Are we carrying ourselves like the "Queens" we claim to be?

[caramelsunshine]

As I go my business daily, I have found myself disturbed by some of the sights that I have seen. One of the sights that I'm referring to is the "Bare Midrif look". Now for those of you who can truly rock that look, meaning you have a flat stomach, by all means do your thang. The majority of women and girls that I have seen trying to carry out this look need to just stop, look in the mirror and look at the way their stomachs are overlapping the waistband of their low-rider pants or jeans. I've seen several women and young girls do this which means the clothes are way too small for them.
I know that it's your business what you wear but you should be a little concerned about what your outward appearance says about you. We, as black women know that we can be quick to check someone if they make comment about us and how we look but sometimes we need to take a good, long look in the mirror before we leave. I said that to say this...what happened to days when women wore foundations, girdles and proper-fitting bras. I personally make sure that I'm not birsting out of the seams, if you will, when I leave my house. I'm a firm-believer in foundations. They are nothing like the girdles that our mothers and grandmothers wore. Back in the day, my mother always wore them and she was a sz 16. There are women who are much larger than that who just don't seem to think that it's a necessity. Ladies, if it giggles, tie it down! They are more feminine and are made of a variety of fabrics and styles. Ladies who have daughters, this is very important in regards to how your children are influenced by television because we know that they like to imulate music, tv and movie stars but in essence, they should want to be like you.

So ladies, please take the extra time before leaving your homes to get that last look in the mirror and ask yourself is this the best that I can look today?
If not, make that change.

By the way, some of you may not like what I said or how I said it but it had to be said.

[Sumyr]

Ladies, if it giggles, tie it down!

Caramel, Your entire post is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Many a grown @ss women are walking around here "jiggling" if you will. I don't understand it as in my opinion, women over 30 shouldn't be "jiggling". I try to keep mine firm but it still maintains its softness and femininity. Now, when I was a teenager and in my twenties, I "shook" with the best of them. But to everything there is its place. And unless you are a video vixen, there isn't any place for a "jiggly @ss" 30+ year old woman.

I hate to see women dressed like teenagers trying to be sexy. There are age appropriate clothing for women of all ages to be sexy be it if you are 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60. One needs to find "their" comfort zone in the sexy arena and shop this avenue. If you are 30+, perhaps Rainbow at the mall isn't the store for you. I don't care how good 20 year old Shaneequa looks in those daisy dukes and how at 35 you still have the body of a 20 year old, perhaps, just perhaps, this look isn't for you. For everything there is a season, and your season has long passed.

[jacqui]

Well I agree with this but I must say even if you can rock it, some clothes just shouldn't be worn period. I look around and see that this system has turned a lot of our males into predatory animals who will and do hunt and rape women at will. So it makes no sense to be out dressed the way that some of us do.

I will say this it is truly hard to find clothing that are not slutty in fashion. Even the clothing in the plus size stores are so slutty and I have to go to 5 to 6 different stores just to find shirts that cover both of my breast, not see through, and don't have a v line to my ankles, pants that are screaming out pick me and get a yeast infection, and skirts that are split up to my eyebrows. It is truly ridiculous and awful.

[afrocentric]

I 'm agreeing with all of u. <ggls> Ain't no need to look like one of the big sistas in "BeBe Kids". Some of us do need to pay a fine for dressing out of line.

[Samoon]

"Are we carrying ourselves like the "Queens" we claim to be?"

In all honesty, for far too many sistas--"no." There are variables involved though. Family dynamics, lacking positive to dynamic sista-role-models and the norm is "young" parents now and not yet an acquired sense of style. Everything that looks good does not necessarily look good on YOU.
Just an opinion...

SonFllour 2001, I'm going to borrow your comments if I may:

Fashion (clothing and hair) and self-esteem (1 year course)

Class summary: While clothing does not make the man, it can be a direct expression of who you are, and is often tied to self-esteem issues. Within this class, we will study some historical facet of fashion from several different countries and what fashion has come to mean in modernity.

Objectives:

1.) Learn ways to dress so as to emphasize your best features without looking trashy.
2.) Incorporate good spending habits into shopping. Learn what to buy and how much to spend on it. Also, how to turn old clothes into new trends.
3.) Tackle issues of self-esteem which often go hand in hand with how people dress. Why do people wear some of the clothes they wear? When is it classy and when is it just plain tacky? Sexy clothing vs. skank threads.
4.) Study the history of black hair and explore various options for natural hair care.
5.) ALL size fashion-When it looks good on her, but not on you...

