV show that I'm not watching, but so desperately want to! Joan is the sultry secretary the men want to be with and the ladies want to be. She's beautiful and buxom, a deadly combination. Her look is completely 60's office chic and so easy to achieve. Pencil skirt, low cut top, and short red wig should complete your costume. Of course if you're not as blessed in the chest as Joan, there's no harm in adding a little tissue.

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For all you gents out there, Friday Night Lights is your best bet. This is possibly the best show you're not watching. Choose from any number of the stellar, mostly male cast and you're golden. There's Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler), an honest man who spends most of his days in khaki slacks, sneakers, windbreaker, sunglasses and baseball cap. Of course, a few of those items tend to disappear come game time.

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There's also my personal favorite, Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch). A simple guy whose former football glory seems to torment him as he tries to make a living long after the high school highs have ended. Either way, his clothes of plaid button-ups, torn jeans, and cowboy boots shouldn't be hard to locate, either in your closet or at a thrift store.

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Here a few more tips when shopping for your costumes:

-If you're looking into face paints, consider the water-based pastel crayons at art supply stores like Blick. They're called NeoColor II by Caran d'Ache. They're nontoxic, hypoallergenic, go on smooth, and easy to remove later with soap and water. I used them for my four years as a children's entertainer and never had a single problem.

-If you're going to wear a wig, buy a wig cap. They're available at places like Sally's Beauty Supply. They're incredibly cheap and come in nude and black for your various wig needs. They hold your hair in place, flat against your head and work as a nice barrier between you and the itchy backing found on most wigs.

-Try hitting up uniform supply stores, like Banner Uniform. They'll have the most authentic looking outfits if you don't have the time to thrift shop. You can find medical, restaurant, and security uniforms here for rent or purchase.

                   ~Amanda

Celebrity Style Spotlight: Guest Blogger Amanda Castro LOVES Maggie Gyllenhaal's Style

It was during this year’s Oscars that I became a converted fan of Maggie Gyllenhaal’s as a source for sartorial inspiration. The Dries Van Noten dress she wore was a stunning example of the lovely marriage between artful textiles and great design.  There’s emotion in the black brush strokes of the calligraphy, all hanging, frozen in a sea of royal blue and purple. The print seems almost alive, a moving piece of the garment. The choice to leave the last foot or so of the dress blank balances out the weight of the print with the style of dress. In other words, she doesn’t drown in it. All qualities for creating a truly artistic and beautiful image, but on a dress. Not since seeing a Vivienne Westwood retrospect at SF’s De Young museum back in 2007 have I been so moved by a single piece of clothing. In this moment, Maggie Gyllenhaal is the manifestation of modern beauty.

She knows how to embody the drama of the couture and balance it with femininity and a gloss of throwback glamour. Miss G has a style that balances the art of design with contemporary fashion. She is a unique beauty and great talent whose style seems to be naturally progressing. She knows her body well, is not afraid to take risks in volume and color, and knows how to effortlessly seduce you with subtle nudes and pastels. One word and that is, romance.

In this month’s Vanity Fair, I was happy to find another image of Miss G looking oh so fab in a belted fur vest. I thought, wow! This gal makes another appearance in something that completely captures my internal clothing compass. Eager for more, I dug a little deeper...what other images have I been missing? More importantly, what has she been wearing SINCE the Oscars?! Turns out, I have to pay closer attention! There are several moments where Miss G arrives looking fabulous, always encapsulating romance and glamour on a contemporary stage. She has my undivided attention. My vote: keep and eye on her.

Here are several more images for you all to enjoy:

2009 Oscars in Proenza Schouler (source: blog.modcloth.com)

Golden Globes 2009, Lanvin (source:lelaluxe.onsugar.com)

Golden Globes 2009, RM by Roland Mouret (source: stylebistro.com)

Nanny McPhee Returns premeire 2010, Vionnet (source: style.com)

~I love the open, cream panel down the side!~

(source: blogs.babble.com)

A day off with her kid. So cute!