Editorial: The Case of the Missing Pants

It doesn’t take a genius mind to know that leggings have become a staple in any girl’s wardrobe. They are EVERYWHERE in every color, style and look imaginable. I love the way you can throw a pair on and be comfortable, stylish and even sexy all at the same time.


This hot trend, however, has also caused me some heartache. I cringe at the sight of  a legging worn wrong. It is a sad occasion that unfortunately occurs more than it should. There are five factors that contribute to the travesty of a legging worn wrong, that I will attempt to dissect and sort out. After all, a doctor cannot fix the problem unless she first makes the cut. Here we go.


Mistake #1 No consideration of what type of legging looks best for your size and leg shape.

All leggings are not created equal. Some are made of light cotton,

Garden Gem Leggings


others are made with heavier cotton, like these

CJ by Cookie Johnson 'Joy' Stretch Denim Leggings

(these are also considered Brazilian jeans in some fashion dialects).


Some are created with a little bit of lycra, like these

Pris Leggings


and some have no mercy for cellulite

Vince Lightweight Cotton Leggings

Just because it’s a legging, does not automatically qualify it as a legging for you. Take time to consider which type of legging enhances the beauty of your legs, not draws negative attention towards them. Also, I know a lot of women HATE trying clothes on, but I encourage you to take time and try leggings on, and keep trying them on until you find the right pair for you.


Mistake #2 Failure to distinguish a TIGHT from a LEGGING.

This might be my biggest pet peeve. Sure we were all probably guilty of this when leggings first hit the scene as pants replacements. But we are well into this trend. We should all know better by now. THIS is not a pants replacement.

SPANX Chain Stripe Tights
Notice how they are being worn WITH bottoms, not replacing them.


Mistake # 3 Jaded sense of Reality
This one is close to my heart because I, like so many of us out there truly believe that they would walk circles around Naomi, Tyra and Kimora if given the chance to hit the runway. However, this is not my reality. This being said, everything that hits the runway shouldn’t be coming YOUR way. Many things made for the runway are made just for the show, and look ridiculous on the average diva.

More and more, a lot of celebrities are being photographed pairing their leggings with shorter, tighter tops.

I implore you. Do not make this your reality. If you must (because I admit, we all feel ourselves from time to time), consider pairing the look with a boyfriend blazer. Trust me it make a world of difference. 

P.S. When in doubt, F** with reality.


Mistake #4 Panty FAIL

This is a big one guys! PLEASE make sure that your panty lines are not visible beneath your leggings. This is a big no no ladies! There is nothing worse than noticing a heinous panty line looming beneath the surface. It sounds basic, but trust me, it must be said!


Mistake #5 Time and Place FAIL

Ladies, there is a time and place for everything. Leggings cannot go everywhere you go. They can go from ‘cute and casual’ to ‘side-eye slutty’ in no time, depending on the occasion. Going to a classy dinner affair/date? Leave em at home. Going to work in a corporate setting? Leave ‘em at home. When in doubt- you guessed it- leave ‘em at home. I know this is contradictory to most images thrown at us, but let’s keep it sexyCLASSYcool in 2010 shall we?

Editorial: Beauty and the [Exercise] Beast

If you’re anything like me, you’ve declared that this is the season that you are going for the gusto. No holds barred. All doubt out the window. THIS is the season that you will get in shape. OOWWWWW! But if you are even more like me, you have hit more than a few hurdles stoplights on your journey to conquer the bulge. Allow me to offer this word of advice (that I admit I ministered to myself first). Your quest to whip yourself into shape should be primarily an effort to increase your physical condition, not your physique.

We live in an image-conscious society. I get that. And as much as one may try to proclaim that they are not a part of the world-wide image divide, let’s face it. We are all chilling on some spot of the spectrum. Even the biggest advocates of the ‘I love my curves club’ and the ‘makeup is for gypsies assembly’ care about the way they look and how people perceive them.

I personally feel that putting your best foot-manicured or not-forward is great. However, I also feel that the foot that we put forward is often the foot OTHERS have told us looks best. With this in mind I will say that I find it quite disturbing to notice women adopting work out regiments and eating habits to achieve a size society has told them is acceptable.

Reach for and maintain a weight/size that fits YOU. You know by now whether aiming to be a size 4 is unrealistic or not. Reevaluate what weight and size is healthy for your height and weight. Get real with yourself. And while you are reaching, reach for your health first.

I am a big fan of working out. I feel that getting your body involved in some sort of physical activity on a regular basis is what will save us from many ailments we face as we age. Studies show that common ailments such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and even arthritis can be prevented with simple concern for what you eat and how much physical activity you engage in. It is recommended that you should engage in at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week (that means 4 or more guys!). Strength training helps your body fight calories when you’re not working out and stretching helps prevent injuries (can’t really show off those toned calves in a cast!) Also, studies show that extra fat around your midsection makes you more susceptible to weight related health problems than fat around your hips or thighs.

I know very few people who would work out if they didn’t have to. NEWSFLASH: WE ALL (all meaning those who reside in a human shell- not just overweight people) HAVE TO. But it can actually be fun! So don’t lose heart! And remember, do it for your health!

Editorial: One Size Does Not Fit All

Does beauty come in a specific size? Is there some sort of unwritten rule that says if you weigh over a certain amount that you are no longer beautiful? Who decides what is beautiful? When we turn on the TV all we see are images of what people are telling us we should look like. Sometimes I wonder how much of our opinions on beauty are actually our own and how much of it is based on what others tell us to like and dislike.

As I log into my twitter page this morning and turn on the television I am constantly reminded as to why so many girls have low self esteem.  My female friends are obsessed over losing a couple of pounds and constantly comparing themselves to the celebrities they see in magazines. I’m guilty of this as well. As I log into Facebook I see the images of what my male friends think are beautiful and come to a quick realization that I don’t look like those images and neither do most of my friends.

 Our minds become consumed with the images of what we think we should look like and what others tell us is beautiful. Our trips to the gym are no longer about a desire to be healthy but a desire to be thin or at least thinner. It seems like loving yourself is no longer enough especially when the world is telling you that you shouldn’t because you are a size 16 and not a size 6.

This is a very personal topic to me. I have been in a battle with my weight and acceptance most of my life. I went on my first diet before I went through puberty and have been on and off them since. I was always an active child but for some reason was never as thin as my sisters and people had a way of always reminding me of that.  I spent most of my childhood and early adulthood ashamed of who I was and ashamed of how I looked. There was this constant fear of being compared, judged, and scrutinized. Then one day a few years ago I took a look in the mirror and for the first time saw how beautiful I actually was.  I had come into my own person and for the first time since I could remember I liked what I saw. No, I wasn’t perfect but who is?

At what point do we stop and realize that beauty comes in all different shapes and sizes?  Some people no matter how hard they try will never be thin and they shouldn’t have to try and kill themselves to get that way.  Many girls struggle with eating disorders before they reach high school.  According to The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 10 out of every 100 young women suffer from an eating disorder. Don’t get me wrong. I believe that we should all practice a healthy diet and exercise but the goal should be to be healthy not to be thin.  It’s ok to want to lose weight.  However, our purpose for losing weight should be personal and our focus should be on being healthy. It should never get to the point where you are consumed with losing weight s to fit the beauty standard of someone else. We need to learn that not every woman is going to be shaped like Beyonce. 

We as women need to learn to truly love ourselves no matter what size we are. We must stop letting the world tell us that we are not beautiful and that we need to change.  I am proof that beauty does not come in a specific size.