[Debunking Healthy Food Myths] Myth #1: Healthy Food Tastes Like Cardboard

By Shaina Kamman

Shaina is a Board Certified Health Coach. She works with mothers and others who are hungry for change and ready to make healthy food the staple in their home. She is a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, the world’s largest nutrition school, and she is also a member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners and the Weston A Price Foundation.

DEBUNKING HEALTHY FOOD MYTHS
With Shaina Kamman

Myth #1: Healthy Food Tastes Like Cardboard

There is a myth going around, and it’s been here for a while. I can definitely remember it from when I was a kid. The myth is that healthy food tastes like cardboard. And I think many of us can attest to that. Who remembers eating those fat-free, sugar-free, low-sodium poser “cookies” that taste like cardboard because they are, in fact, basically cardboard? I do.

But there is a catch. Here is the question: Are those fat-free, sugar-free, low sodium poser “cookies” actually healthy? The answer is a resounding no. Those beautifully packaged little cardboard morsels that will last for ten years on a supermarket shelf are not healthy.  After ten years, if the bugs and the bacteria are still not interested in those things, it’s a pretty clear sign that there was nothing of value to begin with. So- not cookies, not healthy, not yummy. What a bargain.

In our current world, with such vast food choices, how does one identify which foods are actually healthy? It’s easy for anyone’s head to spin, even the intelligent and consciously discerning. When I work with my clientele, I ask them to let go of the “____-free” stigma and switch to something more simple, and much, much more accurate: If it is something your great-grandmother would recognize and feed her family, that is a great place to start.

Let’s start with a simple recipe for Garlic Green Beans:
Steam or blanch green beans to your own desired crunchy/mushyness. In a separate pan, gently sauté garlic in Extra Virgin Olive Oil for about ten seconds. Turn off the fire and add in the drained green beans. Toss it all up, add salt, and serve. Could it be easier? Come on! 

Want to feel good about it?  


Green beans are high in calcium, potassium, and B-complex vitamins. Studies show that, along with other green veggies, they reduce the risk of lung cancer.

Garlic is a rich source of dietary sulphur and selenium, and is great for treating blood pressure disorders, infections, headaches, and parasites. Garlic also contains an oil called allyl disulphate that acts as an anti-bacterial agent in the gut. It lowers cholesterol, prevents cancer, protects again blood clotting, aids in treating bronchitis and emphysema, and strengthens the immune system. BOOM! Drop the Bomb!

Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a wonderful stable monounsaturated fat that is 75% oleic acid, which helps to regulate blood sugar. It is rich in antioxidants and Vitamin E, and above all, it has proven the test of time.

So what do we have here? A delicious, easy to make dish that is incredibly healthy, tastes nothing like cardboard, and is something your great grandmother would be proud of.

Myth #1 has been debunked!
On a side note, when is sent this article to Mimi, she wanted to know: “But are there any legit healthy "foods from the shelf" ideas that are tasty and healthy? Well, everything is on a continuum. Ideally, yes, if you make it in your kitchen, 95% if the time it will be better for you than packaged. When you cook, you probably don’t add toxic preservatives, food coloring, or the cheapest yuckiest oils available. However, that being said, I also have a quick tip for buying packaged anything. If you can pronounce the ingredients, go for it. If you can’t, its likely more related to plastic than food.

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For more information on Shaina’s Health Coaching practice visit www.lifewithin.info and LIKE Life Within on Facebook! Considering if Shaina’s program is the right fit for you? Mention this LadyMama article for a 10% discount on your initial consultation!

10 Reasons I'm (Still) Overweight

By Mimi Hecht 




A few weeks ago, not coincidentally just after the cheesecake holiday, I hit a remarkable low in my years and years of yo-yo dieting. I was feeling fat, tired, hopeless—questioning my ability to ever get it together and work towards the healthy and thin body I have always craved. 

