Gym

Places to Shop for Bathing Suits in Queens, New York

As a Brazilian girl I always try to find the most familiar bikini for me.

For those Brazilian who live in New York summer is the ideal time to complain about the American bikinis, the panties seems Melitta Coffee filter.  Am I wrong? Ok. It is not only Americans, but Chinese, South Americans or Europeans bikinis they are huge, like baby diaper. In fact, just Brazilian women wear small bikini. Brazilians like to go to the beach stylist and beautiful, the US women are more basic and practical, they focus more on comfort. So every Brazilian I know complains about having to buy bikinis here in New York. However it has been changing and every year is easier to find a good tiny bikini. I mean, it is not that easy, but it is possible, especially in brands for young girls. 🙂

Can I say something? In Brazil bikini is for everyone, it is a democratic outfit for all, even overweight or elderly women, children, former-president, fitness muse, teen age girls… wear two pieces bikini, and nobody will stare on them with an unapproved look.

I’m not like most Brazilian, because I like big bikini, I have several huge tow pieces bikini, like vintage, retro or pin up style… On the other hand, I have minimal bikinis too, I’m not thong bikini fan, but I’m almost there.Bikini is my favorite fashion item. If you look at my wardrobe right now, you will not believe that live in New York, you will think that I’m living in Hawaii, even thought I still having many bikinis in my wardrobe in Brazil.

However, why do American like huge bikinis? Are they more modest? I don’t think so, I was impressed on the first time that  I went to a club here in New York. The girls went almost naked with transparent dresses, dance lowering up to the ground and rubbing themselves on the guys, I felt in a strip show, I’ve never seen anything like it in Brazil.

Or maybe American women want to hide some imperfections? So that’s why they would choose big bikini. In my research prove that huge bikinis are not always good for my shape. Sometimes it emphasized a defect or created a new one.  I chose black models and smaller size of the store. Generally panties are S and bras are XS. See my photos:

This is my bikini, a good design and size for my body. I took this photo in my bedroom and I used this photo as compared to all experienced bikinis.


In Century 21 I wore a Donna Karan bikini set, her panties had like a skirt that covered the bottom. Besides the horizontal lines let me fattier, the bottom left me with a straighter ass. The top was beautiful, but to be wore with another panties style, these was a set that they did not sell separately.

These panties was high waist and with wide side. The side had a wrinkled, that gave to me few pounds. These huge panties emphasized my rectangular shape. It’s more for a curvy girl, I guess. The bra had a pan inside, it was good to give me more volume. Although It was large for me, my boobs were swimming inside.

The short style model is the worst for my body type, because it emphasizes where I have the high amount of fat, between my legs and my navel. I was straight with no waist. Another thing, being faixinha style, let my butt “flat”. The bra I liked, sometimes it’s hard to find small bra the bastante.

In Kohls with the panty was a little lower, my body became more interesting, it appeared to be thinner and had waist. 🙂 The part behind was the very large as normal American panties and left me with a grandma’s butt. The bra was huge for my boobs but it was the smaller size. 😦

In Burlington the bikini emphasized my belly, I looked like an obese woman, although it was a small sized set. I wonder what kind of woman this bikini is good. The detail in the belly lured me much ass looks chicken.

Old Navy an JCPenny had very similar panties.

…But the back of these panties were too big! In this case the Old Navy I chose XS ba and S panties. I like the bra.

In the JCPenney the bra was a little smaller, and these fringes gave me more volume. Great! ❤

I swear I do not have that huge belly, and I am not a panda bear. I think the Express did not want to sell bikinis. What a horrible light in the dressing room.

The back part of the bra was very beautiful, swimming style, love it. The underwear is very basic, but it would not take this bikini felt good ridiculous because the illumination, I gained 10 pounds at least. I also have cellulite on my legs, but they did not exist… 😦

In Victoria’s Secret a smaller bikini fit pretty well. Look when I said I supposed to avoid huge bikinis, just because sometimes it is not good for me. In this time I had waist, butt and breasts. Actually, my boobs were quite big, they are not like this, good design for girls who does not like having small chest.  This bikini did not let me as a ironing board. Did I prove for you that little bikinis sometimes are better? Of course depending on of my shape. So, I would like to advice American girls who are fit to try to buy Brazilian style bikinis. You can buy it on Ebay (for cool and cheap sets) or with real Brazlian brands. Now the Brazilian currency Real is very undervalued, it is the best time to import stuff from there. 😉

These brands for high school kids are the best finding Brazilian style bikinis. My favorite set in all this research was the Aerie’s bikini.SO cute, unfortunately the photo is blurry.

