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Women are born beautiful. We, however, are not perfect. Admittedly, there are still some blemishes that we need to cover up, like a mole, a scar, a birthmark, a pimple, pockets of fat in our body, and other things like that. We are beautiful, but we are not perfect. And so we try to enhance our best features and hide the unflattering ones away.

A usual problem that most women have with their bodies is a bulging belly. Let’s face it: our bodies are made to retain fat for child-bearing purposes, and the fat is usually concentrated on our hips and bellies. There are so many workouts and diets out there that are designed to get rid of the fat in these areas, but it takes time and special effort to cheat the design of Mother Nature. Some of us have succeeded with flattening our bellies, while some have not.

Here are ways to hide that unsightly pocket of fat on your abdomen.

Tops: When choosing the right top, whether it is a blouse, a shirt or a tee, the one thing we have to remember is to avoid those with elastic waists, or those made from Lycra or any stretch fabric. They will only draw the eyes more to those unwanted curves on our torso rather than hide them.

We can also leave the last couple of buttons on our button-down shirts open. It is kind of sexy to look at, and it does not squeeze the belly too much. Also, avoid tucking your tops into your pants. Wearing jackets where the hem ends at the hips will also work wonders in hiding that bulge.

Pants: For slacks, the most flattering ones that will also hide the condition of our bellies are those made of tailored cotton. Zippers should also be at the side; zippers at the front only show unwanted bulge. For jeans, go for the long and lean ones, as well as the straight, narrow or slightly-tapered ones that create the illusion of length for the body.

Skirts: Stay far, far away from flimsy fabrics and pleated skirts . They will only make your pouch and curves more pronounced. Instead, try full skirts, mini-skirts or A-line skirts that can keep your belly in. Semi-stretchable denim skirts work well, too.

Belts. Keep your belts big, wide and chunky. Also, wear them slung around the hips instead of at the waist. Narrow belts will only make the bulge seem bigger.

Hiding your belly with clothes will work well, but if you really want the bulge to go away, do your exercise regularly and rigorously.

For a woman the traditional costume is as set for the ice rink as it is for the tennis court or the ski slope. A long skirt will make any woman stand out like a sore thumb on any ice surface, just as a long black skirt would make her an object of special attention on any tennis court. So remember this when you buy your costume: if you want your first few wobbly strokes to go as unnoticed as possible, be sure to dress in the accepted mode. If you dress like a reasonably expert skater (whether you are or not), you’ll find that people are much too preoccupied with their own edges to pay any attention to yours.

The accepted style for skating skirts and dresses has a full circular, gored, or pleated skirt which flares from the hipline. Plenty of stores now have the most chic, correct, and practical costumes imaginable – and at very small cost. In fact it is because the stores are putting out such attractive and becoming figure skating outfits that lots of young girls are taking up the sport!

As for the rest of the costume, good sense and a certain amount of fashion should dictate. Sweaters with skirts are always good, but if you are going to an indoor rink, don’t make the mistake, as one of my friends did, of wearing a heavy sweater, a stocking cap, and fur-lined mitts. Most rinks are heated nowadays, so it is well to inquire first. On the other hand, trim windbreakers, parkas, and turtleneck sweaters are perfect for pond skating. Big hats are out of place on the ice. The closer fitting the cap, the trimmer the appearance. Streamlining is as suitable to the skating figure as it is to an automobile chassis.

Anything that doesn’t contribute to an impression of speed and freedom of movement is undesirable. That is why the bodices of skating dresses should be molded to the figure. That is why trunks should never be large and bulky – but, contrary-wise the too tight, too high little panty that some good skaters are now affecting is ugly, too. Trunks should as a general rule match the skirt and be as inconspicuous as possible. Excellent nylon tights are available at most stores, while wool and nylon tights may also be procured. The latter are fine for outdoor skating in cold climates.

A Brief History 
Any unstitched fabric in history has somehow been given sacred overtones. The belief was that the unstitched fabric was pure. This garment can fit any size and if worn properly can accentuate or conceal. 

This supremely graceful traditional dress  can also be worn in several ways : Maharashtrian : Navvari, Gujarati style, Bengali style, Kerala style, Irula style, Pinkosa (farmer) style,  etc.  Thus there are many ways of wearing a sari, as well as its color and texture. It could be of shimmering silk or the finest gauzy cotton. Perhaps a pastel-hued solid color or a myriad of woven flowers. It may even be embroidered with golden threads, or finished with a richly tasseled border. The way and kind  the sari  worn is very much indicative of the status, age, occupation, region and religion of a woman and is true especially in India. 

