Beware of.. Skinny Jeans?

First they tell you not to wear high heels and now you shouldn't wear skinny jeans either?!


 (And as I write this I am actually wearing a pair of skinny jeans).


I was actually pretty against the whole skinny jeans fad when it first started, I couldn't help thinking I looked like a giant A-hole every time I tried them on in a store, kind of like how I feel when I try to wear Keds. They always look cute on the shoe display, but once I get them on I resemble more of a Revenge of the Nerds kind of a character than some cute girl from the pages of a J.Crew catalog.  


Regardless, now that I have become accustomed to the tight skinny jeans that look amazing with a great pair of stilettos I hear that they can cause nerve damage!


According to Dr. Karen Boyle from the Greater Baltimore Medical Center, wearing skinny jeans that are too tight for you ( a la one turn in the wash) compresses a nerve that runs in the outer part of your thigh and can cause the disorder Miralsha Parasthetica. 


What's even worse.. she goes on to say how wearing high heels with your skinny jeans can make the symptoms worse suggesting, "When you wear high heels the axis of your pelvis changes and what happens is your pelvis tilts and your buttocks kind of kick out a little bit and your legs are longer looking. This is why women like to wear stilettos. But because the pelvis tilts some, it further accentuates the pressure that's caused on those nerves. It can make the symptoms worse."


And don't think this "disorder" only applies to women... I think we all know at least one guy whose jeans are a tad bit too skinny or tight looking..and as I was researching this story I read that in the past doctors have also warned men who were trying to have a baby to avoid tight-fitting jeans because they can make their testicles overheat, lowering their sperm count ).

So what's a girl or boy to do?... Boyle advises wearing jeggings or a pair of skinny jeans that has some kind of stretch to it... and if you do wear skinny jeans and ever feel a tingling/ numbness in your leg to stop wearing the fashion faux pas pronto or else it could lead to more permanent nerve damage. 

Swimwear Advice from a Psychologist

Obviously no one "likes" trying on bathing suits, unless perhaps your a Victoria Secrets model.. but maybe they have days they feel bloated too( but probably not).


I was reading an article on a new study that found women can slip into a bad mood just from imagining themselves trying on bathing suits. 


Ok, yes..makes sense.. you might be day dreaming about your next shopping expenditure but its still for a bathing suit.


The study links the act of  'imagining yourself wearing a swimsuit' to an increase of self-objectification (which is a psych term for looking and judging yourself based on how you think other people look at you).


Marika Tiggemann, study researcher and psychologist surveyed female undergraduates on different scenarios to test the impact of clothing on self-objectification. 


The study found that imagining wearing a swimsuit in a dressing room made women self-objectify more than a public scenario like wearing a swimsuit while walking down a beach.


Tiggerman explains that a dressing room scene can be more unnerving because of potential objectifying  features like bright lights, lots of mirrors and of course the decision of whether or not you look good enough  to purchase the swimsuit. 


So again, Ok- I get it.. trying on bathing suits is annoying and less fun then strolling on the beach wearing one.. sure, doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out... 


However...


It wasn't the theme of the study that caught my attention.. it was the good doctors advice that blew my mind.


To prevent self-objectification she says to, " avoid mirrors and comparisons with others and focus on activities that emphasize the function, not the appearance of the body.."


Really? That is her professional advice? Just avoid mirrors? Why don't you tell us all- because we all have at least one insecurity with our bodies-that we should throw a brown bag over our heads and avoid life- there are mirrors and reflections everywhere lady! And don't compare yourself with others? OK fine point, but a point I assume we already know but you can't help compare something to something else at some point- its a part of life. Like comparing a new guy to an ex. I like that restaurants Clam chowder more than the others etc...and lastly 'focus' on the swimsuits function and not the appearance? We're not buying gym clothes, if were going to be practically naked the small amount of material we are going to be wearing better be somewhat attractive.


I just hope this is not the kind of advice people pay this doctor for in any one-on-one sessions.. 


Swimsuit season is upon us.. and unless you don't plan on going to the beach or pool you might as well prepare yourself for a less than happy afternoon at the mall ... and here is a tip from me.. wear or bring high heels.. the higher the better they will always make you look taller and slimmer when your trying on suits ( not that I expect you to wear them ON the beach-leave those looks for the Jersey Shore girls-) But while your in the changing rooms it helps-trust me. 

Pleasure with Pain

Don't worry I'm not talking about Fifty Shades of Grey again.. not yet at least.. though the author did just make Time Magazine's list of 100 most influential people in the world.

But no, I'm talking Christian Louboutin. You know him as the famous shoe designer popular for his signature high heels with red sole trademark that will run you about $800-$2,000 dollars.

This week UK's Grazia Magazine published an interview with the iconic shoe man where he told them that he had no sympathy for women who complain about high heels hurting their feet. "If Tina Turner and Prince's back-up band can perform on stage in them for three hours, you can't tell me they are impossible to walk in."

Louboutin isn't alone in this theory, women spent $38.5 billion on shoes in the U.S last year (according to NPD group more than half of those sales were for shoes with heels over 3 inches high).

Everyone already knows high heels can't be good for your health, for one thing they usually leave you with sore toes and blistered heels though what's more threatening and slightly alarming is the amount of extra pressure the inside of your knees take on from them- some studies actually say this pressure can increase up to 26% and possibly lead to osteoarthritis.

Now although some doctor's may say that if you insist on wearing heels to go for the ones that are 2 inches or less- which let's be honest here, are 2 inch heels really high heels? -I didn't think so.

My recommendation would be the advice most NYC ladies live by, leave your heels under your desk and wear your best pair of flats when you can.

Mr. Louboutin's advice? " High Heels are pleasure with pain. If you can't walk in them, don't wear them."

You can read his full interview with Grazia here: http://www.graziadaily.co.uk/fashion/archive/2012/04/17/grazias-paula-reed-meets-christian-louboutin-in-the-year-his-design-house-celebr.htm

So if you do choose to brave the pain and affliction high fashion heels will bring you...just do yourself a favor and learn how to walk in them..and oh yeah..don't complain about them either per Louboutin's request

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