Author: Big Mama

Yesterday afternoon Caroline wanted to go swimming at Mimi and Bop’s house. I dug through the drawer that contains all my swimsuits and decided to wear an old tankini that I’ve had forever. So I pulled the bottoms on and they were huge. Without a second thought I began an internal congratulatory speech to myself on my incredible shrinking bottom.

And then I realized I had on the bottoms that went with my old maternity bathing suit.

Good times.

But for a fleeting moment in time, I was queen of the world. With an impossibly small rear end.

So, based on the questions it would seem that this summer is the season for twentieth high school reunions. I actually have one more year until my high school reunion but for some reason it doesn’t make me feel any younger to say, “Well, I just graduated from high school NINETEEN years ago.”

It seems like just yesterday that I was curling my hair with a teeny-tiny curling iron and dancing to Erasure.

Of course for all y’all know that may actually be how I spent yesterday. While wearing my maternity swimsuit.

Here are the questions.

1. Heather asks: “My 20 year high school reunion is next month and I want to buy something special to wear. I am approx. 5 foot 6 inches, blonde hair and have recently lost alot of weight…going from a 12 to a 6. The Friday night “mixer” is at a trendy nightclub downtown and the dress is casual. The Saturday night dinner is “business casual” at a fancy dinner restaurant.”

You are so lucky to have graduated in 1988 because I bet fifty dollars that your senior t-shirt used the word “great” to rhyme with eight. I was the class of ’89 so we were stuck with using the word “fine” which works but doesn’t really convey the true awesomeness of being a senior in high school.

Anyway, I think what you wear Friday night depends on your personal style. I would probably wear some really great jeans with a fun top, cool jewelry and heels. I also really like this tunic top. Or you could do something really fun and summery like this.

But you could also do a casual shiftdress or halter dress with some cute sandals if that’s more your style.

As for Saturday night, I’d go with something classic and sophisticated like this. Or if you want something a little more fun you could wear something like this dress. I also adore this dress although it is pricey, however I’d never wear it with those shoes they have on the model. WRONG. ALL WRONG.

I think the important thing is to make sure that you feel cute and comfortable in whatever you choose and that if an Erasure or, even better, some Debbie Gibson or Lisa Lisa and The Cult Jam song comes on you’ll have the mobility you need to dance.

Have fun!

2. Jennifer asks: “My 20 year reunion is this summer. I live in Washington state and August will be anywhere from 65 to 95 degrees. I love structured things (vests, jackets, etc…) Little larger on the top and the “girls” are quite shy. There are three events. 1. Dressy casual event for grads only. 2. Nice dinner for spouses too. 3. Family day at one of the grad’s house with swimming, boating, etc… HA! Will not be caught dead in a bathing suit at the ‘ol 20 year – but would like to wear something fun.

Okay, first check out some of my above suggestions to Heather. Some of them may work for your dressy casual event and the nice dinner. Oh, but I will tell you that I think this dress is a really cute dressy casual look.

I think the Family Day is the tricky part. I am willing to bet that you won’t be the only one not wearing a swimsuit because why would a person want to do that to themselves? Unless you’re Heidi Klum. I would totally wear a bathing suit to every event at my high school reunion if I were Heidi Klum, plus I’d have my husband, Seal, get up and sing “Kiss From a Rose” because hello! COOLEST PERSON AT THE REUNION.

Anyway, I think what you wear for Family Day depends on the level of activity you think you’ll engage in. If you just want to hang out on a lounge chair and look great, then I’d wear something like this cute dress from J. Crew or this maxi dress which could always be worn over a swimsuit. Gap also has a really simple linen dress.

Of course you may want to go a little more casual and comfortable because, unlike me, you may be the type of person who might like to participate in something more strenuous than lying in a chair. In that case you could wear some dark denim bermuda shorts with a cute shirt and some summer sandals.

Or you could go even more casual with these shorts, a good white t-shirt, and flip-flops. This dress would also be a really comfortable, practical option with flip-flops.

I hope that helps!

And on that note I’d like to wish the entire class of 1988 my best wishes for their twentieth reunion. In the immortal words of Whitney Houston, “Oh! Wanna dance with somebody. I wanna feel the heat with somebody. Yeah! Wanna dance with somebody. With somebody who loves me.”

Now those are lyrics that really meant something.

One last thing because I am curious and nosy, who attended their twentieth high school reunion and if so, did you have fun?

And if you’re younger than thirty-seven, I realize you haven’t had the opportunity yet, unless you were some sort of child prodigy. In which case, what’s it like to be a child prodigy?

Y’all have a great Friday!

