Lady In Red

Red. One of those colors: you either love it or don't wear it. And yet, when we see those celebrities posing for pictures in that long red dress we can't help but think: Wow!! Truth is, no matter how you feel about red, you have to admit that when it walks into a room (in a form of dress, skirt, suit, or whatever) we all stop and take a look. It's bright, it's sexy, and when worn correctly is is simply gorgeous!

So, what does that really mean: when worn correctly? Truth is, not all skin tones can wear any kind of red. In that case, what can we do to make red work in our favor?

First, and most important: find out what your skin tone is. That may sound simple but believe you me, that's tricky business. Skin tones have their own spectrum of shades, and therefore different skin tones "accept" different tones of red.

Let's take a look at the most common to help you all get an idea.

One thing is for certain: darker hair will always go better with red. Now, before you hate me, that doesn't mean blonds can't wear red!! It's just the way colors are. Lighter tones of blue for example look better on people with lighter hair. But for now, back to red. If your skin is on the lighter side of the spectrum, you'll want to stay away from the brightest shades of red (and this also applies for brunettes!!) Go for a less bright tone like the one on the photo to your left. What a bright tone will do is make your pale skin even more evident, which is not usually the look we're going for. Of course there are certain styles that will accept that kind of combination (for example something like burlesque or a pin-up look ) but they are the exception. So, to keep it simple, remember: lighter tone skin is no reason to stay away from red swimsuits. Just make sure it's not the brightest red on the rack, and you should be fine.

Another good way of wearing red if you have pale skin is having it mixed with stripes or prints. Let's look at one of each so you all can see what I'm talking about.

The printed suit (left) helps to disguise the intensity of the red. And although the red in this particular suit isn’t super bright to begin with, the print definitely plays an important role in decreasing the contrast between the skin tone and the tone of red. Now, if you’re still a huge fan of bright red, a way you could get around that is by wearing bright red stripes (right). Different color stripes work similarly to the print in this case, helping take away a little bit of the contrast between the tone of red and tone of skin. Notice that, although there’s still a bright red in there, it’s not the first thing to catch your eye.

Another option for you lighter skin gals out there is to mix: red bottom with another color top, and vice versa.This lovely lady on your left has done a mix of stripes on the top with the orange bottoms, which in that tone contrast well with the lighter skin and hair color. Notice that the stripes call more attention to her upper body than they contrast with her skin, which is what we talked about in the red stripped swimsuit on the top. And the orange bottom is super discreet, which again leaves the red to stand out, and in the best way possible. You'll want to be ware of stripes if you're trying to disguise a particular part of your body (in some cases stripes can cause parts to appear bigger than they actually are), but in this case she did a fantastic job in blending the orange in there to break the contrast with her skin tone, and to let the red really stand out. Wearing different color pieces with red is probably the safest bet for rocking it if you have lighter skin. Although prints and stripes are available, a lot of times what you have already in your swimsuit drawer can be easily matched with another piece. Also, be sure that, if opting for stripes or prints, that they are working in your favor, and not making you look even more pale.

As for you lucky ladies out there with darker toned skin, all I can say is: GO WILD!! Red is probably my favorite color, goes well with all sorts of styles and trends, and can make a simple T-shirt sexier than usual. Just be careful to not overdo it (you don't want a red dress with red shoes, red accessories, red makeup and a red handbag all together!), and you should be fine. Rock that red like there is no tomorrow, you will not regret it!

Motherhood and Swimwear: Yay Or Nay?

Oh, the joys of motherhood!! The event that changes your life forever, and opens up a chapter where you discover what unconditional love is. You begin to see the center of your life shifting from you to that tiny little person you're now completely responsible for, and you're filled with happiness because of it! 

Now, taking a sharp turn: what happens to your wardrobe, and your swimsuit drawer when all that change is going on? Do you give it all up for sweat pants, tights and sweaters twice your size? Does going to the beach in bermuda shorts and a T-shirt sound like a good idea?

God, I hope not! And although I'm not yet a mother myself, I've recently had this conversation with a close friend of mine. I'd like to share a bit of her opinion with you all. 

Ana is not only a beautiful woman, but also an amazing mom. Having gone through a lot of the issues new moms experience, she's a strong believer that, no matter how overwhelmed you're feeling about motherhood, it'll be even worse if you put no effort into yourself. To her, a mother who looks in the mirror and feels good about herself will pass on that confidence to her child. And since I'd gotten her going, I wasn't going to stop there!

OMS: Tell us what your style was like before becoming a mom.

Ana: Before I became a mom, my style was always a mix of what was practical with what I thought looked good on me. For example, I never wore a swimsuit that looked great but felt uncomfortable; but also stayed away from things that were and yet didn't make me look good.