The Famous Legend:
One of the famous “Sari legends” has been described in the 5,000 year old Indian epic, the Mahabharat. Legend has it that when the beautiful Draupadi – wife of the Pandavas -was lost to the enemy clan in a gambling duel. Lord Krishna promised to protect her virtue. The enemy was determined on  “bagging” their prize, caught one end of the sari that draped her so demurely, and pulled and pulled at it to unravel. They continued to pull and unravel, but could reach no end. Thus protecting her virtue. 

Different regions of India have their own distinct forms of draping a Sari. Some of these are outlined below:

Gujarati way: This version of draping, commonly known as the seedha pallu way, is also found in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar. Instead of opening to the left, the pleats are tucked so that they open to the right. Then, the pallu is taken to the back and brought over the right shoulder. It is then spread across the chest, and the left edge is tucked in the petticoat at the back.

Maharashtra method: Instead of the usual five-and-a-half meters, the sari in this version measures eight meters. One portion of the sari is drawn up between the legs and tucked in behind at the waist, while another portion is draped as a pallu over the bosom. Thus it forms a kind of divided sari, allowing greater freedom of movement.

Tamilian version: Like the Maharashtra version, the sare in this version, too, measures eight meters. After wrapping around the waist, the pleats are positioned along the left leg. The rest of the sari is taken over the left shoulder, wrapped once again round the waist and tucked on the left side.

Bengali style: The sari is worn pleatless; it is wrapped around the waist, brought back to the right side and the pallu is thrown over the left shoulder. The pallu is then brought up under the right arm and once again cast over the left shoulder.

Here is how to wear a Sari……

*Tie the petticoat tightly at the waist. Tuck the  top right corner of the sari into the petticoat at the navel and wrap it around the waist anti clockwise once. Make sure the lower end of the sari touches the floor.    

*At the tucked-in end  hold the top edge of the sari with right hand between stretched forefinger and thumb and start making pleats. Make about 6 pleats of about 6 inches wide each, hold them together at the navel level and ensure they fall evenly on the floor. Crease the pleats with your hand to ensure that they stay that way.  

*Tuck the pleats together into the petticoat,  keeping the navel at the center of the pleats. The tucked-in pleats should spread like a Chinese fan as they fall towards the floor. (Its a good idea to pin your pleats together at the top with a  big ’safety’ pin before tucking into the petticoat). 

*Drape the remaining fabric around the waist anti-clockwise once more and take it over your left shoulder so that it falls on your back and goes down till your knees.    

*Secure the portion of the fabric on your left shoulder by pinning it to the blouse at the shoulder with a small ’safety’ pin. This helps keep the “pallu” in place. 
*Enjoy wearing this beautiful piece of clothing. 

The Choli
It is the tightly fitted, short blouse that ends just below the bust worn under a sari. It is either long sleeved, short sleeved or sleeveless. The choli evolved as a form of clothing in 10th century AD and the first cholis were only front covering; the back was always bare. Blouses of this type are still common in the state of Rajasthan.  Today, there are numerous styles of cholis inspired by the booming Indian fashion industry. 

The Salwar Kameej
Another popular attire of women in India is the salwar-kameez. This dress evolved as a comfortable and respectable garment for women in Kashmir and Punjab, but is now immensely popular in all regions of India. Salwars are pyjama-like trousers drawn tightly in at the waist and the ankles. Over the salwars, women wear a long and loose dress known as a kameez. One might occasionally come across women wearing a churidar instead of a salwar. A churidar is similar to the salwar but is tighter fitting at the hips, thighs and ankles more like leggings. Over this, one might wear a collarless or mandarin-collar dress called a kurta. Top

The Lehanga
Apart from the choli, women in Rajasthan wear a form of pleated skirt known as the ghagra or lehanga. This skirt is secured at the waist and leaves the back and midriff bare. The heads are however covered by a length of fine cotton known as “odhni” or “dupatta”.

Women don’t mind spending a lot of money on clothing. It’s hard for some women to find women’s fashion clothing that fit just the way they like it. When they do find clothes that fit perfectly, they need to buy it, no matter what the cost may be. Some women rarely find clothes that are flattering to the body, so when they find a particular item, they purchase that item in several different colors or prints. If you’re going to spend a lot on women’s fashion clothing, you have to make sure that it makes you look good. When you wear clothes that make you look good, you are more confident and feel good about yourself.

