tips

by: Sharon Mosley

When it comes to wearing plus-size clothes, it’s all about attitude, says Babe Hope, author of a new guidebook: “Pretty Plus: How to Look Sexy, Sensational and Successful No Matter What You Weigh” (New Horizon Press, $14.95). Since Hope has struggled with weight issues all her life, she has decided to transform her “pity party” into a “pretty party” by writing a book that gives new fashion skills to plus-size women.

One of Hope’s biggest tips centers around accessories: “For us curvy women, much of fashion, in terms of clothing, is dictated by fit,” she says. “But when it comes to accessories, the sky’s the limit and the opportunity to create ‘focus’ on meaningful attention and expression abounds. The plus-size woman should revel in this opportunity.”

Here are some of Hope’s tips on using accessories to create a stylish image:

— Strive for consistency in order to build a wardrobe, according to Hope. “A little of this and a little of that or ‘this is cute’ won’t get it done.” She suggests doing some people watching. Then cut out pages of accessories you love from magazines and choose the design elements you like. “This will serve as the common denominator for all the accessories you select.”

— Avoid spending a lot of money on accessories, even if you like the expensive ones in the magazines, admits Hope. “The malls are full of stores with terrific accessories,” she says. But if you can afford it, obviously, more upscale accessories will ‘boost your wardrobe a great deal,’ but the same rules of design apply regardless of what you can afford.”

— Begin to collect special accessories one at a time, Hope urges. “You do not need several of one item or sets of accessories,” she says. “Begin with a stylish handbag, tote, umbrella, scarf, pair of sunglasses, raincoat, pair of leather gloves and hat. Strive for items that are bold, impressive and strongly evidentiary of your emerging style.”

— Don’t get too matchy matchyü says Hope. However, there must be a distinctly unifying influence among all the accessories. “There are times I have to run out on an errand and don’t have time to dress the way I want,” she says. “Give me a pair of black jeans and a well-cut black top with a colorful vest or a warm-up suit, matching top and bottom with a great set of accessories and I’ll appear well-dressed and pulled together, casually and effortlessly.”

— Focus on the handbag, according to Hope. “Firstly, they never suggest they would look a lot better if I lost 10 pounds. Secondly, I trust my handbags to carry and organize my busy life. Thirdly, good handbags allow me to make a statement about my lifestyle or, frankly, the lifestyle of which I dream.” Hope firmly believes in the saying, “you never get a second chance to make a first impression.” “I believe that and I’m willing to bet my pocketbook on it,” she says.

— Plus-size women should concentrate on getting the “proportion” right when it comes to accessories, says Hope. “Large women need large handbags,” she notes. One of her favorites is the square satchel similar to the Birkin bag. This trick also goes for sunglasses, watches and jewelry. “The only ‘small’ earring I can abide is a large diamond, at least one carat, real or faux, or a 10 millimeter or greater pearl stud,” she adds.

— Color is a must when it comes to accessories for plus-size women, says Hope. “A plus-size woman gets the benefit of looking svelte in the darker colors of her clothing, but gets the added benefit of ‘wow’ as her accessories contrast against that background.” She also encourages larger women to choose bold textures and embellishments when choosing a handbag.

— Create a “best feature” like a signature piece of jewelry that is bold and memorable. “Make sure it enhances you,” she says. And don’t worry if it’s real or not. “I admire women who lavish jewelry on themselves, layering pieces that share a unifying quality — metal, stone or material — for impact. I think of it as a composition displayed against a clean, monochromatic background of soft, neutral colored clothing.”

Her favorite signature jewelry is a set of interlocking silver bracelets. “Let the clothing create a svelte look and the jewelry explode!”

Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters Association. To find out more about Sharon Mosley and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2010 CREATORS.COM

BJ T.J. TOMASI

Things you should know about your shoulders:
1. The shoulder is one of the most ­sophisticated and complicated joints in the body with the largest range of ­motion.
2. The wide range of motion comes at the expense of joint stability. With the odd angles and high stresses it’s easy to wear out your shoulders, so here’s an ­exercise to protect them:
Choose a light weight (I use two 7-pounders) at waist level, and stand with legs bent and a tad wider than shoulder-width. Keep your elbows slightly bent and raise the weights to shoulder level in front of you. Do three sets of 12 to 15 repetitions at least twice a week.
3. A healthy rotator cuff is a staple of your best golf, but it’s the deltoid muscle covering the top of your shoulder joint that gets the most use. Even though it shouldn’t be used in the golf swing ­(unless you like cutting across the ball), most general shoulder exercises overwork the deltoids, so you need special exercises for golf to train your rotator cuff muscles.
4. The shoulders don’t turn “around” the spine; they are ­attached to the spine, so they turn “with” the spine, which is the hub of your coil.
5. Research shows that the shoulders account for about 8 percent of the total work output of all the segments of the body.
So while they are not major power producers, their ­action is a key in the ­sequential passing along of energy from the ground up. Don’t try to swing your shoulders fast, but do allow them to keep pace.
6. Your shoulders can move independently of one another
— i.e., the front can turn under your chin while the back hunches upward. So you need to practice a two-shoulder turn where your front shoulder swings under your chin, while the back shoulder goes behind your neck. You accomplish this by coiling your spine.

BY T.J.TOMASI
The position of your body just before impact is important because at this late date in the swing you really have no time for correction. If you’re in the correct delivery position, you’ll hit a good shot. If you’re not, then it’s “scramble time.”
When your hands are thigh high on their way to impact, your lead arm should be extended over your trail arm, which is still bent.
In the photo below, teaching professional John Bierkan is posing in the wrong delivery position to demonstrate what not to do. John has started the downswing with an outward heave of his shoulders toward the ball. As he spins his shoulders, he straightens his right arm, forcing the club out and across the target line. This cutting ­action opens the clubface, and that spells weak slice.
In this photo, John does it the correct way, starting the downswing with his lower body so that the club slots from the inside. Note the ­classic relationship all good players exhibit at this point: bent trail arm under straight lead arm. From here he can turn as hard as he wants to and release the two power angles: (1) the angle formed by the shaft and his front arm, and (2) the angle formed by his back elbow.
Tour player Richard Green demonstrates the thigh-high position in this picture taken during a tournament practice round in 2008. His hands are almost to the ball and yet his back shoulder is still waiting to fire through, proof that his body coil is retained until the last possible moment.

By Dr. Marty Becker
Gina Spadafori
Universal Uclick

Beauty is more than skin-deep when it comes to your dog. Keeping your pet well-groomed not only gives you a clean-smelling companion, it also helps keep your dog more comfortable and allows you to spot health problems before they become serious, even life-threatening.
How important is grooming to your pet’s comfort? Consider a simple mat, so easy to overlook. Have you ever had your hair in a ponytail that was just a little too tight? A mat can feel the same way to your dog, a constant pull on the skin. Try to imagine those all over your body, and you have a good idea how uncomfortable an ungroomed coat can be.
Your dog need never know what a mat feels like if you keep him brushed and combed — but that’s just the start of the health benefits. Regular grooming allows you to look for lumps, bumps and injuries, while clearing such things as mats and ticks from his coat. Follow up with your veterinarian on any questionable masses you find, and you may detect cancer early enough to save your pet’s life.

For shorthaired breeds, keeping skin and coat in good shape is easy. Run your hands over him daily, a brush over him weekly, and that’s it.
For other breeds, grooming is a little more involved. Breeds such as collies, chows, Keeshonden and Alaskan malamutes are “double-coated,” which means they have a downy undercoat underneath harsher long hair. The down can mat like a layer of felt against the skin if left untended. To prevent this, divide the coat into small sections and brush against the grain from the skin outward, working from head to tail, section by section. In the spring and fall — the big shedding times — you’ll end up with enough of that fluffy undercoat to make a whole new dog. Keep brushing and think of the benefits: The fur you pull out with a brush won’t end up on the furniture, and removing the old stuff keeps your pet cooler in the summer and lets new insulation come in for the winter.
Silky-coated dogs such as Afghan hounds, cockers and Maltese also need constant brushing to keep tangles from forming. As with the double-coated dogs, work with small sections at a time, brushing from the skin outward, and then comb back into place with the grain for a glossy, finished look. Coats of this type require so much attention that having a groomer keep the dogs trimmed to a medium length is often more practical. In fact, experts say that the pets who shed the least are longhaired dogs kept trimmed short by a groomer.
Curly and wiry coats, such as those on poodles and terriers, need to be brushed weekly, working against the grain and then with it. Curly coats need to be clipped every six weeks; wiry ones, two or three times a year (but clipping every six weeks will keep your terrier looking sharper).
Good grooming is about more than keeping your pet looking beautiful and clean-smelling, although that’s certainly one of the pleasant payoffs. Regular grooming relaxes the dog who’s used to it, and it becomes a special time shared between you both. A coat free of mats, burrs and tangles, and skin free of fleas and ticks, are as comfortable to your dog as clean clothes fresh from the wash are to you. It just makes you feel good, and the effect is the same for your pet.

