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 Bralief Bra Clip Fashion, being such a cyclical thing, rarely is something new that hasn't been seen before. Therefore, the most innovative things happening in fashion are often the new solutions that make wearing today's fashion actually wearable. Take a product like Spanx, for example. Ten years ago we had two dismal choices for our lumps and bumps - wear a granny girdle or throw caution to the wind and let our saddle bags run free in all their unsplendid glory. With neither option sounding terribly agreeable, our savior the Spanx was invented. How ever did we survive before? Products like Spanx, that offer us comfort and support are like little fashion life rafts that make clothing not only wearable but comfortable and, oftentimes, just plain bearable. Here are four more solutions that I consider to be this year's Spanx-like-worthy innovations. Portable Instant Stain Removers Are you like me? The second I put something on that I love, I get a stain. Call it Murphy's Law (or, perhaps, I am just a klutz) but, whatever it is, staining your clothing can be so disheartening. In the past year, every brand of laundry detergent or stain remover has introduced its version of the portable stain remover. Seconds after a stain has landed on your clothes, you whip it out and, like magic, make it disappear. Tide has its Tide-to-Go stain remover pen, OxiClean has a travel-size stain removal spray, and Shout makes portable stain remover wipes. Not only do I like these portable stain removers because they save my clothing, but also, in most cases, the stain disappears on the spot. If you have messy kids or a messy husband, like I do, it would be wise to have one of these miracle workers on hand with you wherever you go. The Bralief Bra Clip What I like about fashion innovations is that often they are fancy solutions that many women have been solving for years in a home-grown way. For example, long before Spanx was even invented, women were cutting the feet off their control top stockings to get the exact support that Spanx now offers. Here is another example: A few years ago, I was attending my sister's engagement party out of town. I planned to wear a sleeveless top that needed a racer back bra which, of course, I forgot to pack. My sister grabbed a safety pin, pinned the back straps of my bra together and, voila, my regular bra became a racer back bra, and my bra straps remained out of sight all night long. The Bralief Bra Clip essentially does the same thing as a safety pin, only better. In addition, this adjustable clip will not only fasten the back straps of your bra together, and save you the hassle of adjusting your bra strap, but it also offers you a very inexpensive boob lift at the same time. Double score!! Hanky Panky Underwear Hanky Panky Underwear has been around for well over a decade, and its popularity picked up momentum when a Wall Street Journal article wrote a story about them in 2004. Yet, when it was recently mentioned in an episode of "Ugly Betty", I knew that this could be the year that Hanky Panky Underwear becomes a household name. For those of you who have never heard of Hanky Panky Underwear, their style 4811, in particular, has been referred to as the "starter thong" because it is so soft and comfortable. Most importantly, Hanky Pankys don't dig up (you know where) like most thongs do. I know this sounds too good to be true but, before you make a decision between VPL or underwear that feels more like dental floss, I encourage you to check out these delicate, yet comfortable panties. Let me warn you however, at around $15 a pop, the price tag may be a bit steep for some (especially considering you can get a thong at Target for a buck-fifty). However, do yourself a favor and buy at least one pair to have on hand for occasions that you would deem $15 panty-worthy. Foot Petals A particular issue for many women is how to make shoes more comfortable.There are many women who assume that stylish shoes are only for those who seem willing to endure blisters and hammer toes while yelping "ooh and eeowww" with every step. Before you resign yourself to the orthopedic section of the shoes store, let me mention my next favorite fashion innovation - Foot Petals. Just like cutting the feet off of pantyhose led to Spanx and the safety pin led to the Bralief Clip, Foot Petals is what the Band-Aid used to be but, again, only better. Foot Petals sells different shapes and sizes of these little padded, adhesive strips that can be place inside any part of a shoe that is giving you discomfort. In addition, Foot Petals aren't only for 4-inch "glamazon" heels. My personal favorite use of Foot Petals was for a pair of ballerina flats that were chewing up the back of my ankles. Once I added these little pads, I was completely pain free and, like the saying goes, if your feet are comfortable, your whole body is comfortable.
Style expert Bridgette Raes is the author of “Style Rx: Dressing the Body You Have to Create the Body You Want.” Raes, a former fashion designer, is the founder and president of Bridgette Raes Style Group, a Manhattan-based image and style consulting company for women. In addition to her work on SmartNow.com, Bridgette writes for Budget Savvy Magazine and Brideboard.com. She is featured in a number of newspapers and magazines such as Woman's World Magazine and The Boston Globe, and appeared on CNN, and “Good Morning America.” Send your questions to Bridgette@smartnow.com. |
