lovely&lively: FOUNDATIONS.

okay, let's start out with the basics here. the undergarments we chose to wear can make all the difference in how our clothes fit &how we look in them. everything from bra to undies to cami to undershirt to whatever else you may wear under your clothes... important! if we don't start out with a good foundation, out entire outfit could be doomed to failure before it even begins. we are better than that! we must do all we can to flatter ourselves and help ourselves look our best!

1. bras.

always wear a good, supportive bra. always. the polka-dot 2/$10 bras from charlotte rouse are not the way to go. how many times have you seen a woman who's bra is too tight &her "skin" is bulging out from both sides? not good. we can avoiding that by being sure we buy a bra that fits! both around &the cup size. a good fitting bra plus the right cami &a shirt that fits are all great steps to preventing "back bulge."

i have recently seen a woman who has purchased a bra with too big of a cup size in an attempt to look bigger &perkier... when in fact all she has done is look like a middle school girl trying to look older. the bra looks empty... &just quite unnatural. if you do feel the need to enhance... there are bras specifically made for that, that usually work well!

2. undies.

no one should ever be able to tell what kind of undies you have on by looking at you. in no circumstance is it ever okay for them to show... especially a thong. it is trashy &sends the wrong message to the wrong people, just wrong. if you do feel the need to wear a thong- be sure to wear pants that come high enough to cover them, even when you bend over. and a shirt that covers as well. check yourself in the mirror! even the outline should not be visible- again, trashy. if you struggle with this- try boy shorts. they go far enough down that you should not have to worry about a panty line. there are lots of underwear designed to resolve this problem... many seamless.

try these.

&yuck! [below]. we are WOMEN, let's dress like it:].

3. camis.

camis are our friends! we should use them frequently for the purpose of shaping and keeping things inside snug. try to find cami's with a feminine fit that adjust to the natural curves of our bodies. our cami's should not be the first thing someone sees when they look at our outfit. for example: you are wearing a green dress with a low cute front &back and you have a bright white cami on up to your neck... this completely detracts from the dress. and the upper chest/collarbones are beautiful, you don't need to unnecessarily cover them up by wearing a cami or shade top that goes up to your neck!

and do not fall victim to the shade top under EVERYTHING fad. shade tops should not be worn under halter tops or dresses. try a cute, free-flowing sweater. if necessary, button one button midway up.

[photofrom]gap