Since I was 15, I've been conscious of my weight. Not in an insecure way. In fact, sometimes I feel like had I been more insecure like the girls around me, perhaps I'd actually have the determination to succeed at a diet. But even with feeling pretty confident with my body, I always wanted to be thinner. And even when people complimented my body for it's height and supposedly lean look, I was very aware of the extra flubber that weighed me down and prevented me from fitting into things better. I have always been what some people like to call "tall and big boned" but it's really called "overweight." I wear it well, but I have always been about 15 pounds overweight. And then I lose it. Then I gain it. Even at my wedding, when I looked and felt amazing, I was still overweight. 

Last summer, I lost 15 pounds. I felt amazing, confident, and hopeful that in the near future I would be my ideal weight. But then I let go. I didn't binge or lose total control, but I lost sight of the discipline. Now, a year later, I just found out that I have slowly gained back all the weight I had lost from my hard work. The extra weight is burdensome, but more so the realization that I couldn't hold on to my success and keep the weight off. As you can imagine, I feel pretty down about my lack of control. I feel reckless. And desperate. 

I've decided that if I have to lose weight and do this now, for good, or it's never. And I know what needs to be different is actually addressing why I fail—actually dissecting my habits that have up until now built so many stories of failure.

I've started seeing my diet downfalls as more of a mental sickness. Okay, I know that sounds harsh. Who doesn't struggle with their weight? It's normal. But identifying what makes my struggles unique is now laying the groundwork for a successful non-dieting experience. I like to call it the "Get your S!*t together, Mimi" plan. 

I'm about to make myself embarrassingly vulnerable. But I believe deeply that joining together in honesty is often a solution, if not simply healing. And maybe this will help just one more person. So here it is. 

Ten Reasons I'm (Still) Overweight 
(And what needs to change)

1. TOO MUCH TALK.

I am an excitable person. So when I resolve to get fit and lose weight, it comes with a lot of passion. And with that passion, naturally, comes publicity. I talk about why I'm dieting (again), what my plan is (foolproof, no doubt), why it's going to work this time (riiiiiight). Talk, talk. Blah, blah, blah...on and on. I don't know how my husband, sister and friends have not clobbered me over the head yet. TOO. MUCH. TALK. As if all my dialogue is an actual exercise. When, in fact, its simply just making me feel like I'm being more active and productive than I really am. 

Not to self: Stop talking. It does not burn calories. 

2. LIVING THE IDEAL IN MY HEAD. 

I feel proud that I know a lot about dieting and health. I'm not someone who doesn't understand what being healthy requires. And, just like I have a jabbering issue, I also have this deep need to make it known that I am not some uneducated, incapable neb. So I have this shtik where I make it very known to myself that if I wanted, I could lose weight in a jiffy and rock it. But, alas, just like talking doesn't get me the body I want, spending time flaunting and hashing over my ideals in my mind is equally tricking. It makes me feel like I'm okay, when I'm really suffering. 

Note to self: Stop spending time thinking you're good at this and start feeling just a taaaaad more pathetic. 

3. I REWARD MYSELF WITH FOOD.

This is an obvious one for most people. But I feel like I have an extreme case. Forget birthdays and other special occasions. I use food to reward myself for a plethora of average accomplishments. Like still being alive at the end of the day. Oddly enough, I'll even reward myself with a cookie for having a healthy breakfast earlier. (So now you see why I used the term "mental illness?") Indulging in food when I feel I deserve it is something that I will have to struggle to be conscious of, probably my entire life. When I had my miscarriage a few months ago, I wasn't even aware of how I let go. Even though I wasn't obviously downtrodden about the experience, I still told myself "I deserve this. Look what I just went through. Now is not the time for discipline." It's different than emotional eating. It's excusing and reasoning unhealthy habits, and convincing myself it's a deserved present. 

Note to self: Newsflash! Getting fat is not a gift. And it's not your birthday everyday. 

4. I IDOLIZE SKINNY PEOPLE. 

I don't mean to scare all my skinny friends, but this is how I think: Being skinny is awesome. You have no problems. You always feel great in your body. Everyone adores you instantly. I know this isn't true, but my mind certainly goes there. It takes a lot to admit this when I take pride in not being victim to society's messages about our bodies. But

Note to self: Being thin is not Moshiach. It will feel great, but you will not turn into a unicorn.