This is normally where I like to have some fashion story that may or may not relate to anything else I’ll write about, but I am at a loss right now.

I was so disappointed that Jim didn’t propose to Pam on The Office that it’s just hard for me to concentrate.

But on the plus side, I now know that if the devil explodes and evil is gone forever that it’s appropriate to throw a beach party.

And if you don’t watch The Office then you have no idea what I’m talking about. Please do yourself a favor and spend your summer in front of the T.V. catching up on the previous seasons.

Oh sure you could spend it outside at picnics, the beach, and pool parties, but that’s such a cliche’.

Dare to be different and just sit inside with the a/c blasting while you fall in love with Dwight Schrute.

Unless the devil explodes and we’re all invited to a beach party.

Now, on with the questions.

1. Shannon asks: “A lot of the tops and dresses you post are super cute, but i just can’t get the pregnant feeling out of my head when I wear something like that. I’m a size 6, but i still feel like they aren’t that flattering on me. Is there a certain body type these are best for? I am pretty curvy (dd chest and a little hippy). ”

There has been many a time over the last year of fashion that I’ve tried on various tops and questioned whether or not they made me look pregnant. Because if I bought a top, wore it, and had someone ask me if I was pregnant, then I would have to take it out in the backyard and burn it. While weeping and crying.

But the styles do invite that question and while it has always been my personal belief that you shouldn’t ask a woman when her baby is due unless you see her in a backless gown being wheeled into Labor and Delivery, there are always those people that use the question as a conversation opener.

I think there are a few keys to wearing the style. First, if you are busty, do not wear an empire waist line. It will just accentuate that area. Second, if you’re going to wear a loose, flowy top then wear some fairly fitted jeans or pants on the bottom. A long, flowy top will look much more flattering if it’s worn over something that’s more streamlined. Billowy tops with full bottoms will just look dumpy.

And last, if you don’t want to accentuate your hips (and really, who does?) then make sure the tops you choose either hit above the hips or well below the hips. A top that lands right on your hips will just make you look wider. This tunic top is a good example of a style that might work for you since it’s longer and isn’t fitted under the bust.

All that being said, there are a bunch of cute shirts right now that might be a more flattering style for you. Check out this. And this. And this.

2. Melissa asks: “What kind of jeans would you recommend for someone who is 30 and has no bottom to fill up the back of a pair of jeans?”

Oh Melissa. How I wish I were an expert on this topic. Unfortunately, with the exception of the fall I was seven years old, I have never suffered from the issue of not having a bottom to fill up a pair of jeans.

Although I spent a few years in college suffering from the opposite problem. Too much bottom, too little jeans.

However, I am going to make a few suggestions based on my five minutes of research.

Citizens of Humanity jeans are supposed to do wonders for your derriere.

On a completely random note, I saw a t-shirt the other day that had the outline of Wisconsin and said, “Wisconsin. Come Smell Our Dairy Air.”

It made me laugh for a minute and a half.

But that’s off topic.

I also love Joe’s Jeans because they come in a variety of different fits and styles for various figures.

Your best bet is to go to a nice department store like Nordstroms and ask the salespeople to help you. They are experts at finding the right jean for the right body.

And let me just say, you will NEVER EVER regret spending money on a great pair of jeans. A really nice, well-fitting pair of jeans will serve you well for years to come. In fact, I will even be as bold to say that if you are going to splurge on one fashion item, I would make it a pair of jeans. There is nothing else that you will wear more.

Unless of course you never wear jeans.

Anyway, if there’s anyone else out there suffering from the no bottom syndrome, please share if you’ve found a great brand of bottom-enhancing jeans. Or you could always order a pair of these. Sweet mercy, I can’t even imagine.

Oh, and check of Zafu.com. They will suggest the right brand of jeans based on your personal profile.

3. Judi asks: “I just started a new job. Trouser jeans and capris are acceptable attire, as well as dresses or skirts. My friends who work there assure me that most people lean towards the casual. I have always worn pantsuits or skirts with tailored blouses to work. I want to fit in, but I also want to ‘stand out’ and appear professional. Plus, I don’t think I would be bringing my ‘A Game’ wearing jeans and flip flops. What should I wear?”

I think you already have most of the pieces you need to create the perfect business casual wardrobe. I would just mix and match the pieces you already have with a new pair of trouser jeans and a few casual shirts like this or this.

Then you can wear some of the tailored blouses with your trouser jeans and the pair the casual shirts with your suits and skirts. This will give you a polished yet casual look.

Here are a few great relaxed work outfits from Ann Taylor.

Good luck with your new job!

And that’s all I’ve got for today.

Y’all have a great Friday!