OMS: Has maternity changed your stye at all? How, and why?

Ana: A little bit for sure. I think now the scale tends more to the comfortable side than it did before! I still like feeling elegant and that whatever I wear fits me well, but if I have to choose then practicality comes first.

OMS: Are there any particular brands you now prefer that you never had in your closet before?

Ana: Actually, I've been very fortunate that my body changed very little after my pregnancy, so I didn't have to really look for alternative brands or clothing. And although I'll choose comfort most of the times, it's mostly because I spend so much time with my son, and some outfits are just not practical when taking care of children. However, I've always liked my style, and I don't feel that I need to dress more conservatively  just because I'm a mom. It's possible to do both: be comfortable and keep your style. 

OMS: Has your choice of swimsuits changed since you became a mom? How so?

Ana: Well, as I've said before, looking good has always been important to me. The only thing is that nowadays I look for a suit that is elegant, but also comfortable for when I'm playing with my son. I still like my Brazilian bikinis though (she laughs), but those are more for when he's not around.

OMS: Are there parts of your body that you're less comfortable exposing now than you were before? Why?

ANA: Not really. But I can assure you that if there were any major changes, I'd definitely adapt my swimsuit to them. Our bodies will all change with time, whether it's because of maternity, age, stress... but our body shape pretty much remais the same. So we want to continue to always show off our best features, and "disguise" our least favorite ones. 

OMS: Any tips, or favorite swimwear pieces you recommend to all the moms out there? 

Ana: Bandeau tops are not for playing with small kids!! (Laughter) Make sure to always have straps on to avoid any unwanted incidents. If you've got a child with lots of energy like I do, and you're not comfortable running around in a bikini bottom, then shorts or a sarong are a good option. They add to the swimsuit look while keeping us more comfortable. If the top part concerns you, then an open shirt over your swimsuit works just as well. Finally, if you're feeling uncomfortable about your belly (and we all feel like that sometimes) don't think twice: pick a nice one piece, and go out and enjoy! Nothing should stand in the way of you creating good memories with your kids!

  

Add More Fruit, And Not Just To Your Diet

Hi all!

So, we’ve all heard how adding fruit to your diet can be a great thing. But where else could we add fruit that would make it even better?

If you answered your swimsuit, you’re absolutely right! Fruit prints not only make swimwear more fun, it also keeps fruit in sight. And maybe, just maybe, that reverse psychology could have a positive effect on your everyday meals. This about it: If out of sight really is out of mind, then the opposite would have to be in mind, correct?

But that's not the only advantage of the fruit print. If we take a closer look, we'll find that there’s also the memory association that comes with it. Let's take this first suit for example. 

What comes to mind when you look at this watermelon print? For me, it’s warm sunny days, picnics in the park, fresh fruit juice, or the sweet refreshing taste that only watermelon has. So in this case, not only is the print pretty, but it also automatically takes you to any of the enjoyable memories you have of eating watermelons. How our minds do that, I do not know. But it's pretty cool if you ask me! 

Now, maybe some of you will have a bit of trouble identifying the fruit in this next one, since it’s not the most common. But, I’m sure you’ve all had cashew nuts before, and where do cashew nuts com from?

If you still can't see it, go ahead and look up what a cashew really looks like. They've got yellow and red ones in this print; and usually these two colors would not be my first pick to mix, but along with the different tones of green and slight bit of black (thanks toucan!) it all just comes together so nicely. It's the mix of colors in this print that makes it such a  versatile one, since it can look good with several different skin tones. What can I say except: SCORE!!

Also, if you all are ever in South America and come across a place that sells cashews, please do yourself a favor and try one. Although the nut is very tasty, it does no justice to this delicious fruit. And fresh cashew juice is probably one of my favorites, and a must have every time I go back home. Oh, boy, just thinking about it makes my mouth water... There's that memory association again!

Last but not least, let's look at our classic cherry print. I'm sure many of you have owned clothing or jewelry that had some sort of cherry print or shape. Out of the three we're looking at today, it's definitely the easiest to find. But what else do cherries have going for them?

First things first: cherry red. Now there's a color that goes well with so many others; some of which may not be the most obvious. 

If you look closely at the print on the left, you'll see that besides the light blue, there's also green, lavender and a tiny little bit of brown in there. All these are colors that, when used in lighter tones, go superbly well with cherry red. I guess you could pair it up with a darker tone as well, just be careful not to overdo it.   

If you're still not sure how to match it, then go with the more standard choices: black, white, gray... all of these go hand in hand with this and many other cherry prints. It's also a great way to wear red if you have a lighter skin tone, since there's all the colors around it to help you out. 

Now, who's ready to add some fruit to their wardrobes, especially to that swimsuit drawer?