So much of the way we look and feel in clothing is directly related to our posture. And, now that we find ourselves in a new year with a slew of resolutions, POSTURE is one more item to add to your list.
“When a woman is trying on clothes, she almost always holds herself beautifully erect in front of the dressing room mirrors. If afterward she hollows her chest and lets her entire body slump, she should not be surprised to find that her new dress does not look at all as chic as it did when she tried it on in the shop.”
The fashionable, Tim Gunn dedicated and entire chapter of one of his books to posture, stating that “No matter how spectacular a look, if the person inside it is bent, lopsided, crumpled or otherwise hunched, there is simply no saving it. Far too many people, men and women alike, are walking around completely unaware that with a few simple adjustments they could look and feel immeasurably better. It’s time to straighten up and fly right.”
And, while I certainly am not a medical professional nor am I in any position to give medical advice, I do know that good posture makes clothing hang better on your body. Good posture also eludes confidence. And, as Tim Gunn points out, “a youthful, attractive silhouette really should have little to do with age.” So, what’s not to like about feeling and looking better, slimmer, taller, more graceful, more confident, and younger by merely adjusting your posture?
You may be asking yourself, what exactly is good posture? Imagine yourself with a pole going down the center of your body – chin level with the ground, your shoulders back and your stomach in. If this is hard to imagine, then like the old-fashion way, grab a book, put it on your head and practice walking across the room.
Then, pay attention to your pelvis. Your pelvis should tilt slightly to keep your bottom from jutting out and your stomach lifted and flattened. Janet Lane wrote a book called Your Carriage Madam in which she suggests that in order to bring the pelvis into proper alignment, one should imagine slipping between two tables at a crowded restaurant. It’s that movement and the way you adjust your body, that gives you the proper posture.
Now, some of you might feel like your standing posture is on point, but the minute you sit down, things go awry. Check your posture by sitting on your hands. Put your hands under your sit bones, palms facing down. Adjust your position until you can feel the weight centered on each of your hands. This is your optimal seated position. Then adjust your legs to keep your thighs parallel to the floor, your feet slightly separated and flat. And then, the hardest part for me, don’t cross your legs or ankles.
So, in 2019, I challenge you to pull those shoulders back, stand up, tuck in the pelvis and keep your chin up. The results will be worth the effort. For a link to the video, please click here: Alexandra Styles.
xo,
Alexandra
