I don't know about the rest of the world, but here, where I am, Summer has arrived and it is HOT! Being a curvy chick, I sometimes struggle with being trendy and not looking like a hot mess.

I hear you laughing, but we've all seen that girl. You know the one, she looks like she was trying just a little too hard to squeeze into that top or pants and she either has a VPL (visible panty line) or her muffin top looks like a full-blown bakery. It's bad, but the only thing worse than the fact that she left the house like that is the fact that her friends let her leave and haven't told her.

FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS DRESS LIKE SAUSAGES! Of course, this means that we have to be open to constructive criticism, and understand that our friends love us and that's why they're telling us to leave the spandex alone.

For those of us who may not have friends, or don't have good friends, here's 5 things I do to try and look my best.



1--Regular eyebrow waxes: Maybe this doesn't apply to you. Maybe you were born with beautiful, perfectly arched eyebrows. Lucky you. I, however, was born with furry catepillars over my eyes that make Bert's from Sesame Street look refined. Clean, well-shaped eyebrows open up your face and make you look brighter and prettier before you even reach for your makes up.

2--Great fitting bra: A bra that fits well helps your clothes fit better. I am in the single letters sizes (and I don't mean A-D either) so support and structure are very important. I personally shop at Nordstrom or Dillards for my bras becasue not only do they carry my size, but they have TRAINED professionals who helped me to see I was wearing the wrong size. Over 80% of women wear the wrong size. Get fitted, look better.

3--Proper undergarments: Thong strings sticking out above your waistband, VPL's, dimples under your slacks...none of these are cute. Me, I like shapers. Spanx, Hanes, Maidenform, different brands, same concept. Tight, biker-short like pants that you wear under your clothes to rid yourself of panty lines, cellulite and even back fat and muffin tops depending on the style. I have take to wearing these shapers under almost everything. My current brand is made by Hanes and sell for about $15 at Target.

4--Wear your size: It may be tempting if you know you are a size 8, and you've always been a size 8, to buy the size 8 slacks even though they are a bit too tight. DON'T DO IT! If that little number bothers you so much, cut the tag out. Sizes vary so much from one designer to the next I don't think anyone really knows what size they are. If the 8 is too tight, and the 10 is too big, either don't buy any of them, or get the 10 and have it tailored to fit you.

5--Wear things you LOVE: More important than the current trend or opinions of others is how you feel about what you wear. Clothes that are physically uncomfortable or ill-fitting will not look good on you no matter how much you spend on them. Confidence can make jeans and a T look a million times better than the most expensive dress or suit. Tugging at hems all day long is not sexy.


So the next time your BFF says "How do I look?" be honest. Tell her the color is fab, tell her the style is cute, but if she doesn't look her best, be her friend and help her out.

About This Stylista Michaela is a shoe junkie who refuses to go to rehab. She is a single mother of a beautiful one year old little girl who said "shoes" before "mama". In love with all things sparkly and pretty, she could not survive without her Michael Kors platforms, silver jewelry and her arsenal of frizz-fighting creams and serums. read posts by Michaela