Curves Rule and Flat Is Fabulous:. Rita Mauceri
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HOT PRAISE FOR
Curves Rule and Flat Is Fabulous
“The best fashion and beauty tips.”
—Steven “Cojo” Cojocaru
“Fabulous and inspiring.”
—Susan Kaufman, editor, People StyleWatch
“Fun and empowering. Read it and get set to get gorgeously dressed.”
—Bonnie Fuller, author of The Joys of Much Too Much
“Ladies, forget about those harsh rules dictating what you can’t wear—Elycia and Rita share all of the stylish and flattering clothes you can wear!”
—Tracey Gold, actress
“This book shows you how to love your figure and look fabulous doing it.”
—Marissa Jaret Winokur, actress
Curves Rule and Flat Is Fabulous
SEXY, STYLISH LOOKS FOR EVERY FIGURE
RITA MAUCERI and ELYCIA RUBIN
Photography by Edward Duarte
Illustrations by Naoko Matsunaga
Foreword by MARISSA JARET WINOKUR
CITADEL PRESS
Kensington Publishing Corp.
Within the last two years, we both had baby girls. There’s something about admiring your daughter in all her innocent, chubby glory that makes you realize we aren’t born with hang-ups about our bodies—we end up absorbing them as we grow.
When we set out to write this book, we wanted to do something that got women excited and empowered about their figures. We wanted to inspire women to flaunt and flatter what they’ve got. Since giving birth to our girls, we’ve gained a little extra padding here and there. Still, we wear it proudly, just like our little girls.
We look at our daughters and marvel at their undeniable sassiness. They stroll around naked like mini goddesses, sticking out their Buddha bellies, swaying their thunder thighs, and shaking their buxom booties. What we wish for them is to always feel that fabulous in their bodies—rolls, dimples, pudge ’n all.
Dedicated to Amalia Grace and Kalya Ever—who are perfect in every way.
—Rita and Elycia
CONTENTS
Foreword
Acknowledgments
1. Got It, Flaunt It!
2. Casual: Jeans and Tops
3. Sophisticated: Pants and Jackets
4. Flirty: Skirts and Sweaters
5. Dressy: Casual and Cocktail Dresses
6. Loungy: Workout and Leisure Wear
7. Beachy: Swimwear and Coverups
8. Lacy: Bras and Undies
9. Shoes and Extras
Conclusion
Sources
Index
FOREWORD
by MARISSA JARET WINOKUR
Curves Rule and Flat Is Fabulous goes right along with my “shake what your mama gave you” attitude toward life. I love fashion but I never follow the “rules” dictated by magazines when it comes to picking out what to wear. When stylists have brought me clothes that are three sizes too big to cover my body, I smile politely and tell them “bring me the same clothes you bring the skinny girls—just get them in a larger size.”
This book embraces different body types and proves there is no one right way to dress. Unlike most fashion guides which typically tell you what’s wrong and how to hide it, Elycia and Rita share how to love your figure and look fabulous doing it. I have worked with many wardrobe people who could learn a lot from this book. (Maybe if they read it, they wouldn’t throw their hands up and roll their eyes while saying they don’t know how to dress me!)
Many of us have run into some snooty salesperson at a clothing store who offers very little help. Even I’ve had my share of “Pretty Woman” moments where someone has made me feel self-conscious while shopping. This book will help you feel confident in your choices so you won’t have the experience of feeling too scared to try something on that you love—or even worse, getting talked into buying a boxy cover-up that you’ll never wear (and shouldn’t).
Hiding your flaws is the wrong way to approach fashion. Getting dressed and looking fabulous should be fun, not stressful. Everyone’s body is different, the trick is finding what works best for you.
Don’t get me wrong, sometimes it takes three people to zip me up, but once it gets past my hips I look and feel amazing and it’s always worth it!
Feminine, fearless, and oh so fabulous, Marissa Jaret Winokur rocks on every level. She floored audiences with her Tony Award-winning role as Tracy Turnblad in the Broadway hit, Hairspray…proved that she can shake and salsa with the best of them on Dancing With The Stars…and inspires women everywhere with her infectious enthusiasm and undeniable confidence. Marissa, you rule!
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We’d like to thank our families who inspire and love us in all our endeavors…Edward and Naoko for creating such sexy, sassy visuals…Taura, for the stellar creative contributions…the always foxy Heather for the photo help…our fearless fabulous femmes, Amy K, Amy R, Barbara, Britt, Deena, Maya, Michaela, Raven, Taura, Tracey, Yasmine…Jane for her rockin’ research…Tania Russell of Makeup Werks/Nars for making everyone look so gorgeous…Al Zuckerman at Writers House for always believing in us…Marissa Jaret Winokur, Lisa Perkins, Steve “Cojo” Cojocani, Bonnie Fuller and Susan Kaufman for their support…and all the folks at Kensington/Citadel for their encouragement and ideas. A very huge and special thanks to our champion, Danielle Chiotti, whose passion for this project motivated us all the way through.
CHAPTER ONE
Got It, Flaunt It!
We’ve all heard the same rants before: Don’t wear wrap tops if you’re flat. Don’t wear capri pants if you’re short. Don’t wear slim jeans if you have hips. Don’t do this, don’t do that…who made up all of these rigid rules? Fashion should be fun, not bossy and formulaic.
The glossy fashion mags like to brand us into a certain “figure flaw” category, and suddenly we start looking at our body and clothes with dread. How’s a girl supposed to know if she’s an “hourglass” or an “inverted triangle”? What if you’re a combination of several—and what the heck is an inverted triangle, anyway? Before you spiral into a bout of wardrobe depression and feel forced to donate your favorite jeans to Goodwill because they’re not on the recommended list of fashion dos for your build, it may just be time for a fresh perspective.
Getting dressed shouldn’t be about trying to cover up your boobs in a three-times-too-big blouse or hiding your rear under a shiny rayon bubble skirt. We say, work your womanly wiles, whether it’s your bountiful breasts, shapely legs, or barely there butt. Go ahead, wear what you want and own your style—the trick is how you piece it all together. Our motto is, “It’s not what you wear, it’s how you pair!”
It’s