The bra style is curtain and had an internal cup that made me feel more confident and beautiful. The panties was small, the same size on the front and on the back, exactly like in Brazil.:)  They also had an asymmetrical ruffle, which started narrow on my right and increased on the  the left side of my body. I had waist and butt.

The Aéropostale’s bikini was is also cute. I was sad when I realized that the brand  is closing some stores in the USA, it is one of the few brands that clothes fit on me. The panties was low waist, medium on the sides but small on the butt. The top is so beautiful, I regretted not having bought it.

While making this post, I saw a picture of the model Marquita Pring wearing a top from the brand Balance Tech on the beach. I have 6 bras like that, 3 are large in three different colors that they made it, and 3 are small in three colors too, I love them much. On the other hand, I do not wear them as a bra for beach, they are huge for this propose on my opinion. It is perfectly fine to wear on the beach  but what amazed me, was that Marquita said:

“‘I usually wear small two pieces bikini, with the minimal amount of material as possible. I love to feel free when I’m on the beach.”

But this is not a small bikini at least for Brazilian girls, neither the top nor panties. Then I thought maybe it is tiny for Americans, who knows? I also have one photo where mo mother and I were wearing the top to do exercise last January.

Finally, I realized that the style of bikini is super important for my body. Not always a huge bikini will cover my defects, actually it can create new ones.

None of my photos were treated in Photoshop. My bikini I bought on Ebay.

My First Corset and the Beginning of My Tight Lacing Journey

Few months ago a friend from elementary school, Leticia posted one selfie with an incredible waist. I asked her, what was that? She replied, tight lacing. Have you heard about that?I had some “corset” knowledge, especially in the fashion industry, but I didn’t know much about waist training. Tight lacing (also called corset training) is the practice of wearing a tightly-laced corset to reduce the waist line. It is done to achieve cosmetic modifications to the figure and posture or to experience the sensation of bodily restriction. So, I went to EBay and I bought the closest corset that I thought it was appropriated for the reduction of my waist. Of course, I was wrong, and I just realized that after buy 3 corsets, I started on X-l-large and dropped to large and medium. When I posted my  brand new medium corset my friend Jambavati explained that my cheap corset was not appropriate for this body modification. She invited me for a Facebook Group called Tight Lacing and Fitness it was great.

At the same photo but on Instagram, I received a random visitor @vampedcountessbasha and she said that my old corset was wrong as well! I was kind frustrate. Actually, she explained it better, and she was right, my older corset almost didn’t give me any reduction or curve. And she recommended American brands such as @orchardcorset and @mysticcitycorsets. She also mentioned that those brands were good for beginners.

I thought because I didn’t have enough natural curve, since I am skinny now :P, so I don’t have much fat on my belly and my hips weren’t big, that’s why I didn’t have hourglass shape, even with my older corset. As we know, we see more results when we are fatter while we are using corset.

After these discussion, I stopped wearing my orders corsets, and read several articles about real tight lacing. Few days ago I went to Orchard Corset Center in Manhattan (see the result bellow), I thought they are the same brand as Orchard Corset, but they are not, however I think they sell the same models, because my corset model was number 411 seemly very similar as Orchard Corset CS-411, but later I realized that I the corset the bought has different whatnots and laundry tags.With my corset from Orchard Corset Center on the second photo. The first photo I don’t have the corset, so you can see the small reduction.

I also bought a corset in Brazil from Mon Chéri Corseterie. In Brazil they make the corset based on our measures. It takes a month to be ready, plus the shipping days. So, while I was waiting, I felt in love for one corset from the Orchard Corset, number CS-201. It is shorter and gives more pressure on my waist. I’m in love for my new babe (corset) and I’m eager to wear it outside. Actually, I’m thinking about a corset editorial, who knows?

