Call To Arms!
It’s hot again. Spring was amazing this year, but it is truly over. Summer is upon us, sometimes just hot, sometimes humid and hot. How this part of the country was civilized before the invention of air conditioning is beyond my reality.
Which brings me to the arms conversation. The one comment I get from my clients over and over and over is “I can’t show my arms.” What they are referring to is their upper arms. The fashion mags make (not so subtle) references to women of a certain age, or weight, keeping them covered at any cost.
Some women store fat on their upper arms. It seems to be a genetic thing. That or the creator has a wry sense of humor. I have one client with arms that look like she works out 3 hours a day. She was born that way, does nothing to keep them looking toned. Life is NOT fair. I store fat in my upper arms and my sister doesn’t. Life is REALLY not fair.
And then there are the fashion designers, showing us lovely summer frocks, all sleeveless of course. And the solutions they offer us? Dopey little cotton knit cardigans that look great on pre-teens but they bunch under the arms and you are forever trying to keep them from crawling off your body.
Hot Tip: If you have a bosom, carry your weight in the top half of your torso or are over fifty, bolero sweaters and jackets, especially those with ruffles, are not your friends. They add bulk in all the wrong places and will never stay positioned properly.
So, what to do? My suggestion is that you ignore everything you have ever heard from the fashion industry, well-meaning (I hope) family or friends or anyone else who has dared to judge your body. If you are cold all the time, wear long sleeves, a jacket or wrap. If you are warm-natured or have power surges (a.k.a. hot flashes) wear sleeveless to stay cooler.