Thank you.

[MadameX]

Originally Posted by Samoon

[b].

Objectives:

1.) Learn ways to dress so as to emphasize your best features without looking trashy.
2.) Incorporate good spending habits into shopping. Learn what to buy and how much to spend on it. Also, how to turn old clothes into new trends.
3.) Tackle issues of self-esteem which often go hand in hand with how people dress. Why do people wear some of the clothes they wear? When is it classy and when is it just plain tacky? Sexy clothing vs. skank threads.
4.) Study the history of black hair and explore various options for natural hair care.
5.) ALL size fashion-When it looks good on her, but not on you...

Well Stated Sista Samoon. Listen up fellow sistas and take note if this applies to you.

[caramelsunshine]

Samoon, There should a class such as this...

[UglymanCometh]

I believe my sig line narrows the story down... at least for the locals.

[sonflour_2001]

I think I need a thanks quota. My thanks button was soo happy today.

Boy ya'll hit some nails smack dab in the middle of some heads today.
Oh man!

First of all, they don't have any friends. My real friends wouldn't let me go out looking crazy. We don't care about hurt feelings in my family. See people are too nice with their friends and family now a days. You gets brought out in my family...with a quickness.
You ain't letting "it" (whatever it may be), all hang out... If you've got an "it", keep "it" wherever "it" is.

But really all jokes aside, there are nice clothes for all different sizes.
It's really not that hard.
What happened to cute cardigans, a pretty tank underneath and a nice pair of jeans?
What happened to peasant skirts and comfy brown Jesus sandals with a nice cotton shirt?
What happened to graphic tees with long beads and some well-fitted jeans?
Or layered tees? Or cute dresses over jeans. Or sundresses?!

And you don't have to break your wallet. I'm cheap as hell! That's what clearance racks are for! Old Navy got one in sizes from 0-20 and up to XXL. Shoot, all my cutest shirts are $15 and below from various stores. Wherever I see something cute and cheap I rummage.

But who am I kidding? It's not money that's the issue. These people have money, and would rather spend it on tacky shirts with messages like "Juicy" written in glitter, or on cheap $10 jeans with more spandex in them than denim. Or on skirts that are too little and that require adjustment for every 3 feet they walk.

A waste of time, money and the human body. A tragic trinity if you ask me.
BTW I think we need to get Corals to teach that fashion course. Lol!
Get her quick!!!! ASAP!

Sonflour

[afrocentric]

Originally Posted by sonflour_2001

I think I need a thanks quota. My thanks button was soo happy today.

Boy ya'll hit some nails smack dab in the middle of some heads today.
Oh man!

First of all, they don't have any friends. My real friends wouldn't let me go out looking crazy. We don't care about hurt feelings in my family. See people are too nice with their friends and family now a days. You gets brought out in my family...with a quickness.
You ain't letting "it" (whatever it may be), all hang out... If you've got an "it", keep "it" wherever "it" is.

But really all jokes aside, there are nice clothes for all different sizes.
It's really not that hard.
What happened to cute cardigans, a pretty tank underneath and a nice pair of jeans?
What happened to peasant skirts and comfy brown Jesus sandals with a nice cotton shirt?
What happened to graphic tees with long beads and some well-fitted jeans?
Or layered tees? Or cute dresses over jeans. Or sundresses?!

And you don't have to break your wallet. I'm cheap as hell! That's what clearance racks are for! Old Navy got one in sizes from 0-20 and up to XXL. Shoot, all my cutest shirts are $15 and below from various stores. Wherever I see something cute and cheap I rummage.

But who am I kidding? It's not money that's the issue. These people have money, and would rather spend it on tacky shirts with messages like "Juicy" written in glitter, or on cheap $10 jeans with more spandex in them than denim. Or on skirts that are too little and that require adjustment for every 3 feet they walk.

A waste of time, money and the human body. A tragic trinity if you ask me.
BTW I think we need to get Corals to teach that fashion course. Lol!
Get her quick!!!! ASAP!

Sonflour

gurl you aint never lied. Shoo, my boys won't let me wear a mini skirt made for plus size ladies let alone a bathing suit. daggone them!!!