Now, this is a very sensitive topic since I don't want it to seem as if I am some expert from Glamour magazine who says what is a fashion "don't" or not it's just that some people need gentle suggestions on what suits their body type and what does not! I hope my critique can be taken objectively and constructively.
And to let you guys know, I am not "Ms. Perfect Body " either nor am I one of those slim chicks who can wear any costume they like. Because of the fact that I am well endowed in the chest area I have to choose costumes that suit my body, just as I choose clothing that compliments my assets in everyday life. So I know how difficult it is wanting to wear a certain costume when you don't fit the "mold". Again, I am not doing this post in a negative way,I just hope my suggestions will be taken as they are meant to be, as advice.
With that said, here are a few faux pas seen on the streets of Carnival's past:
Wholepiece or tankini please:
A bikini is the ultimate in sexiness for Carnival, it is the thing to wear so you can show off your flat stomach, toned arms and gorgeous legs. Sometimes though a wholepiece or even a taniki might be a better choice!A situation where a tankini might be a better option is if your stomach looks as though it is straining against the confines of your waistband, which does not appear to be comfortable, or if it shows the effects of a few pregnancies with lots of loose skin. Now I have seen women with stretch marks (not a faux pas by the way) on their stomach looking very nice in their bikini costume, it's the loose skin that is unforgiving:
Case in point , a young lady with stretch marks on her belly, you don't even notice it because her stomach is flat:(this is for anonymous who is worried about playing mas after having a baby).
And a tankini/wholepiece can look cute!
Ouch,that looks like it hurts!
When you have extra large breasts not all bras are suitable. Stay away from halters that offer NO support, look for bras with underwire as well as whole pieces on the sides. I don't know about anyone else, but halters must be very hard on the neck with large breasts since the "support" is basically two straps tied around the neck. See my pic above for a bra that is comfortable for larger breasts, the only caveat is that I used my own bra for that costume because the original bra was not cutting it!
Whiter Shade of Pale:
I see this all the time, beautifully costumed woman wearing the wrong shade of mas stockings! Trust me, even I have fallen prey to this luckily I usually buy two pairs of stockings, one for Monday and one for Tuesday, and was able to wear the one that matched on both days. My mother's remedy for this is to "dye" the stockings with green tea to make them darker. However, the best thing would be to match the shade as close as possible when your purchase the stockings.
All nude is the way to go:
Not all stockings are created equal! Look for the ones sheer to the waist, these stockings could have been great except that they are spoiled by the "bingo bag" effect.
Don't alter the costume....please!!!
And when I say alterations I don't mean adding a little sequin here and there to make your costume special, I mean when you change the costumes from this:
To THIS:
The second "version" of the costume does not look sexy, it looks wrong! If you know that the costume is too skimpy for you please don't try to change the designers vision to fit your body, again, choose a costume that fits your shape and size!
Inspiration:
For all those who say larger ladies must leave the frontlines alone, I think once you know what suits your body you can pull of the frontlines with sass and style like these two ladies:
23 comments:
As a plus-sized girl, I've never felt comfortable in tankinis or one-piece suits (I have a very short torso, and they tend to make me look rather egg-shaped). My solution has been to wear a mid-rise panty rather than low-rise (eliminates the 'muffin top' effect) and I situate my belt low on the waist rather than all the way down at the hipbone. That way, all the jiggly business is contained without any spillover - check out the picture of the second frontline lady to see what I mean.
I love your blog Saucy, it's interesting. However, i am the girl in with the pink wrap under my bottom piece in the TRIBE costume. I was not trying to hide my ass, I was just trying to add a little style to my costume and some people really seemed to like it. I am not from Trinidad, i am from Miami and it was my first Carnival in Trinidad and my taste is very different from most people. I would like it if you removed it please. thank u.
Gosh Saucy,
I had a baby 2 yrs ago..my first...this is my first time playing mas and boy was I worried cause of my belly. but my sexy frens still registered me in Cacti. The thing is my stomach is so flat and I am working on the abs..it is just wrinkly looking...hence the desperation to find an airbrush artist...now after that article I feel like throwing in the towel and going Japan instead. But love your honesty.
Anon K in DC
Gosh Saucy,
I had a baby 2 yrs ago and I have been paranoid about playing mas ( this is my 1st time IP cacti) cause although my stomach is extremely flat it is wrinkly looking. But my sexy childless frens still registered me saying the experience is priceless. After reading your article I want to throw in the towel and do an Alaskan cruise instead. But love your honesty.
EVen though I does be one of those custumes crtics on the road on carnival monday and tuesday ( she look good yuh know but she should have worn a better matching sneaker or she should have worn stockings..those legs jus not...etc etc). i still have to give due respect for those who jus don't care or feel comfortable in their skin.If they are comfortable with there belly hanging over their belt, well all hail!!.
Hahah that green thing is real kicks saucy , i never had that problem because i does hit micles early, but in the event i did ..lol I would try that option.
