Our grandmothers may turn up their noses at the notion of going braless, but whether you’re perky or pulpy, letting the girls out is the ultimate show of confidence….but there are some guidelines to be followed.
When not to go braless:
- Job interviews (unless you’re a stripper).
- Running, or any other sports oriented activity. Bicycle riding not included.
- When cleavage is an important accessory.
- When you’re wearing see through shirts (please see “When to” rules below).
When to go braless:
- Pretty much all the time.
- Especially when you’re wearing see through shirts (please see “When not to” rules above).
Regarding clear bra straps: please re-read the “When to go braless” guidelines above. If you think clear bra straps are necessary for halter dresses, tube tops/dresses, any shoulder/back baring outfit, or anything even related, please be advised that strapless bras are acceptable alternatives if you aren’t comfortable with letting the cowgirls loose. So please throw those unsightly, shiny and so very obvious plastic death straps in the garbage. You’re not fooling anyone.
Photo by Wayne Webb
Over some delicious beers with a dear friend today at Havana’s, we surveyed upcoming shows in Vancouver and man, are there a lot I want to attend. Here’s the rundown:
- Radiohead, with Liars. Sold out, but I just scored a ticket within an hour of finding out I no longer have to work tomorrow. Huzzah!
- Beck, with Band of Horses. August 28. Beck would be cool to see, but I am deadly obsessed with Band of Horses right now. And at the Orpheum…stellar.
- !!!. August 31, at Richards. !!! pretty much sums up how I feel about this.
- Steve Aoki, September 5 at the Commodore. At the Miss Sixty opening party at M Bank last summer, I danced so hard it will forever stand out in my memory as one of the sweatiest, sexiest nights ever.
- Fleet Foxes, September 16, Richards. Not a dance party show, but a goodie nonetheless.
- CSS, with Tilly and the Wall, September 17 at the Commodore. I got hooked on CSS after becoming enamoured with “Let’s make love and listen to Death From Above.”
- The Raconteurs, September 18 at Malkin Bowl. I have never yet been to a show at the Malkin Bowl, if you can believe it. This has to change.
- We are Wolves, September 27, the Bourbon. Very good live show, saw them at Pat’s Pub last time around and will definitely be going back for more.
- Cold War Kids, September 28 at Richards. Thanks for tipping me off to this band, E-Roc.
- Iron and Wine, October 7, Commodore. No friggin’ way am I missing this show.
- Cut Copy, with the Presets, October 9 at the Commodore. Cut Copy at Richards last time around was a fantastic time, however I was feeling under the weather and couldn’t give’r on the dance floor. Never again.
- Born Ruffians, with Plants and Animals, October 10 at Richards. Two supremely good bands, do not miss this show.
- Black Kids, October 11 at Richards. These kids opened for Cut Copy last time around, lots of energy. Again, didn’t have the opportunity to dance.
- Stereolab, October 19 at Commodore. Pretty, pretty.
- Crystal Castles, October 27 at Commodore. Last show at Richards, they played with all the lights off. It was a bit annoying, so I danced and partied up on the balcony. Couldn’t see anything from downstairs anyway, so that was a good call. I’m willing to give them another chance.
See you at the venue(s)! Let me know if I missed any other amazing shows coming up..
(Backstreet Boys, September 4 at GM Place, anyone? I dare you!)
This place gets 110% Persian approval AND they have a fabulous name. Banana Tans is the most remarkable tanning spot I’ve visited in the city. They pay extra attention to their customers, and believe me, I’ve shopped around.
I called roughly five various tanning salons before I settled down with Banana Tans. Their drop-in fee of only $5.00 before noon is ridiculously worth it.
The cherry on top? They provide you with protective eye wear, AND a mint. If you need to touch up your hair, hair products are available, as well as spray on deodorant– just in case you forget your own!
Conveniently located at 148 East Broadway (Broadway & Main), of the five spots I dialed in survey of the best tanning salon, Banana Tans upheld a high standard of customer service and etiquette.
Note to the cautious: the hi-tan bed is as strong as they advertise, so stick on the safe side. I overestimated my Persian skin tone and ended up with a deadly burn – something that has never happened to me before at a Tanning Salon! Especially since I’ve taken the same time limit at other salons in similar beds.
Their website is extremely helpful and informative, so I recommend you check it out.
*Note: this post is not to promote fake tanning or Banana Tan specifically, but to simply inform those who are interested.
During my recent move, I was in a position where I had to re-acquire heaps of furniture and household items. I started out on craigslist, looking in the furniture for sale section. After not much luck a week later, I started checking out the free section, and couldn’t believe the gems that people give away just for the convenience of having someone pick it up. Some of the best things in life really are free:
This loveseat could be refurbished and made into an even lovelier piece. I love the wood trim.
This is an old ferry chair – I believe there was a set of 4 to give away.
If I had a separate dining room in my new pad, this would make a terrific buffet piece.
I am still on the hunt for the perfect coffee table, and hopefully I will score one for free. My “freebay” hunt has turned up some very weird items, though – I inquired about some free 9″ long church pews, hoping to take just one that could line a wall of my studio, but got no response. And then there’s this:
Jar with 3 screw top lids, free to a good home.
My number one tip for free shopping is this: move quickly. If you see something you like, call and set up a time immediately to pick it up. I lost a beautiful retro couch and armchair because someone else offered to pick them up an hour before I was scheduled to go “look” at them.
As you may know, the girl (woman, questionably) who founded this site is Terri Potratz and she is apparently a tampon trader.
Earlier, I posted two posts on the OB trails for Matchstick Marketing. Terri’s move to a new studio unearthed a box full of toiletries, where we found this evidence:
Her defense: she WOULD buy OB, if only they were sold at Costco.
My response to her defense: WHY would you trade such convenient little packaging for a hefty plastic applicator with a wide-load “pon*”?
Any words from our editor?
*Term coined by Terri Potratz
Do fashion trends influence societal weight gain?
The other day while having dinner on a patio in Yaletown, one of my finest friends asked a question I have had to ask myself certainly more than once this summer: “Is that girl pregnant, or is she just fat?”
The “flowy” fashion fad has ballooned across the nation, which may indicate a Hollywood-led baby boom…or it may be that we just want to stop sucking in all of the time. Whatever it is, I think people are underestimating how tough this look is to pull off.
The golden rule of maternity shirts is this: if you’ve got a belly, don’t wear them, or else someone may be staring at you trying to determine weather you’re pregnant or just trying to pull off the trend.
What I have noticed is that when this style was first made popular, I didn’t notice this problem. It’s only as of recently that I’m really starting to wonder if it’s the maternity shirt that gives us that extra little room to cheat, allows us to take that extra bite – and perhaps even discreetly unbutton the tops of our pants while in restaurants?
I know I’ve gone out for dinner on more than one occasion and stuffed myself silly with the comfort of the extra material building a curtain around my swelling belly – so the question is, have flowy and oversized shirts enabled us to get fatter and fatter?
Ed: This reminds me of the chicken vs. egg riddle. Which came first, the fat or the flow?
Above: Lover shirt; Insight dress, some fine examples of very pretty pudge hiders.