5. I THINK THIN PEOPLE DON'T NEED TO TRY.  

I know that some people are blessed with speedfast metabolisms and the ability to eat whatever they want with no proof on their tiny frames. But the truth is that most people who maintain great figures and healthy bodies DO have to work at it. I realized I have this ill mindset when I caught myself repeatedly telling my skinny (and drop dead gorgeous) sister "Why don't you just eat that? Your thin!" and "Seriously why are you being so disciplined, you've got an amazing figure!" What was I really expressing? This notion that skinny people are gifted with this magical spell that allows them to be reckless without any effect on their bodies. This would explain why every time I lose some weight I eat like a pig, unconsciously succumbing to this non-existant magical spell. 

Note to self: Being skinny takes work. This is not a Houdini show.

6. I GIVE MYSELF CREDIT WHERE IT'S NOT DUE.

Often, when I diet successfully and lose a little weight, I start to feel really awesome. Like, wow, I did it. So I reward. I let go. I lose sight. And the weight I'm so convinced can't possibly come from this little "reward" creeps on unexpectedly and the cycle repeats. 

Note to self: You may be awesome, but you're not skinny. Reach your goal and then we'll talk about throwing you a little party. 

7. I WANT TO BE THAT DIETING GIRL.

Ever since I was in high school, dieting was cool. Whether you were the girl not putting sugar in her coffee (wow, she's so disciplined!) or the gal keeping a legitimate food diary, there was always this certain "chic" image that went along with going to great lengths to lose weight. Maybe it's because these people in my life were always skinny to begin with? :) Either way, I always wanted that to be me. This notion has always led me to fad diets, and often unbalanced ones. So this time around, I am not dieting. I am taking the coolness out of it. Instead, I am just doing what I need to do to get where I need to be. 

Note to self: "Diet" is your new four-letter-word. Use with caution. 

8. PORTION CONTROL? WHAT'S THAT? 

Once I'm eating, I just. don't. stop. I love food. I repeat: I LOVE food. But the truth is, when I sit down to eat, it's more like turning an engine on. The smells and tastes just keep rushing in, giving me a sort of high that prevents me from pressing the "you're full" button.

Note to self: You are inhaling your food. Stop eating like there are ten starving Mimi's nestled inside of you. 

9. I RELY ON OTHER PEOPLE.

I'm a socialite, so I always like to join up with others when it comes to diet and exercise. I try and drag my friends into it. My husband. Someone who will share the burden of discipline I just can't seem to handle myself. Will you exercise with me? Let's report to each other. What are you doing? I'll do it, too. But this really just reflects an inability to take control...of my own overweight self.

Note to self: If you want to lose weight, it's going to have to be exactly that: YOU.

10. I OWN AN EXCUSES FACTORY.

I don't have a good place to walk. It doesn't fit into my schedule. We need to live near a Trader Joe's. I work too hard to give this energy. I need better walking shoes. The weather is bad. I was hungry and there was nothing else to eat. It's Shabbos. I might as well say, "I just don't want to." I mean, seriously. 

Note to self: Everything is as right as it ever will be. All you need is to want it. 

Okay, phew. It feels good to get that all out in writing. Thanks for listening. I welcome all your insights, advice, book recommendations, recipes...and I also want to hear if you relate to any of this— if you've conquered any of these bad habits yourself! 

Because of all these deeply engrained mental pitfalls, I feel like finally losing real weight is going to be like moving a mountain. I haven't even begun to scratch the surface of bad habits like not sitting down to eat, skipping breakfast and picking at my kids' food. But, alas, the most overarching epiphany is just the absolute grossness I feel when I fall so low. And reminding myself of that -- coupled with a new awareness about my lifelong downfalls -- is already working to get my tush into gear (I waited to see some success before I wrote this!). So here's some good news to round this up and accelerate more progress: I have lost 4 lbs since last Monday!  


                                                       

A very special shout out to my smart, sensitive and supportive sister Mushky for being there for me through this process—for helping me make the right conclusions and get active, but mostly for rooting me on along the way! Soon I will be borrowing your clothes, mark my word.

                                                

Makeup: Looking Good On Camera [Tips n' tricks!]