Squeelze,i know that effect it is what yuh call the "illusion of a flat stomach". Been there done that!!.
hi there,
well, thats a nice web, you know what i like to see all the people around me happy, i know that life is too short thats why we must live it as we want, not like others and what ever they want... nice web, and nice girl,
regards,
zucchini
I hope none of those ladies that you've portrayed with the blaked out faces read your blog. LOL the truth hurts sometimes.
the colourful costume where the woman had altered the front reminds me of IP jewel of the nile.
The frontliners look great especially the woman in green.
I'm trying to see if I could get some fish net hold ups for my jamette. I know I might end up buying about 3 different pairs just to make sure I have the right look. I not going out the road before I get it right. If it don't look good I'll just get a normal sheer.
icahwiat well the someone does read my blog! I am removing her pic because she said she was dressing up her costume, can't call that a faux pas eh. See, I did say it was a sensitive issue!
anon 10:49pm my girl friend had a baby in July and is playing mas in a bikini,and she has a scar from a cesarean. Stretch marks is not something I consider a "faux pas" nor do I think anyone would care!I have seen many ladies playing with their "wrinkly" (your words) bellies,your stomach is flat no one notices!
I too give props for everyone who wears what they want and could care less, but if everyone would be honest you know you look at other people and wonder "what were they thinking!" And the comments in the "Size Discrimination" post towards larger ladies were not all that positive, hence the reason I tried to show women who were not "perfect" look very nice in the frontline costumes.
SauCy yuh good in dat custume gyal!!!! dies harts
nope, that was in Poison :D
Very nice article Saucy and this is a very sensative topic because people offen don't like to hear the truth. But honesty is the best policy and I am also not the type to sugar coat stuff.
Some folks are in serious denial need of a carnival reality check. Maybe these bands need to allow some folks to try on the costumes and take a serious look at themselves in the mirror prior to them purchasing their skimpy costume's.LOL Just like we often do in the clothing/shoe stores. Then maybe the chances of folks embarassing themselves in public will be smaller.LOL The costume may look great on the model as it is suppose too. However, some folks can't continue to be delusional thinking they can always and also pull it off in the skimpy costumes like some of the models do. Again, skimpy costumes are not for everybody. Try to select a costume that is appropriate to your body type and that can still make you look sexy even if you are on the heavy or plus side. Skimpy does not always mean sexier and sometimes its great to leave something to the imagination.
If they need to wear the waist belt higher right under their belly button to hide stretch marks or to help hide their pouch etc then do that.
I think Tribe took a huge step forward by providing some costumes with options to those who maybe on the plus size that will still be able to look sexy in a one piece like they did with Sailor one piece costume.
Howerver, some of the costumes are very naked and skimpy. I think the person with the pink skirt was innovative with the cute pink skirt because she actually had a great body to try to pull it off.
The back of her costume looked very similar to the fireman costume with the very skimpy boy shorts.
Wait nah I just realise goddest defender in IP is the recyled costume version from Tribe's Nylon pool backline from this year.LOL
The woman who did over the costume in the front making the thing look like mold growing. The frontline woman in the green looks beautiful.
As a plus sized woman I have a muffin top but its above my belly botton so i dont think the high cut panty will do anything for me, and I dispise a one piece so i just brave the 2 piece on tuesday.
Oh Gaud sauce, u really hot for days.
The girl in the tankini and family in the green frontline super cute!
More incentive to intensify the weightloss program. Two recent c-sections and stretch marks my very heavy son gave me can't really be helped. I love my babies but pregnancy really did a number on my mid-section. All I can do is slim down, tone up and like someone else said brave the two piece and make sure my belt/stockings and panty is well-placed. I cant bring myself to do a whole piece cover up, its just not as sexy. I can honestly say that I can pull off a two piece,,some people however really should stick to a whole piece and not just for how you look to others,,more so because of the additional support and comfort it can provide.
wow, ya did the idea saucyd, blurry faces & all! Now that I see it, I'm kinda speechless... How did you find all these photos?, you picked such perfect ones to emphasize your point...
Oh, btw, Happy Thanksgiving esp to any other Canadians out there, eh!
karabana I canot take all the credit for the photos. Some of them I found by browsing the galleries at triniscene.com, but I got others in an email with a request to do a post like this.If memory serves me right you also asked me to do a post like this as well..and possibly someone else too.
Happy Thnaksgiving!
Yeah, that's what I mean, I posted asking you about doing it last week, I see others had the same suggestion.
I just had to make a comment about that last big lady in the Angel Fish lead section. I was in that section and I can tell you the biggest ppl had on the biggest costume. Carnival is for everyone but lawd them girls drive me mad for the whole day Tuesday. They had absolutely no control of their mass and had the costume knocking down ppl whole day. They really made being in that section a misery !!!
LOL at Diva!
HOTTIE YOU LAUGHING!! THAT IS SERIOUS THING.It reach a point where we was pulling all them tentrails on spite!!! Fuss they was only knocking we dong and tangling up in our costume. Bigger is not always better when it come to costume.And you know they have to be in FRONT to go on stage STEUPS. Not me again nuh.
LOL! And that one in the picture looking about as graceful as a three leg pothound
Post a Comment