My corsets: With pants from EBay, with leopard outfit from Orchard Corset Center in Manhattan and the meshed corset is from Orchard Corset.

I’m in love with my mesh waspie corset! Tight lacing is make with a steel boned corset to help us to achieve a feminine curve body! I’m from Britney Spears generation, it means super low rise pants! It has destroyed our body! It’s not smashing my organs, or causing harm to my body. Corset has been using for generations by women, especially at Victorian time! It is like any other kind of body modification such as piercings, tattoos, botox, hair dying or body building! It however, won’t kill fat, tone muscles or work over night! I don’t want to have an extreme waist, I just want to have a waist! Because I’m skinny and I’m rectangular! It doesn’t shrinking my abdominal muscles, I have to train hard every single day my abs and low back! And yes, I’m very excited!

Of course when I speak with some people, who don’t have any information about tight lacing, they just think I am trying to have an unhealthy extremely small waist. They just think about these big reduction. In the body modification field, for me, moderation is the way! I don’t like so many tattoos, piercings, huge body builders, exaggerated Botox… To illustrate that, I found some celebrities on the internet who have worn the corset. Most of them are Brazilian because this trend is much more popular there than here in America. Brazilians are obsessed with beauty and curvilinear body. You probably have seen thousands of advertisement about Brazilian booty on the subway.
Sabrina Sato is a TV host and a carnival muse, she is Brazilian, has Japanese roots and she is considered one of the best shapes in Brazil! She has been caught a number of times wearing corset. The corset bellows to her, in both 3 photos she wears the same piece.
Paula Fernandes is a country singer from Brazil. Despite the fact that she has been criticized about her wardrobe for concerts, there is a consensus that her body is gorgeous. Here we can see at least 2 different kinds of underbust corsets.
Gisele Bundchen is super skinny Brazilian model. We can find hundreds of her fashion photography where she is wearing corsets. However, I’d rather putting some clothes from her personal closet. I think she likes to wear corset because she is rectangular, so it can give her at least a small fold.
Dita Von Teese is worldwide known for her fetishist attitude. She has been photographed with some kinds of corsets.

And when these girls take of the corset, they become very natural. As I have said before, when they are skinny, the result is less evident and perhaps more beautiful.
The collage bellow you can see the different kinds of results depend on the style of the corset. The first lady ‘cinta’, had worn an elastic belt to reduce measures, but she still with tubed shape.

***


Orchard Corsets

Waspie Corset – CS-201
This is a steel boned waist trainer corset that combines breathable comfort with super cinching! The 201 is a 6-panel corset (12 total) with 16 spiral and flat steel bones. Waist tape reinforcement for additional strength. This corset is so comfortable you may forget you have it on-except everyone will notice your fabulous cinched waist!

Steel Boned Underbust – CS-305
This corset has an elegant silhouette and features a straight top and bottom edge that is complimentary for most body types and experience levels. This steel boned waist trainer is best for athletic (less naturally curvy) builds and for those seeking a less dramatic curve.
Steel Boned Underbust – CS-345
This corset works for a variety of shapes and figures. This corset has 16 flat and spiral steel bones for powerful cinching and support encased in premium cotton inside and out. It gives you plenty of curve but does not require the ample hip needed. The long back helps both provide optimal support and relieve back bulge at the bra line. The contoured bustline creates a beautiful and feminine silhouette but hugs the underbust and gives push up effect. This corset is suitable for most body types from slim build to natural hourglass.
Steel Boned Underbust – CS-411
The CS-411 is designed to dramatically shape the waist and to instantly give an enhanced hourglass shape. It doesn’t require as much natural curve in the hips.
Steel Boned Underbust – CS-426
This corset gives extreme curves to flatter and shape you into an instant hourglass figure! It’s indicate for the ones who have wide hips. Not my case.

My advertising is, before start this train, please read about that. Some people with some health issue cannot wear. Find a renamed corset maker, because if you like act like me with passion and impatience you will spend more money, won’t see the expected result and maybe damage your health.