By Vera Tov

Vera is a certified makeup artist based in New York. A graduate of a protégées Make Up Designory school (MUD). Vera has all of the necessary skills and tools to create an unique and fresh look for any occasion. Vera’s ability to realize the client's vision, re-create a look from a photograph or film, or develop a unique look, camouflaging imperfections while enhancing the natural beauty is truly unsurpassed.

In Vera's words: 

My makeup had been confiscated on more than one occasion in High School. How could the teachers not understand the fact that a mirror compact was an extension of my arm, and eyeliner – a wand, without which I felt powerless. Silly, of course, I know. Well, I was a teenager then, and now…I feel the same exact way now!

Win a FREE MAKEOVER! 

Welcome Vera by commenting on our Facebook post 

and be included in a drawing to get your makeup

 done—for an event, for fun...for free! 

Looking Good on Camera

Here are some of the tips to help you look your best in photos! 

First of all, and this is from personal experience, regardless of how the photographer tells you to pose, make sure you take photos in your most flattering pose. Practice in front of the mirror to find whether you look best facing forward, with your face slightly to the side, with chin raised…you get the idea. It’s also a good idea to have someone take multiple snap shots, because it’s sometimes difficult to judge how you’re going to come out on camera based on your reflection in the mirror. Also, as your mother has told you – Don’t slouch!

Say “Cheese!"— NONSENSE! You don’t need to bare your teeth if you don’t feel it makes you look your best. It’s up to you. If you prefer the mysterious Mona Lisa half-smile, then that’s how you should be photographed.

 Keep your hair away from your eyes. It is not a flattering look on anyone. Enough said.

And now – the makeup!

• Because bright lights and flash can make you look washed out, go for shades slightly darker and more saturated than you normally would. That means foundation that’s just a bit darker (make sure it’s blended well into your neck), brighter blush, and lip color.

• Foundation is such a broad topic that I will have to dedicate a separate post to choosing the correct match, coverage, finish, as well as proper application techniques.

• Shiny t-zone is not pretty. Make sure to keep your face matte with a light application of powder. But if you feel that your face is getting oily or sweaty, take a plain tissue (not the soft, lotion kind), and hold it to your forehead, nose, and chin. Don’t press, because you want the tissue to absorb the moisture, not the makeup)

• You want your eyes to look well defined in photos, so make sure to wear black eyeliner and an extra coat of mascara. And false lashes are a plus. But if you’ve never used them, don’t try to apply them for the first time before being photographed.
  
  
• Don’t use your eyeliner on the waterline, or the inner rim of your eyes, because it will make them look smaller.
  
  
• Stay away from shimmer as much as possible. When used incorrectly, shimmery makeup will age you. The only place you can use shimmer is just a touch of it in the inner corners of your eyes.
  
  
  
  

Example of a shiny t-zone. It’s even more visible on camera than in person.

I have to admit that Natalie looks perfect in any makeup and in any pose. However, few tips that we can take from this photo are that her face is neither shiny nor shimmery. Her makeup is quite natural, and yet her features appear defined. Finally, her cheeks are rosy enough to look healthy but not overpowering.

Dear Baby Belly: A Letter To My Not-So-Postpartum Stomach Flab

Mimi Hecht

 I have an army of friends and family that have accepted your presence on their own perfectly traumatized bodies. And, you hear me, we still look frikkin' awesome.

DEAR BABY BELLY

A Letter to my Not-So-Postpartum Stomach Flab

Dear Baby Belly,


It's been over a year since giving birth, so I figured it was high time you and I had a little talk.


Oh, stomach flab...


I'd ask how you are, but I know the answer. You're just hanging around, enjoying life. Laughing as you watch me change outfits a million times because nothing can hide you well enough to convince people that I am back to my pre-baby body. I know you've been through a lot—you have ballooned, stretched and become super firm, only to fall to the force of gravity in a less than complimented world of postpartum body image. But seriously, I am the one that has to wear you!


And its annoying because I actually lost my baby weight. But you, baby bump, must still linger. You need everyone to know that my body has birthed. You need to make clear that the high waisted skirt look will always be conquered by those that have yet to make the foray into frump.

