Buy Something On TV

Mission Level: Success

I can actually spend hours watching infomercials. How else would I know all the problems I have - like cooking pasta - and how there is a solution for $19.99 (plus shipping and handling) plus a free gift solution!

I ended up going with the Cami Secret because, so much like the commercial says, I like to have some coverage without adding bulk. Summer is coming and the last thing I want to do is be wearing two shirts in order to make sure no one sees my bra.

They have not invented a camisole for pit stains, let me tell you. Here is the commercial for your viewing pleasure!

Background
First, I don’t have the ample bosom of the lady in the commercial  I don’t think I actually have cleavage at all, actually. However, this doesn't mean I should have a top or dress that proves that. I have a couple blouses that have a sort of cowl-neck – a draped neckline that can slip in non-professional ways. There are times you can avoid flashing your undergarments. Like, 99.9% of the time.

I have used tape before to secure unruly shirts in place. The tape actually works great, but, it doesn't allow for as much movement as can be natural. It also leaves behind a residue on your clothes or bra. This can be really hard to remove. It’s great the tape really sticks – sucks that is really sticks.

Sometimes, life is like that.

What It Is

The product

The Cami Secret is a mock-cami. It’s just a little triangle of fabric that clips to your bra so it looks like you
are wearing a cami (and hiding some bits) without having a full on cami.

I bought mine at CVS. You can actually get them at most drug stores and food stores, online and wherever, really.I was not going to be calling over the phone for something, by the way. I believe the using and acquiring of the product was the real challenge - not calling some weird hot-line and giving out my information.

I did get them in the three standard colors - black, nude and BRILLIANT white.

Pros
It’s actually a good product. The quality is good. It does look like an actual camisole. It’s smooth and even the lace strip on the top is pretty nice. It’s not sloppily glued or stuck on there. It can actually look like a real lace cami and not a mock thing.

It works by having a little piece that goes around your bra strap and snaps into itself. It’s pretty secure – it’s not just a pin or clip.

You do get three colors – I am just not sure who wants to display a nude color. Really. Nude is . . . not a sexy color. No one is like, “You know what I need, a nude undergarment to bring the sexy.”

It’s not too expensive. All around, the pros are pretty strong.

Cons
I dislike the lace detailing. I wish they had just plain ones. The lace does not go with everything I have. I normally wear very plain spaghetti strap tops, so the lace is weird to me. It is also a little bit, maybe, old? I think a clean line would be more modern and versatile. You can easily find dressy cami for special outfits. Because of the lace, I really only wear the black one because it is less noticeable.

Since I am not a top-heavy girl, I also do not have any ability to adjust the amount of skin-to-cami ratio. In the commercial, they show how the girl can go from “I’m a nun” coverage to “$1s go in here.” I only have the “I’m a nun” setting. This is because the mock-cami will only slide as far up or down as your bra strap goes. Once the strap meets the top part of the bra cup, you’re done.

Future Thoughts
I have been wearing it to work for a couple dresses. I do like it, overall. I am happy with my purchase. I will have to get something else for my going-out dresses if I want a mock-cami since it’s a little too modest for my bangin’ hot red dress with a low-cut front that I just need about an inch of coverage on.

If anyone wants that nude one, though, it’s totally available.

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Image Credit
Product image from amazon.com

The Art of a Good Tailor

People, you need to get a tailor.

Women know how to find one if they are brides or bridesmaids because most dress shops hire a group of tailors (jack up the price) and herd everyone into this basement department in order to drain a good $100-$200 from each “special princess” morsel that stumbles into their store. Sometimes, these stores even convince these sparkly-eyed victims of the bridal industry they need more than one fitting to “get it right.”
If you can’t tell my feelings, here they are:

• The wedding industry sucks.
• A good tailor can do magic in one session.
• A good tailor can be hard to find.

My mother found the tailor I used – yes, tailor can be passed down from generation to generation. They never get old, they just get better.

My Tailor

Having a tailor will expand your wardrobe and you dollar in beautiful ways.

The first tailor I went to with pants that were too long butchered them and cut them off above the ankle. What I wanted, was a pair of pants I could wear with heels – after all, to me, your pants should not drag on the ground but you shouldn't, in general, see sock when you sit down. Some people sit and their pant leg is up mid-calf. Weird.

I didn't go back to that tailor, nor did I ask for a refund or something. Being a tailor is an art and is filled with mistakes. They will happen. I just never went back.

The second tailor I visited is the one I use these days - the first time I went to her, I was on the cusp of getting sick. I had dropped from about 15lbs in about two months (red flag of poor heath? Naaa). My investment in expensive business suits brought with my hard-earned saved money as a retail worker and freelancer was crashing around me because I couldn't wear these suits. I had spent about $1,000 on corporate-appropriate suits as I engaged in a career in advertising.

$1,000 is nothing to sneeze at.

I brought my collection to our tailor and with a couple well placed pins and about 1 week later, I had custom built suits.

Tailor: Amonda, I know you lose weight. An inch, tin pounds.

My tailor is Russian, by the way. She has great stories, an awesome accent and lots of talent. I take my jeans to her to get rid of that booty gap taken care of.

Finding Your Tailor

Here is my simple list of advice for finding a tailor:

• Ask around: If someone has a chain of good experiences and maybe even gets the same stuff done that you want done, I would give that person a try.
• Avoid neon: I would suggest avoiding dry cleaning tailors for anything but light hems. Also, avoid department store tailors  and, 100%, bridal store tailors. It’s not because they are bad all the time, just that they tend to cost more and be more mechanical. You want someone who’s bread-and-butter is this business.
• Consult: Go into a high-end boutique and ask if they recommend a tailor – the higher end the better the tailor because the store will not want a bad reputation.
• Specialize:  Sometimes you can find a tailor that specializes in certain things, hit them up for this only. If you are a guy needing a suit tailored, go to a place that specializes in men’s tailoring not a tailor who specialize in dress making.
• Test: Start with something simple when trying out a tailor, then you can assess the work

Your Role

It’s important to know your role when dealing with vendors.

Make sure you communicate correctly with your tailor – tell him/her what you want. At the same time – LISTEN. A good tailor is a professional. Ask what can be done with an article of clothing and be aware of the risks and rewards.

Tailor: Amonda, if zou lose anymore veight, I channot help zou.

Ask questions. List demands. Understand the feedback.

Thinking

The fashion industry seems to be all about saying how we, as humans, need to fit the clothes. Here is the article of clothing, now you change your body to fit it.

I don’t have time for this.

Clothes work for us. Forget size, measurements and whatever. You can alter anything to fit you. And in the hands of a professional, it shouldn’t take three or four fittings – yes, even for a wedding dress.

Be Part of the Adventure

Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Image Credit
Ad from travelingwithintheworld.ning.com
Kid from travelingwithintheworld.ning.com