Of course, women also shop for women’s fashion clothing for practical reasons. Women’s outerwear, as the name suggests, are worn on days that you need to go outdoors. Outerwear is an extra layer of thick clothing that keeps you warm during cold weather. Women’s outerwear consists of pieces of clothing such as coats, jackets and vests. Women know that you can be both practical and stylish at the same time. Many females love to shop for women’s outerwear in bright and cheerful colors to counter the gloomy weather outside. Some trench coats and jacket come in polka dots or even zebra stripes.

Some women buy clothing during off seasons in order to save money. People can purchase thick coats and jackets at inexpensive prices during the summer season, when wearing thick women’s outerwear would be unthinkable. Similarly, some people like to buy bathing suits, bathing suit cover-ups and beach shorts during the winter. Buying out of season clothes is generally more inexpensive then buying clothes that are in season. You can buy more items this way, making your money go a longer way.

Women love to buy clothes because it is a form of expression. The great thing about women’s fashion clothing is that you can use different pieces of clothing to express yourself. You can mix and match different colors and prints in order to come up with your own unique sense of style. You can look sophisticated by wearing basic colors such as black, brown or grey. If you’re feeling happy, you can wear an item of clothing in a loud, vibrant color. You can wear clothes that are currently trendy or you can come up with a trend of your own. There are no limits and how you want to express yourself is completely up to you.

My style is sweaters in a solid color or cute print (nothing showy or with childish designs), and blue jeans. Since summer is coming I will wear skirts or dresses that are modest but cute.

thanks

Needed Clothes:
Short Sleeved Shirt = 8
Long Sleevd SHirts = 5
Sweatshirts = 4
Sweaters = 15
Polos = 6
Jackets = 5
Jeans = 13
Skirts = 5
Dresses = 6
Bermuda shorts= 6
Short Shorts= 5 (can’t wear to school)
Flip Flops = 2 (can’t wear them to school)
Sneakers = 5 (already have them)
Flats = 8

What do I still need? Please add anything you think I would need: clothes, shoes, whatever!

Thank you in advance!
And I know this is a repeat question… I’m just looking for new answers!
guitarhero♥er:

Good point with the dressier tops. I forgot to add those to my list. Thanks.

Oh, and please know that my list doesn’t include things to wear places, just to wear to school (so not stuff for parties, etc., etc. – I like to get those new before the party, event, or whatever)

Thanks for the answers so far!
Another note:

This list is just for the beginning of the year. It will definitely grow with all of my shopping trips over the year ;-]

2. http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=sale&product_id=2062256184&Page=1#
Ethnic Print Babydoll Top
[What do you think of this? Would it look good under a basic tee? With a black cardigan or a coat?]

3. http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=fab_finds&product_id=2059472493&Page=1#
[It's getting colder now so I'm thinking of wearing this with another tank top underneath or a long sleeve/or tee - if it works out and pair it with a cardigan, leggings/tights or skinny jeans and boots with maybe leg warmers and a scarf. Good or no? And either with or without a belt at the waist]

4. http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=fab_finds&product_id=2063050695&Page=1#
[Planning on wearing another tee or tank top underneath it, unbuttoned or partly buttoned, maybe with a belt, skinny jeans and boots.

http://www.aeropostale.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3548169

My boots are the same color as that.]

So what’s your opinion on the clothing and my ideas? I have not tried these out. I was just typing down whatever came to my head.

01: http://www.asos.com/Asos/Asos-Stamp-Print-Cropped-Top/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=482190&cid=5087&clr=Red&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=20&sort=_None

02: (Green) http://www.asos.com/Fornarina/Fornarina-Stripe-Button-Corset-Top/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=224392&cid=4167&clr=Green&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=396&sort=_None

03: http://www.hollisterco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10251&catalogId=10201&productId=491267&langId=-1&categoryId=12595&parentCategoryId=12552&colorSequence=01

04. (Lt. blue & gray) http://store.delias.com/item.do?itemID=50916&categoryID=458&sizeFilter=&colorFilter=&brandFilter=

05. http://shop.pacsun.com/girls/skirts/Sugar-Daisy-Skirt/index.pro

06. http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3454572&cp=2745080.3124250&clickid=cat_leftnav_txt&parentPage=family

Thanks!