Some added benefit for you: Giving your dog a tummy rub after every session is sure to relax you (and your dog, of course) and ease the stress of your day. And for allergy sufferers, keeping a dog clean may make having a dog
possible.

By: Sharon Mosley

It’s not just Hollywood celebrities who have red carpet moments. Hopefully, we all will have a few of those “golden” glamorous times in our own lives, whether it’s a wedding, a bat mitzvah or a gala charity event. But if anyone can give us some tips on making the most of those “red carpet moments” when they do come our way, it’s Melissa Rivers, who through the years has witnessed the performance of hundreds of celebrities on their big day (or night)!

In her new book, “Red Carpet Ready: Secrets for Making the Most of Any Moment You’re in the Spotlight” (Harmony, $22.99), Rivers gives us some surprisingly personal insights into the life lessons she has learned from her experiences growing up in Los Angeles and sharing the red carpet and TV cameras with her infamous mother, comedienne Joan Rivers.

“What I’ve learned in watching thousands of celebrities have their red carpet moments,” Rivers says, “is that nobody turns in a star performance in the spotlight by accident.” And she admits that while it’s critical to “be comfortable in your own skin,” and “show grace under pressure” and “be nice on the way up,” she has also found that “every woman cares about looking great when she’s having a red carpet moment. Appearance matters.”

In a season of awards shows, here are a few of Melissa Rivers’ fashion pointers that we can keep in mind:

— Don’t let the dress wear you. “When you know an outfit isn’t right for you,” she says, “it’s impossible to carry yourself with the confidence that makes you truly gorgeous. You look self-conscious and everybody knows it.”

— Weep once; buy quality. “My uncle always said, ‘Buy quality and weep once.’ That means the price might be a shock to your credit card, but you won’t suffer the extra pain of having to replace what you bought in a year because you went cheap. There’s nothing wrong with saving money, and it’s not a bad idea to bargain-hunt for something you’re going to wear only a few times, but you’ll never go wrong spending on quality for the go-to items in your wardrobe.”

— Take care of your shoes. “Nothing ruins your put-together look like shoes that are battered, scuffed or just old-looking,” says Rivers. “It’s so easy to clean and polish any decent pair of shoes that I’m amazed more women don’t take the time.”

— Test-drive your haircut. “Leave nothing to chance,” cautions Rivers. “If you’re going to try a daring new cut, test it out a few weeks beforehand. That way, if what looked so good in the salon turns out in daylight to look like a dead cat sitting on your head, you can have some time to make changes.”

— Make important changes before panic time. Forget losing 10 pounds two weeks before the big event, says Rivers. “Instead, prepare for the spotlight months in advance with a healthy lifestyle: good diet, exercise routine, skin care and so on. That way, you can approach your red carpet moment knowing that you look healthy and radiant, and you’ll have the confidence that comes with knowing that you look healthy and radiant, and you’ll have the confidence that comes with knowing you’re as prepared as you can be.”

— Flaunt what you’ve got. While Rivers admits that there are some celebrities who look good in anything they wear, most of us “have to dance with the body that brung us.” But that doesn’t mean you can’t look your best when you find yourself in the fashion spotlight. “Everybody has something about them that’s exceptional,” she says. “Figure out what that is for you and work it.”

