ABOUT
ABOUT ME
This is me. I love this photo. I look so happy. It could of been the very fine Mai Tai I’d just had, but is more likely that I was on holiday in Thailand. I’d just watched the sun sink into the ocean – for the first time ever. How weird is that. I’m thirty something and I’d never seen the sun set in the ocean. It’s what comes of always having lived on the east coast.
To introduce myself, my name is Lisa Rutland and I live on the Gold Coast, which for anyone who doesn’t know, is in Queensland, Australia. I’m actually from New Zealand but, like many kiwis, gave in to the lure of endless sunshine and emigrated in 2000. My background is in small business management and yes, it is as boring as it sounds. I plied this trade for a number of years both here and in NZ, before quitting my day job in March, 2006. It was time for me to follow my dream and become a writer. Well, time to get away from a lecherous employer anyway. The first thing I did, following the three months where I hid in my bed contemplating the stupidity of quitting my day job, was form a company and find something to pay the rent. I lucked into a contract writing pre-purchase reports which today still forms the backbone of my business’s income.
Unfortunately with eviction off the cards my dream of writing stalled completely and it would stay that way for the next year. Luckily in the meantime I was shown the DVD The Secret which taught me two things. Firstly that I could choose my thoughts and secondly by doing that I could motivate myself. It took me another year before my stumbling steps took me anywhere but eventually I began to write. What to write about though?
I have always been overweight and, because of that, I’ve ignored my wardrobe (a good euphemism for ignoring my body). Once I began changing I realized that looking good was something I really wanted and it wasn’t contingent on loosing weight. This was something I could do right now. I dusted off my credit card and went shopping. Unfortunately I had no idea what to buy and what I did buy was woefully wrong.
Clearly a little information was necessary. I spent the next few months researching and taking action and this site was born. I want to pass on the information I’ve gathered and, hopefully, present it in a way that makes a little more sense than the muddled and conflicting mess I’ve waded my way through.
ABOUT THIS SITE
There are two basic categories.
1) Body shape
The Body Shape category is predominantly about body shape and what clothes work with that shape. There is a category for each of the main shape definitions I use but also for more specific issues as well, like being petite.
2) Style
The Style category is about putting together a polished look, developing your signature style and basically pulling it all together. Our personality and lifestyle will affect our style as much as the shape of our body.
ABOUT WORKING WITH BODY SHAPE
Working with your body shape is about working with shapes – basically putting a round peg into a round hole. I try to illustrate what I’m talking about to make it clearer. Most of the pictures I use are affiliate links and I will earn a commission if you buy something. However, the picture is there to show you the shape to look for.
When you shop, where ever that may be, look for that shape first, before you look at the size or the price. If the shape is wrong put it back. You’ll save so much time and more importantly you won’t have that awful feeling you get when you’ve tried a half dozen outfits and nothing is even close to looking good.
ABOUT DECIDING ON A BODY SHAPE?
Very few people will fit one shape exactly. If you’re anything like me you’ll identify with more than one category. And that’s because there is no way to categorize every body shape – you are you, uniquely your shape. Mathematically I’m a pear shape, but I also happen to be big busted. That means for me there are added challenges because much of what works for a pear is a big no-no for the busty. The simple answer is don’t bother. Just go with very broad guidelines and research the categories that address your issues. The only thing I know for sure is that what will work for someone slender and boyish is definitely not working for me!
