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I never cease to be amazed by how many of us (myself included) keep wearing clothes that are uncomfortable or actually hurt us. Seriously, the prime offenders include tight-fitting shirts and pants or skirts, belts and earrings. Get rid of them! Here are some suggested solutions for consumers and consultants.

 

 

Tight shirt collars and pant or skirt waistbands are the cause of actual pain. Men complain of the misery of wearing a tie when it's usually the shirt collar that's too tight. Buy a size larger and make sure two fingers can be comfortably inserted into the buttoned collar. Elastic button extenders allow for a little more fitting ease.

 

 

 

 

Tight pant and skirt waistbands cut into the body at the waist. Miserable! So buy a bigger size. But then the pants fall down or the skirt doesn't fit in the hips. Pants and skirts are meant to fit at the waist, with the waistband level to the floor. Men and women who have a tummy (or a belly) tend to wear the waistband under the tummy curve, looking pretty silly.

 

 

 Men are intended to wear suspenders to hold their pants level, but many men think they're too "cool" for that. My flip comment, "Get over yourself." You will feel so much more comfortable wearing sharp-looking suspenders or braces. Get yourself to a good men's retailer for good looks that both fit and feel great. Women are smart to get pants and skirts that are fitted with elastic in the back or all around, but many women think they're too "cool" for that. We too, need to "get over ourselves." No one sees the elastic if we wear a great belt or layer with the shirt or lightweight vest or jacket on the outside. And yes, even the largest ladies can wear a belt with belt-loops on the sides. Layered, people see only the center-front waist area and at that point you look like you have a narrow waist. It works!

 

And that brings us to belts. What a pain it is to wear a belt that's too small or to shop for a new one that fits our new size. We often refuse to admit that we need a larger size in a belt. That's another one we all need to "get over." When one of my son's was six, he had a funny hang-up of belting his belt so tight that his pants bunched below, he got red in the face, and sick to his stomach. He never could explain to my understanding his reasoning, but he eventually "got over it." Belts are a great accessory to buy on sale and it's often the larger ones that are left.

 

Many people complain about shoes that don't move with their feet, often an excuse for flip-flops and sloppy posture. Most clogs don't bend, so don't buy them no matter how cute or popular they are. We have many more comfortable options to choose from, also good-looking and popular if that's what's wanted. Before you even try on a shoe, bend it to ensure flexible comfort when you walk. Another complaint has to do with shoe soles that are too thin and leave the ball of the foot throbbing. Make time to shop for a padded sole shoe. It's worth planning for.

 

 

Neither flexible nor padded soles will help, however, if the toe of the shoe is too pointed or the heel too high. The narrow, pointy toe box is not designed to fit any foot! Four to six-inch high heels put all the pressure on the ball of your foot and push your toes into the tip. They also throw your back out of balance. Flats can sometimes create as much back pain as heels. Opt instead for a shoe with a heel about one, to one-and-a-half inches high. Wedge-style shoes often work well. If you need shoes larger in size than what is available in local stores, you can rely on several shoe catalogs, shop online, or contact the shoe manufacturer for sizes not always stocked in the stores.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The pain associated with earrings comes from clips that pinch, heavy pierced styles, and allergic reactions to the metal. Padded clips may provide some relief, but not always or not enough. Avoid screw type earrings. The best solution in clip earrings is the "outline" back.

They tend not to concentrate any pressure on the ear lobe. Heavy pierced earrings are simply not smart choices. Choose lighter-weights and rely on plastic disc backs to counterbalance the earring's weight. If you tend to get infections wearing post earrings, it's probably due to the popular "base white metal" containing nickel, the usual irritant. Look for surgical steel or 14K gold posts and backs.

  

 

 

 

 

 

Judith Rasband

Conselle Institute of Image Management

http://www.conselle.com

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