No matter how fabulous one may be, wouldn’t you agree that it is never possible to be too fabulous? I mean, until the moment she passed, I get the feeling that Elizabeth Taylor wasn’t content to rest on her laurels. She had looks. She had talent. She had money. However, she still went all out to be even more amazing and rocking with every breath she took. While you might think her fabulousness was innate, and locked to those stunning violet eyes and incredible bone structure, it was so much more than that. She worked wonder deep into her very being and millions adored her for it. You might think that you could never live up to that level of incredible, but you would be wrong.
Even if you aren’t looking to be adored by the many and have paparazzi following your every move, you have it in you to be fabulous. Not just okay. Not just above average. Deep down, knock out, drag out, all out fab-u-lous. Much like knowledge, there is always more fabulous to be had. In fact, a couple of years ago I realized this. That New Year’s Eve, I made just one resolution. To be more fabulous. I have made that same resolution every year, and unlike all the years past where at least one resolution would fall to the wayside and twelve months would pass and I would whine and moan about being a failure, and every year I have succeeded. The best part about it is that every day, around every corner, I find a little more. Things to do, to try, to share. Things that make life a little better and me a little better. I’ve been wanting to spread the fab to everyone, everywhere, but have been intimidated with where to start. Thus, it keeps getting pushed off. Then, I had an epiphany! Start with the foundation.
Every good structure has a good foundation. A building can be stunning. Ornate decor, sparkling trim, all the bells and whistles. However, if it is built without a proper foundation, all that beauty and wonder will crumble. A basic building on a strong foundation will last a lifetime or more, and bells and whistles can always come after. Your wardrobe is a lot like this. You can spend your life’s savings on a couture gown or tuxedo, worthy of an award show red carpet. However, if you are wearing ill fitting undergarments, that garment will will look sad. Even though no one can see them (with a few exceptions, ahem), you know they’re there. You know the elastic of your panties is about to give. You can feel that errant underwire stabbing your underarm. You might hope that the logo of that band you liked in high school doesn’t show through your shirt too much. You might even be mentally crossing your fingers all the fibers hold until you can get to the safety of your home.
I would like you to know that you deserve better! You deserve quality undergarments that are solid and fit you and are attractive! I know so many people (yes, people! Men are just as guilty of wearing any old thing, and it can be just as troubling!) who don’t think it’s worth it to spend very much time or money on their underpinnings. This is for any number of reasons. Some think it’s silly or wasteful to spend much on something they think no one will ever see. Some have fallen into a rut, and just buy the same old thing year after year even if their bodies, wallets, lifestyles have changed. Some would rather put all their pennies and minutes into their outer garments. However, like those aforementioned buildings, the most important investment you can make in your wardrobe is what goes against your skin and under those other garments. You can spend less on your other garments and they will look like a million bucks with the proper foundation!!
For example, the other day I put on a pair of pink and white panties. They were striped cotton with pink lace trim. I purchased them on a trip, because my last load of laundry didn’t dry when I was packing and I was short on undies. Since it was an emergency situation, I was hoping to not spend a bunch. However, the sale gods were not in my favor. I got a few pairs that were super cute, but more than I wanted to spend on emergency underpants. But, they are now in my drawer. When I put them on the other day, I was actually excited. I wasn’t thinking about whether they would be too tight or matronly or ugly. I was thinking about how cute they were, and that made me think about how cute my butt would look despite the fact that I am not a model. Then, I grabbed a pink bra. While not a set, they matched nicely. I felt like I could actually be proud of my undergarments! I still had to put on my work uniform, which isn’t something I would choose to wear. However, what I was wearing underneath was all me! And it was cute! It made me realize that I shouldn’t be hanging on to underthings that are a chore to put on. I am a firm believer in wearing the right undergarment for the job, but somehow I let that slip away in my everyday life and was only trotting it out on special occasions. I realized that feeling awesome isn’t something that should be put aside for a special event. It isn’t something that needs to be done for anyone else. Just be fabulous because you deserve it!
So, let’s get started on the road to fabulousness.
Clean out your underwear drawer or drawers. Go through each and every piece. Toss anything that is not in top condition. This means anything that is threadbare, has holes, is discolored or stained. Toss. It. If you were in an accident and a gorgeous EMT had to see you in it, would you be embarrassed? If the answer is yes, toss it. Is the elastic about to give way if you breathe too hard? I think you know what to do. In the case of bras, if underwires are poking through, hooks are about to give way, straps are broken, elastic is disintegrating, any or all of the above, it is time to send it to a better place. If the bra doesn’t fit properly, is uncomfortable, or looks like Madonna wore it on her Blonde Ambition tour, toss it. (Unless it is the actual bra she wore on the Blonde Ambition tour. That you are allowed to keep. Or send to me. Whichever.) For undershirts, if the underarms are a different color than the rest of the shirt (that means if it is a white shirt, and the underarms are any shade on the color wheel that is not white or a black shirt with purple or orange or blue underarms), there are holes or errant stains, or you would be embarrassed to be seen wearing it as an actual shirt…say it with me…toss it. Underpants—I am hoping you can tell what to keep and toss by now. However, lets go through it, just in case. If there are any stains, toss. Holes, toss. If any portion digs in (meaning if you wind up with muffin top, or look like you have an extra butt crack running horizontally, or they dig into your thighs making them look like sausage links), toss. If they itch or ride up, toss. Anything that falls into the category with swimsuit pieces that you would wear only if there were a laundry apocalypse and it was the only thing to protect your delicate skin from sandpaper pants–TOSS.
Whew. You already feel better, don’t you. Now, take stock of your drawers. Yes, those drawers, and the ones you just cleaned out. Where are you? Is there anything in there? If there is, it should only be things that make you feel good to wear. Things that will make your clothes look extra amazing. It makes me sad to think someone is wearing swim bottoms as underpants. Don’t let yourself get to that point. You are too fabulous to let that happen! What you are wearing under your clothes really does affect your attitude. If you are wearing threadbare, mismatched, discolored underthings, you will wind up with a little less spring in your step. However, if you are wearing underthings that are in great condition, that are comfortable and feel good against your skin, and that fit properly, it gives you an extra shot of confidence. You may not be aware of it, but subconsciously you brain will think about how amazing you look and feel. If you are wearing coordinated pieces, you get that confidence boost, squared! Plus, if everything fits correctly and is designed to go with what you are wearing over it, you will look fantastic! Just wearing the right undergarments can make you look more fit and your clothes more flattering! Often, what you think are body flaws aren’t even there! They’re created by sad undergarments. Has your mind been blown yet???
Now, think about these things when you are stocking your drawers of drawers. Don’t just buy some undies because they are on sale or marked down and how bad could they be for 99 cents. Buy things you love, and that love you back. Take care of them. Launder items when you are down to 25% of what you own left clean. Follow the instructions on the tag. You will never wind up wearing a swimsuit for non-beachy moments. You will be that much more fabulous. Trust.
I would love it if you gave this a try. Even if you aren’t ready to go on a tossing spree, pick out your favorite things from your drawers and wear them over the weekend. Think about how it feels, and how you feel. Do you feel fancy? Do you feel happy? Attractive? Comfortable? Let me know in the comments! If you have already found the joys of a good foundation, let me know! I am really excited to go on this fabulous journey with all of you, and will continue to cook up ways to bring the fab to your life.
Okay! I am a bit far from home right now, but I will make this my goal for the last week in August. After all, now that I have an AWESOME closet designed by a certain squirrel, I should have awesome drawers to match.
Indeed! You should have only the best underpinnings!!