 

It is forbidden to be thin

Any reader of my blog knows it, I’ve been fighting against obesity for months. Losing weight after 30 is more difficult. Some people criticize me, but I’m not making any radical diet. Before, at the time of twenty-something I’d lost more than 20lb only eating less, today it is much grating. Some people think I’ve already “leaned” enough, but I believe that only we can decide when we might stop, when we reach our result. Obviously I’m not talking about serious cases like anorexia and bulimia!

Today they talk so much about plus size model! In real world a plus size model is not what we really call as plus size. The plus size model wears 8. Every time that I publish a plus size model in my timeline on Face Book girls are crazy, “if she was plus size, I’m what?” Probably somewhere between fat and obese! In addiction, I’d been in the line of obesity and I can say it, I do not think I was beautiful, I was not healthy and I was not specially happy! There are people who feel good fat, but I don’t feel ok in round shape.I have the right to be thin (or try to be thin).

other day Victoria’s Secret exhibited a campaign that was highly criticized. They placed several models and wrote “the perfect ‘body’.” Of course it was a pun between the body of the models, and the perfect body of lingerie.

Here in the US,they only had talked about it for while. Of course, the average size here is 14, the sizes 0 or 2, the model sizes, are almost intangible or practically. However, even when the challenge is too big, I can accept it. I was weighing almost 80lb more than any Victoria’s Secret Angel, when I decided I do not want this overweight life. It was my first step to change.

I am indignant when we are forced to accept that fat is cool. No, it’s not nice! It is not sexually attractive. You eat a lot of junk, your skin looks bad. You do not exercise, you’re limp. Your options are less intelligent, you spend more time at home than doing any activity. Comes laziness and soon, their productivity decreases. For a fat, even climbing stairs is a challenge, I had had that experience. I want to have the perfect body.

Active Wear for Famous Girls

The brands of active wear are growing quickly. We have established brands such as Nike and Adidas, and famous stores like Forever 21 and H&M selling sporty clothes very well. I love to buy famous brands at Century 21, T.J. Max, Marshall’s and Burlington with discount. I have a lot of Reebok top and shorts that I had paid less than 10 bucks. Do you know more stores with good deal?

Nowadays, active wear has left the clubs and embedded in our daily lives. A lot of girls do other activities with this kind of clothe. I go to school with gym clothes, because I always go to the gym after school. Others girls don’t even exercise, but they wear sport clothes. This attitude is  amazing for the business, and the active clothes is becoming less boring and more fashionable. Who disagree?

I have to confess, sometimes I spend one week with legging pants (or with running shorts). My case is so serious that when I wear normal clothes, with sandals, people praise me too much. That’s funny.

I was looking for some inspiration, because I’m not 100% fan of this style…

Adriana Lima is the most desired model by men now. She’s beautiful, exotic brunette clear eyes and exudes sensuality, right? She is the most famous Victoria’s Secret model, but to work out she is not a goddess. Anything new? No, just a lot of black, I also love the color to workout. Look that belly…

Alessandra Ambrosio also dare not much, but she plays more with colors and layers. She also likes spandex pants, I love this cloth… She is my favorite Angel.

Gisele Bundchen prefers going to the gym in a casual style. She probably changes the clothes in the gym. She likes to wear, top, legging pants and t-shirt… I also workout like that during the winter.

Gisele is one of richest women in the world, but she is always with the same sneaker. She used to me Victoria’s Secret model, now she quit.

Izabel Goulart is my muse. She likes to show her perfect belly. She is more fashionable. There isn’t secret to be an Angel. Exercise is the key. She is my favorite Victoria’s Secret model.

Kim Kardashian is very basic to woekout. She is very curvy, however I prefer really skinny girls like Taylor Swift.

Taylor Swift  could be  model. She is tall and thin. She is always photographed here in New York leaving the gym like a princess. Super cute. Last week I bought a spandex shorts like these from Reebok, I’m anxious to run with it to see if it is good. I don’t like to run with legging. .

This girl is a hostess in a Brazilian tv show, she is very famous for her perfect butt, she is very basic to workout. I’ve been thinking about starting a active line, but I am not sure that people like someting different, specially because even the celebrities are so basic.