You're hiding your shapewear under where?

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I wrote a post for Vedette with tips on how to wear their shapewear in the daytime. And while this outfit might look a little familiar, the photos definitely haven't been seen on the blog before, so I figured I would go ahead and share this post with you today.

Wearing your shapewear as outerwear might seem a little daunting at first, but I think anyone can pull this look off. I mean, if I can do it, anyone can. Because while I am a girl who’s comfortable in her own skin, I certainly don’t like to show a lot of it off.

Tip #1: Showing less is more. For my photos, I chose a long, pleated skirt because it’s perfectly prim and ladylike.  The longer length of the hem keeps me from showing a lot of leg and therefore balances the amount of skin that is revealed up top.

Tip #2: Pair your shapewear with conservative pieces. Since this was for a daytime look and I’m not wearing jeans, I opted for flats instead of heels. You guys should know by now that I love heels. To me, they make just about any outfit a little bit sexier. But since I feel like the bustier is already giving off the sexy vixen vibe, I didn’t want to overdo it, so I had to kick the heels off—for once.

I also kept my all of my accessories to a minimum and chose simple and conservative earth tones.

Tip #3: When in doubt, ‘blazer-it-out.’ You can never go wrong with throwing a blazer over anything, especially a piece of sexy shapewear. A blazer is the perfect finishing touch that will always keep you looking professional and polished.

Need something for the office? No problem. Pair your shapewear with a peplum skirt and blazer. Or maybe your job is a little more laid back? If so, pair your shapewear with jeans and throw a blazer over it for work. In both cases, you can remove the blazer after work and be instantly ready for a night out on the town.

And this is one instance that I think heels are not only allowed, but encouraged to wear with your shapewear. 

Overall, the main idea is to just be sure you keep everything in balance. If you show skin up top, cover up more at the bottom. If you have one piece like a bustier that is flashy, keep everything else minimal.

And really, when you think about it, isn’t that the idea of fashion anyhow? It seems that keeping things in balance never goes out of style. 

Here's the cheapskate outfit breakdown:

1. Cloe Bustier, c/o Vedette Shapewear

2. Pink pleated skirt, thrifted ($2.00)

3. Simply Woven Floppy, c/o David & Young 

4. Sandals, Rugged Wearhouse ($9.99)

5. Gold cuff, gifted (thanks Ashley!)

6. Brown belt, thrifted ($3.00)

7. Heart locket, gifted (had since I was a child)

8. Vintage Ray Bans, gifted (thanks Mom!)

9. Leaf ring, gifted (thanks Em!)

10. Crossbody bag, thrifted ($5.99)

Total: Under $50

 

 

 

 

 

Under the {fashion} influence: Amber Heard

I loved this look on Amber Heard that I came across a few months ago on People StyleWatch. In fact I loved it so much, that I saved the photo on the off-chance I might ever purchase some type of bustier that I could use to appropriately pull this look off. I mean, I already had a long pleated skirt, I just needed that one piece of missing clothing.

So I count my lucky stars that Vedette asked me pick a piece of their shapewear to do a guest post on their blog. I decided to write for them on the topic of wearing shapewear during the day since I think it's easily doable, but few girls know how to do it right. And of course, I had to use this photo of Amber as my style inspiration for the post since she does indeed do the daytime bustier so very right.

Here's the cheapskate outfit breakdown:

1. Cloe Bustier, c/o Vedette Shapewear
2. Pink pleated skirt, thrifted ($2.00)*
3. Sandals, Rugged Wearhouse ($9.99)
4. Gold cuff, gifted (thanks Ashley!)
5. Brown belt, thrifted ($3.00)
6. Heart locket, gifted (had since I was a child)
7. Vintage Ray Bans, gifted (thanks Mom!)
8. Leaf ring, gifted (thanks Em!)
9. Crossbody bag, thrifted ($5.99)

Total: Under $50

*here's a similar pink pleated skirt from Sugar Lips for $40.00

 

p.s. Be on the lookout at the Vedette Blog for my guest post, it should be out sometime soon!


Photos: Laura Menconi

Friday deal

Who doesn't love a good deal right? Well the folks over at Vedette are giving you a pretty amazing one.  They are offering my readers FREE shapewear. Yes, FREE. All you have to do is pick one, send them an email and pay $9.99 to cover shipping.

Pretty amazing, right? Yeah, I thought so, too.

The photo above features the items that you can choose from this week. And more good news is that the catalog will change in the future. So be sure to check back to see what other items you can get for only $9.99.

Here are a few things they suggest:

1. The catalog is open only to the blog readers of Fashionplate Cheapskate
2. You may only choose items from the photo above. You may research more detail about the items on their website
3. Send orders to giveaways@vedettestore.com with a subject code Ved9cat or give them a call at 1.866.956.7466
4. Provide them with your chosen size for the shapewear you like (be sure to ALWAYS pick a size up)
5. There is no return and exchange for the pieces inside the catalog so be sure to ALWAYS get the right size
6. Vedette does ship internationally
7. Hurry, offer ends Monday August 20th!

Happy Friday yall!

A little bit of va-va-voom

After already having three separate conversations this week with my (gorgeous) friends who were feeling a little down on how they look, I decided that insecurity can come knocking on everyone's door from time to time.

That's why every girl needs a secret weapon, something that gives her a little bit of the "va-va-voom" factor. You know, that one outfit or dress in your closet you can count on that makes you feel beautiful and sexy and special. Because honestly, once you start to feel gorgeous on the inside, it begins to reflect on the outside. I know this sounds so cheesy, but I've found it to be incredibly true for myself.

When I pieced this outfit together for the Vedette video I made, I had no idea just how powerful it would make me feel. It's so retro and pin-up style. (in hindsight, I wish I had done my hair differently, maybe with curls pinned back. oh well) And there's something about rockin a bustier in public during daylight hours. You have to have confidence to do this and no one can deny how beautiful a woman with confidence is.

Don't get me wrong, confidence is certainly something I have always waivered on. Sometimes I feel unstoppable and on top of the world and other times I feel invisible and insignificant. I think about my friends I talked with this week and how unbelievably amazing and stunningly gorgeous they are and I think "how could they ever think negative thoughts about themselves?" and then I realize that they would probably say the same about me.

The thing is, women desire to be found beautiful, desirable and worthy and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact I believe we were designed that way. However, we just need to find healthy ways to help us remember all of our characteristics—both the physical and non-physical attributes—that make us attractive to others.

I'm about to get heart-serious with you guys. For me, when I'm down, I like to remember that I am beautiful because of who created me and how He created me (and everyone) in His own image. How He made the body to work so efficiently, no matter what it looks like. I think about how lucky I am that I can exercise. I can run and climb and when I get injured, I can take time off to rest and those wounds will heal. To me that is pretty incredible. As David said in Psalm 139:14—"I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

This knowledge is my "real" va-va-voom factor, and I will never forget that.

And now, here's the cheapskate outfit breakdown:

1. Silvana Bustier c/o Vedette Shapewear
2. Peplum skirt, Lotus Boutique ($9.99)
3. Cream jacket, Parisian's ($29.99)
4. Tank top, GAP outlet ($6.99)
5. Nine West suede heels, gifted (thanks mom!)
6. Beaded clutch, gifted (thanks Joy!)
7. Vintage 1950s cateye Ray Bans, borrowed (thanks Laura!)
8. Beaded bracelet, borrowed (thanks Laura!)
9. Earrings, Charlotte Russe (??)

 

 

 

 

Photos: Laura Menconi

ps. What's your va-va-voom factor?