Imperfections are A-OK

[Wink Holliday]

A lot of huff is made about "Marilyn Monroe wore a size 12," but weall know how much vanity sizing has altered reality over the years. Her dressmaker recorded her measurements as 35-22-35, and nowhere will you find a size 12 dress that will fit a 22" waist the way dresses fit Marilyn. 

BUT…

That doesn't mean that Hollywood hasn't been full of illusion for years. While researching a swimsuit for my shop, I came across this excerpt from a July, 1981 article by Cheryl Lavin for the Chicago Tribune:

     The history of the bathing suit, part I, was presented recently by Anne Cole. That's Cole, as in Cole of California. And this is one woman who doesn't believe all you need is a smile and a Jantzen.

     The Saks Fifth Avenue show here saw the progress of the bathing suit from a midcalf, long-sleeved wool dress over ankle-length wool bloomers through the banned-in-Boston suit (black wool Dr. Denton's) to a 1940 model that was more an engineering feat than a designing challenge. It zipped up the back, draped across the front, and had enough room in the top for a complete service for six. It dated from the days when Esther Williams was the Cole spokesperson.

     "It was always said that Esther had a 38-inch chest," says Miss Cole, a diminutive woman with a silvery blond pixie, blue eyes, great legs, and a figure she describes as "round." "Well, those 38 inches were all across the back. She had the biggest rib cage you ever saw. I used to be her dresser, and I'd unpack her suitcase and right on top would be the falsies. Another illusion shattered."

So gals, guys, cats, kittens: Be healthy. Feel good about yourself. And don't freak out if you don't have a Hollywood Bombshell figure. Maybe your "ideal" was herself getting a little help.

[Wink Holliday]

No idea if they ship to Canada, or if it's prohibitively expensive if they do, but Assets does have an online shop. http://www.loveassets.com

I've tried on (and not wound up purchasing, thank goodness) SO MANY disasters at local department stores, and I understand your hesitation at spending money on worthless garments!

Cameo Intimates are custom-made AND based in your native Canada! If you're looking for lower-body shaping, take a peek at the long-line garter belt:
http://www.cameo-intimates.com/lingerie/product/047.html

Stiletto Suicide said:

We don't have Target! Damn Canada, we do have Wal-Fart though! I'm willing to buy the Spanx but only if they work. I'd seriously pay an ungodly amount of money to hide the evidence of my Coke and potato chip addiction, so the cost itself isn't the issue.

I'm just sick of buying things based off the company's claims to find I would have gotten more enjoyment out of ripping the cash to confetti and dancing in it.

[Wink Holliday]

Holy smokes, that kind of weight loss is amazing and fantastic, Cherry! You're clearly dedicated. I'm not sure how best to distract from the extra skin, but I do know that some of our members here will make custom clothing, and could probably design something especially for you. I know that Nicole Katherine (http://www.nicolekatherine.com) has some new styles WITH sleeves in her current line.

Cherry Cyanide said:

Great thread. I am just now learning to be comfortable in my own skin. I have a few unique challenges of my own- if anyone has some advice on how to minimize them for performances and pics, I would greatly appreciate it! I've recently lost 135 pounds and I've got a lot of extra skin. It is starting to firm up a little bit, but I will ultimately need plastic surgery to take care of it. I can cover the abdominal mess and saggy chest with good (but pricey!) undergarments but I've got these little bits of skin under my arms and like on the sides of my bra that I just don't know what to do with! So many pin-up outfits are sleeveless and I do feel pretty self-conscious.

I'm super-new to all of this so it's pretty much just me and my roommate reading up on forums and books on how to pose/photograph; we don't have many tricks at our disposal.

[Cherry Cyanide]

Thanks for the tip! She has some gorgeous items in her store!

Wink Holliday said:

Holy smokes, that kind of weight loss is amazing and fantastic, Cherry! You're clearly dedicated. I'm not sure how best to distract from the extra skin, but I do know that some of our members here will make custom clothing, and could probably design something especially for you. I know that Nicole Katherine (http://www.nicolekatherine.com) has some new styles WITH sleeves in her current line.

[Lainey Belle{★}]

Thank you for posting this! I think a lot of girls come down hard on themselves (myself included) even though we already know these things, but it's so nice to be reminded :)...George Hurrell was an artist! Greet photo find!

[Maria S. Varela]

Really nice post, thank you! I think we all have THIS day in which we need to be reminded that we're humans, and our imperfections are beautiful.

[Roxie Roulette {★}]

I like to imagine those 'perfect' women doing something incredibly normal - think dancing in the kitchen in sweat pants, sitting watching the latest episode of a soap or even (disgusting, I'm sorry) going to the toilet - and that grounds me pretty quickly.

Underwear creates the best of the illusions for all of us from Marilyn, to Dita, to little old me :P

[Cherry Cyanide]

I'm beginning to learn that a lot of beauty is the "magic" that we create with our makeup and sexy underpinnings- and the confidence that we are learning to build up. Yesterday, I was at a vintage lingerie store looking for some items for my upcoming class and saw some women that would not be considered "perfect" by society's standards but were honestly so beautiful because they had confidence and worked with the assets they had!

Roxie Roulette {★} said:

I like to imagine those 'perfect' women doing something incredibly normal - think dancing in the kitchen in sweat pants, sitting watching the latest episode of a soap or even (disgusting, I'm sorry) going to the toilet - and that grounds me pretty quickly.

Underwear creates the best of the illusions for all of us from Marilyn, to Dita, to little old me :P

[Roxy Tart {PL Team / Comm. Mgr}]

Check this out:

This photo was taken at a competition in June.

The competition was between 9 women who had to have makeovers,

They had every possible beauty treatment available to them over a period of time.

Look at the before and after photos...top to bottom.

[Cherry Cyanide]

Amazing and inspiring.

[Roxy Tart {PL Team / Comm. Mgr}]

I stumbled on this and thought it was awesome. Ladies, the power of photo shop!

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2sfJMf/demo.fb.se/e/girlpower/retouch...

[Dahlia Darling]

Thank you! Sometimes it's nice to be reminded that there is no such thing as being "perfect".

[PinkPurr.com]

Smoke and mirrors ladies, smoke and mirrors since Cleopatra! Plastic surgery has been around for longer than anyone would think and as if that weren't enough, we've got photoshop to erase every wrinkle and dimple. Your average guy doesn't even notice the details we do! Women put the pressure on themselves. Period. Men love a woman's body regardless of what shape it is as long as your in shape. Be healthy and carry yourselves with confidence!