SWAKdesigns.com Blog

Here are some style tips for the curvy woman. Get the most out of your look!

credit: Erin Sumwalt, Instyle Magazine

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, NAAFA generated a press release in hopes to bring awareness to the way our society refers to our children and adolescence. They've encouraged us to refrain from using words such as "obese," or "obesity." The October 17,2007 Press Release states the following:

"Stop Referring to Kids As Obese

Oakland, CA – The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance joins the Weight Realities Division of the Society for Nutrition Education, and the Association for Size Diversity and Health in urging our government, the medical industry and the media to stop using the words "obese" and "obesity" with reference to heavy children and adolescents.

This is not a matter of political correctness. It is about the critical need to create environments in which children and adolescents do not feel shame or guilt about their bodies but, rather, are motivated to enjoy healthful eating and active living habits regardless of their body size, weight or shape. Recent research shows that the stigmatization of large children has increased by 40% over the last 30 years

Whereas, we believe that health is composed of physical, psychological, and social components, we call upon U.S. Government agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services (CDC, HRSA, and other offices) and the Department of Agriculture to REJECT the recommendation of the Expert Committee on the Assessment, Prevention and Treatment of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity to classify certain children and adolescents as obese.

In light of documented pervasive bias and discrimination against larger individuals by people in all segments of society, including many in health care, the terms "obese" and "obesity" should be abandoned and more constructive and less value-laden descriptors developed and adopted."

credit: www.naafa.org

Tips From Our Model

We here at Sealed With a Kiss Designs spoke with one of our models about things that help flatter fuller figures.

Here's what she had to say:

Wraps

"The diagonal [part of the wrap] shows off a narrow waist and fakes one for the wider waisted girls."

Ruching

"[Ruching] across the waistline to disguise rolls, front and back."

A-line Skirts

" ... for anyone who had either a tummy issue or a hip/thigh issue."

Drapey Fabrics That Don't Cling

"[Drapery fabrics that don't cling] ... but are fluid enough to show the shape of the body without showing cellulite and rolls. Enough coverage on the top to cover the bra's and shapers that we sometimes have to wear ... but still showing some cleavage. Coverage under the arms, wide enough fabric at the front of the armhole to disguise that excess flab that most big busted women have, straps wide enough to cover the bra strap ... things like that."

Skirt length

" .... never mid calf ... better just at or below the knee ... where the leg is the thinnest and where it shows off the curve of the calf."

A state lawmaker on Monday promised a quick death of Mississippi House Bill 282. The bill would prohibit Mississippi restaurants from serving obese people.

Filed by State Representatives, Ted Mayhall, R-Southaven, John Read, R-Gautier, and Bobby Shows, D-Ellisville, would make it illegal for restaurants with more than five seats to serve people who are obese. Restaurants that do not comply would have their permits revoked.

Mayhall said he and his colleagues filed the bill to bring attention to the state's obesity problem, but he never expected to hear from so many people about his filing. The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance issued a news release Monday blasting the bill as "a clear and shameless violation of (Mississippians') human and civil rights."

Holland, who has described himself as obese, said, "... Let's all go walking instead of trying to tell restaurants who they can serve."

credit: www.clarionledger.com

Now you can enjoy a day of beauty sent to you in your own home! Valentine's Day is around the corner! Why not treat yourself? Enjoy a girl's night in with friends or have a romantic evening with that special someone. This new trend is popping up in cities such as LA, Dallas, Chi-town, Atlanta, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia. If you live in one of these cities, you may want to read on!

Top day spas around the country are now exporting spa staffers clad with candles, robes, magazines, scrubs nail polishes, gift bags, and sweet-smelling lotions- to homes, office conference rooms, and hotel suites!!!! Services range from facials, manicures, massages, food, music, alcoholic beverages for parties of 2 -200 guests!

Los Angeles

Fred Segal Beauty
fredsegalbeauty.com/mobile
Standout Treatments: Haircuts start at $150/person. From there you can add in anything you may need to prepare for a big event- lash extensions, nails, makeup, mani-pedi, and more.
Vibe: Staff arrives with a boutique-in-a-duffel for purchases such as brushes, headbands, and grooming creams if you're doing hair- you can customize the type of products they bring.

Dallas

A Spa Affair
aspaaffair.com
Standout Treatment: 60 min. hand and foot spa, $120 including an ultra-relaxing hot-stone leg massage or the foot soak in big stainless steel bowls filled with floating rose petals.
Vibe: The vibe is warm- the spa completely transforms a space with beautifully scented candles and little fountains.

Chicago

Spa on the Go
spaonthego.buz
Standout Treatment: Refresh Party Package, $90/person, 90 min. Includes a revivifying facial, pedicure, gift bag of assorted face creams, and candles. For an extra $40/person, everyone can get an airbrush tanning session.
Vibe: Accomodating. On its website, the spa gives yoiu a step-by-step (time frame, necessary prep work, etc) guide for how to best plan your party.

Atlanta

KVG Mobile Spa Lounge
kvginternational.com
Standout Treatment: Sunday Bruch Lounge Package, $100 to $500/ person, 3 hours, five-person minimum. The natural-girl verson of luxe; you can start with hand, neck, and chair massages, mimi facials, and reflexology. You can also go all the way up to 60 min. full body massages, a group pilates session, and a nutrition-oriented organic cooking class.
Vibe: Hands on and sophisticated, with an extremely wide selection of world music; they provide fully loaded iPods that you listen to individually or link up to a stereo!

Philadelphia

The Body Klinic
thebodyklinic.com

Standout Treatment: Pamper Packages, $120/person, 1 hour, five-person minimum. Yoiu get flutter lash extensions (lasts 6 weeks), mini massage, mineral makeup lessons, and applications.
Vibe: No-nonsense, helpful, and friendly.

Manhattan

Spa Chicks on the Go
spachicks.com
Standout Treatment: Mani-pedi Party, $175/person, 3 hours, 6 person minimum. Very detailed oriented manicurists.
Vibe: They are the expert at morphing any space into a spa (wedding tents, backstage at Fashion Week). Half of their parties are done in office conference rooms.

Brooklyn

Body By Brooklyn
bodybybrooklyn.com
Standout Treatment: Deep Tissue Massage, $110/ person, 45 min. The technician constructs a plush massage-table-and-goose-down-comforter setup, then gives knot-obliterating rubdowns!
Vibe: The portable spin-off of a slick new bathhouse-meets-lounge in Clinton Hill; their chef does amazing catering, with everything from wasabi-Dijon tuna tartare to apple tartlets.

credit: Cristina Mueller, Lucky Magazine