— “Be a well, not a fountain.” One of my favorite chapter in Rivers’ surprisingly thoughtful book deals with showing grace under pressure: “Until you’ve walked down a few red carpets in someone else’s designer pumps, don’t assume you know what they’re dealing with … Don’t spill your guts to everyone you meet about how much life sucks at the moment. Everyone is carrying their own baggage, and they don’t appreciate the weight of yours. Have some good people in your life whom you can lean on, and be stoic and brave to the rest of the world.” Now that’s a great piece of red carpet advice for all of us.

Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters Association. To find out more about Sharon Mosley and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2010 CREATORS.COM

By T.J. TOMASI

“Golf is best played on the inside rims of your feet.”
Jack Nicklaus said it, but he received this advice from his teacher, Jack Grout, who got it from Alex Morrison, the scion of much instruction that is accepted today. Morrison was one of the first to emphasize the importance of rolling the ankles in the golf swing.
How it works
The ankle is a hinge joint with a range of motion that allows the leg to move inward ­toward the center of the body while the foot remains essentially in place — a key move in a correct backswing.
This rolling motion is rarely used in everyday movement since it is much more natural to lift your front heel and knee in line, a habit ingrained from walking. This is why so many golfers simply lift their front heel and knee straight up during the backswing, thus ruining their coil.
Roll your ankles
On the backswing, your left ankle (right for left-handers) folds inward toward the ­center line of your body in response to
the pull of your front knee as it moves ­behind the ball. The knee should move ­inward rather than ­directly upward.

By: Sharon Mosley

If you’ve never worn jeans, then this is the year to make a new resolution: Find a pair of these “do-it-all” fashion staples and give them your own signature style. Forget your age. Forget your size. There’s a jean for everyone and practically every occasion. OK … maybe we won’t see them at the Golden Globe Awards, but these days you never know.

Here are some dos and don’ts to keep in mind when wearing denim this year:

— Do buy jeans that fit. The stiff denim jeans are a thing of the past. With new stretch fabric innovations, there’s a pair of jeans to fit even the curviest of figures. You may have to try on several different sizes in different labels, but don’t give up. There is the perfect pair out there. Ask for help from a knowledgeable salesperson. Then when you do find a brand you like, stock up!

— Don’t get stuck wearing the infamous “Mom” jeans. You can win the battle of the bulge without sacrificing style and without spilling out of the top of your jeans into the dreaded “muffin top,” which has plagued many women for years. Look for jeans with waistlines that hit right below the bellybutton for the most flattering silhouette.

— Do consider cut. The skinny jean is still a big fashion trend, but a boot cut is usually more flattering for most body types. And if you do have larger thighs, a trouser style may be your best bet.

— Don’t stick to just one style. Try to incorporate a variety of silhouettes into your wardrobe. You may have one favorite, but jeans can be your best friend when it comes to building a basic wardrobe. This spring, cropped denim is a big trend for the warmer months ahead.

— Do think about shoes. The right shoes or boots can make or break a pair of jeans. Generally speaking, your jeans should cover the heels of your shoes and hit right on top of the front of your shoe. If you need to get them hemmed (and many of us do), have them altered to match the original hem stitching. You will probably find that you will wear different lengths with different shoes — I have a special pair for flats and another pair for heels.

— Do dress your jeans up. Jeans are one of the most versatile basics you can have in your wardrobe. When buying them, think about your lifestyle and buy accordingly: a dressier pair for the office; a more casual pair for the weekends. Darker washes are preferable for dressier occasions and for work.

— Don’t go baggy. There’s nothing worse than a slouchy pair of jeans that hang off your body. You may have broken them in years ago, and they’re the softest things in your closet. But it’s time to get rid of them. Stick to wearing jeans that are sleeker and chicer! You don’t have to go tight, but you do need to remember to buy jeans that fit and may even be a little small for you, since most jeans have a tendency to stretch as you wear them.

— Do get creative. Jeans are the perfect “base” for adding some oomph to your fashion outlook. Experiment with different “trends” and revamp your whole wardrobe. Tuck your skinny jeans into knee-high boots, or jazz up your cropped denims with a pair of strappy sandals. The more creative you get, the more you’ll see how you couldn’t imagine life without your favorite pair of jeans.

Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters Association. To find out more about Sharon Mosley and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2010 CREATORS.COM

BY T.J. TOMASI

You hear this advice all the time: “Fire your right side” (left for left-handers). It means to aggressively transfer weight to your front foot while rotating your core through the ball.

This is good instruction, but to be effective, it must be applied correctly. Two of the reasons I’m wary of the “fire” concept are that it (1) is sometimes misunderstood and (2) is often performed incorrectly.
The misunderstanding happens because of the human architecture. Since we are designed for walking and running, biomechanically the knee flexes over the foot, a position that aligns the hip, knee and ankle joints to provide maximum stability. Thus the natural (but incorrect) tendency during the downswing is to move the back knee out toward the target line as if you were going to step in that direction.

Phil Mickelson is an example of a player who fights this problem, and it is just another indication of how counterintuitive this game is — what is natural is wrong. As Jack Nicklaus says, “Golf is best played on the inside rims of your feet” — a departure from the normal that must be learned.
“Firing” is performed incorrectly when you push up and out off the back foot so your trail knee juts out over your foot instead of leaning in toward the target, a move that positions the back foot on its inside rim.
When you fire your trail side correctly, your back heel is off the ground, and as part of the release, your back shoulder moves from a high position behind your neck to a low position at impact while your trail elbow moves in front of your hip.
For some excellent slow-motion swings that demonstrate the correct way to fire your trail side, go to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_axF1OpSzA.
If you watch these swings, make sure to stay for the last swing, which is actor Morgan Freeman. While the pros show the correct move, he demonstrates the wrong move as his right side remains passive. Stop the tape at impact and you’ll see he’s completely “unfired.”

You’ve spent weeks cleaning out your closet and getting ready for a new year free of fashion clutter. So, now what? What do you do with all those bags of clothes? Do you donate them to the local Goodwill? Give them to friends and family? Or take them to a consignment shop? Or sell them on eBay?

Here are a few tips to help you recycle your wardrobe extras:

— When it’s cold outside, it’s a great time to spend a few hours taking inventory of your closet. Ask yourself what you haven’t worn in the past year — or the year before that — then be ruthless and get it out of your life once and for all. Maybe those sleeves have never really fit you; those buttons have been missing for months; you really do hate that chartreuse green color. Make room for something new. And remember: One woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure. Put it in the giveaway pile.

— After you’ve purged, you have some decisions to make. I usually load my “extras” up in the car and take them to a local charity where I know my clothes will actually be worn by a person in need and not resold. Dress for Success is a favorite charity as well as the American Red Cross.

— If your clothes are in excellent condition, then you may want to consider “reselling” them at a consignment store in your area. Be sure to check out the store’s policies. These policies can vary widely. Many shops only handle high-end merchandise or clothes with designer labels. Ask what percentage of the sale price the store keeps. And remember, if your item does not sell right away, it may be marked down again and again.

Also ask what the store does with unsold clothing. And always make a list of what you have left at the consignment store. Trust me, it’s easy to forget that slinky little cocktail dress that languished at the back of your closet for years, even when it’s at the resale store. Out of sight, out of mind!

— If you’ve decided to finally part with great-aunt Lucille’s fur stole or your grandmother’s rhinestone brooch, then you may want to consider taking it to a consignment store that specializes in selling vintage clothes and accessories. Again, ask friends for a reputable store managed by people who know their “stuff” and can assist you in determining the value of a treasured item.

Also ask about their “terms” — some vintage stores may offer you cash up front, while others operate much in the same way as a consignment store that resells designer clothing.

— Have a swap party. I’ve only been to one of these, but it was interesting. Most of us had more fun sipping cocktails and socializing then actually going home with tons of new clothes. But there are several websites that will get you started on hosting one of these parties — www.wikihow.com or www.ehow.com — and even online fashion swap sites: www.swapstyle.com.

— And then there’s eBay. This international, online auction phenomenon is a treasure trove of fashion finds — new and old. One of my New Year’s resolutions (oops, I forgot to mention this last week!) is to sell one of my black Persian lamb coats on eBay. However, at this point, I’m much more likely to find an authorized “eBay” drop-off store and let them do all the work for me. Now that’s how I like to clean out my closet!

Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters Association. To find out more about Sharon Mosley and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2010 CREATORS.COM