Grand Magazine - July/August 2008 - (Page 64)

looking grand At the risk of making myself unnecessary, I will divulge the secrets pro stylists use: HOAX—the four body types. H and O do not have defined waists; A and X do. O is heavier above the tummy and waist; A is heavier below the waist. H and X are evenly proportioned, but the X has a defined waist. Check out the bottle versions here: • Vertical lines draw the eye up and down and tend to slim, especially when off-center • Horizontal lines draw the eye side to side, so should be avoided at your widest part • Diagonal lines slim by cutting a swath through the mass • Curved lines are soft and gentle; their direction determines whether or not they are flattering • Lines in motion keep the eye busy and can either distract or emphasize I own six Carol Wior Slimsuits (I love the inner-construction power mesh, which is guaranteed to take at least an inch off my waist). Even Wior’s thoughtful skirted suits are not matronly. appropriate for sofas, especially in plus sizes.) • Colors and prints alone do not make you look fatter or thinner. Such is the power of styling, which depends on construction (such as built-in shape control) and the suitability. • Universally flattering styles include maillot (one piece), surplice (faux wrap), V-neck, center rouching, and sarong. While skirted suits used to scream, “I have big hips and thighs!”—today there are fashionable styles in everything from boy legs to sexy Grecian drapes. • Halter suits are not for women with neck or posture problems, and tricky backs can leave weird marks, no matter how much sunscreen you use. Some philosophic truths to consider: 1. Other people give our flaws (if they are flaws, why does everyone have them?) about three seconds of thought before they return to worrying about themselves. 2. Swimming is terrific for our health. Whether doing real laps or aerobic inner-tube floating, we can tighten our upper arms, raise our bustline, improve our posture and reduce that dowager’s hump (I don’t need fat balls on the back of my neck! Ish.) And never forget: 3. Those young, perfect bodies want to be you, a woman who found love, got married and had children and grandchildren. G For resources go to page 72. When choosing a suit… • Black is not always a fallback. Its slimming can backfire if you are pale and have full upper arms or thighs (next to black, light flesh will look bigger). • Taste in prints is very personal, but be aware of scale. The size of a print is not determined by your weight but by your feature size and bone structure. (I am appalled by some huge floral swimsuit fabrics, more 64 GRAND JULY AUGUST 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Grand Magazine - July/August 2008

Grand Magazine - July/August 2008 Contents Grand View: Love Is All That's Left Isn't It Grand?: Reassessing the Postponed Life Grand Central Just So We Know: One Mixed-Up Lemon Long-Distance Love: Cuttings Ask Grand: Stuck on Stuff Grand Gestures: "Thanks for the Ugly Gift" Tips on Teens: All That Doesn't Meet the Eye Live Long and Propser On the Cover: Peter Yarrow Presents of Mine Thicker Than Water? Reunions: White Water, White Knuckles The Grand Gourmet So We Are Not Alone Looking Grand: Suit-Able Grandbloggers: Why Watch TV When We Can Talk? Grand Bazaar Resources Grand Finale: What Boat

Grand Magazine - July/August 2008

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