The Tiny Closet

Last year, I decided to indulge in the creative, resort side of swimwear.  This year, the theme has been all.about.comfort.  In more ways than one.  I want to be comfortable in my clothes enough to forget about them and enjoy my life.  Especially when I'm at the beach. 

The only time I've ever worn a two-piece swimsuit in my adult life was back when I was visiting Boracay in the Philippines.  I had been exercising a sizable amount at the time and wanted to show off my upgraded physique.  The suit wasn't necessarily meant to be as stylish as it was meant to be skimpy!

Normally, I feel most fashionable and classy when wearing more clothing than just two itsy bisty pieces but since the Lanvin one piece I wanted was considerably outside my reach (it's a shame too...I would've rocked it, humph!)  This Summer, I decided to upgrade the pieces I already owned.  I kept the teeny tiny bottoms but found a more compelling topper: 

a Bollywood bustier.  

Take that, Lanvin.

I had been spying this sequined bustier for a while at one of the many costume design shops I pass by in L.A.'s downtown fashion district.  I didn't buy it for the longest time as I just couldn't figure out where the heck I would ever wear it....  I soon realized though, as I began planning my Summer swimwear, such a glitzy glam top would be absolute perfection for laying out and dressing up poolside ensembles.

I also used the remnant fabric that was left over from when I designed a muumuu/swim cover up and tied it over my shoulders for a shorter, wispier cover up.  The original muumuu is below.

coverup: The Tiny Closet Collection / bustier: Perial Company / bottoms: Aqua / earrings: Karla Deras for Roman Luxe

As the second installment of my mix and match style adventures, I am loving all the gold!  I was excited to put on Karla Deras for Roman Luxe's gold and lapis earrings again.  They were fitting for the occasion yesterday evening as I melted into the hot tub watching the sun go down.

I'm just getting started with this mix and match show and tell so 

Visit me again next week for another look into my experiments with swimwear!

Have a great weekend :)

Getting ready for the festivities of July, I have been collecting swimwear for the past couple months.  Here and there :)

I actually don't like swimsuits.  It's very challenging to find suits or pieces that flatter my particular shape and the ones that take my breath away also leave me gasping for air at the price.  Every.single.year.  I wrestle with the choice of either investing in a truly fabulous, amazeballs swimsuit that puts my monthly student loan payment to shame and I can wear it for a few years - OR - I just go to Target and pick up the latest flavor for $20 and call it a Summer...  

Decisions, decisions...

This year, I didn't choose either.  Instead I thrifted, mixed and matched and thought outside the box.  I realize since I don't really swim anyway, and much prefer lounging and looking good, I decided to get more creative with my options.  Especially since these days, I am naturally finding myself more poolside than I have in my entire life.  

So here's Part One of my swimsuit chronicles:

a bandeau and half of a one-piece...

Anyway, I've been loving my new after-work ritual of scampering up to the roof top and going for a quick swim.  Even though the sun beats down on our pool all day, the water is still freezing (I don't get the science of that at all) but I jump in anyway.  It's a great way to just woooosh the stress of the day right out!  I guess the temperature changes are really relaxing because for the rest of the day, I feel as light as a feather.

Come back later this week for Part II!!

The Tiny Closet is not about fitness, nutrition and wellness- and certainly not about weight loss... but those things do tend to go hand in hand whether we like it or not when it comes to enjoying fashion, style and clothes.  When I feel good about the way I look without clothing, its easier to feel good with them on.  Its easier to unleash my creativity with styles and fashion and really get into clothes!

And while I don't endorse radically changing the body to an unhealthy degree in order to satisfy a picture in one's head, I do prescribe to a good ol' fashioned revamp for looking and feeling good!  And I'm currently knee-deep in doing this!

I never show my stomach.  In fact, I don't like to show too much of my body in general.  Even while I happen to love drapey clothing, I shouldn't be resigned to wear it.  Fashion and style is about expressing oneself - not hiding behind it! Being overly self conscious, setting ludicrous standards for my self image and comparing my shape and size to that of others has limited me in fashion considerably.  All of that is just fashion buzz kill and I'm tired of it!

   So I decided to get fit, get out and get happy with what I got.  I'm no Halle or Angelina but I'm baring it all, dammit.

Running two miles a day, swimming, eating juicy sweet fruits for dessert and getting some sun on my face, well it's made me my #1 fan.

Here's to a more confident, more daring Tiny Closet :)