Dressing Your Post-Baby Body (10 Tips from a Fashion Maven!)

By Devorah Ramey 

[AKA the "Frum Fashion Maven." Visit her at www.frumfashionmaven.com]

fashion post partum shabbat/simcha by frumfashionmaven featuring a circular skirt

10 Tips for Dressing Your Post Baby Body

After 9 plus months of pregnancy we eagerly await two events: the birth of the baby and then being able to wear non-maternity clothes again.

Thanks to the media’s obsession with fast shrinking celebrities, even observant women are under incredible pressure to return to normal in the blink of an eye. Sadly this pressure is often self-imposed.

I’m sure even Heidi Klum did not fit in her regular clothes straight out of the delivery room. So keep the “body image blues” at bay by dressing for post-partum comfort.

Having unrealistic expectations post partum can result in negative self image, insecurity and even depression. As a stylist I have seen two style camps : some women cope by shelving style for a few months and walking around in shapeless robes and the like while others walking around in obvious denial sporting “muffin tops," too tight items and other fashion faux pas.

The middle path involves awareness with a healthy dose of positive self talk and kindness.

Here are some tips to keep you looking and feeling great so you can focus on enjoying this special time in your life.

1) Be realistic. After delivery your belly will look about 5 months pregnant and won’t start to look normal until about 6 weeks (…. it takes time for your uterus to shrink to its pre pregnancy size)! Some people love bandaging the belly PP, a practice done in many cultures, I have done it with success B”H four times now and love a product called the belly bandit.

2) Dress comfortable. Start your postpartum wardrobe by creating a “home from the hospital” collection of loose fitting dresses. Try choosing dresses that are feminine, flowing and highly forgiving. Select beautiful colors that will brighten your mood. You want to look and feel presentable when visitors stop by to see the new baby, but also be comfortable for the first few weeks. For breast feeding and baby duty, I buy several deep v-necks to be layered over other tees, shells or blouses as a cheap alternative to nursing tops. Those elastic waist slinky skirts in different lengths add versatility and comfort. Clothing with details like ruching (pleating at the sides), empire waists and creative layering are all sure ways to hide the “baby fat”. Maxi dresses in dark “stain hiding” colors slim you and feel like a comfortable night gown. A loose draping cardigan works awesome and it gives you instant nursing coverage, I wear mine to run errands to avoid buying a nursing cover.

Tis the Season: Winter Skincare and Graduation Picture Makeup

By Chava Rosenbaum

Chava is a 26 year old mother of two girls living in Kensington, NY.  She has been a practicing makeup artist for nearly seven years and recently began doing makeup for the exploding field of religious women's theater...in which she also loves to perform! Chava offers lessons to women, teaching them how to apply their own makeup like a professional. In addition to makeup, her passions are singing, comedy and keeping her kids out of her shoe rack. Chava is available to do makeup for simchas and productions in New York. You can contact her to book a consultation of job by e-mailing beautybychava@rocketmail.com

"You have to accept the reality that your skin will be lighter in the 

winter and you must adjust your foundation shade accordingly."

Winter Skincare
BRRRRRRRR! It is COOOOOLD out there. Seriously. Like you can actually hear old man winter laugh at your pathetic attempt to thwart him with your down jacket and thermal gloves.

Now what does this mean for beauty?

Well, for many it means dry skin. The cold dry air can make your face feel rough and itchy. As always, I recommend twice weekly gentle exfoliation with a warm damp washcloth. This is a basic skincare step which is beneficial especially for those with dry skin or over the age of thirty. Exfoliation helps prevent the buildup of dead skincells which can make skin look dull and block the absorbtion of moisturizer.

Moisturize morning and evening. My favorite moisturizer is Garnier Fructis. Costco also has a nice one from the Kirkland/Borghese line which smells like lilies. Yum. Avoid powder foundations in the winter as they can absorb the moisture from your skin that you're trying to keep in. If you only need light coverage, use a tinted moisturizer instead of foundation.

Here's a great money saving makeup tip that I use myself: Make your own tinted moisturizer!
You can do this simply by mixing a bit of your favorite mineral powder foundation with moisturizer. It will last you way longer than regular tinted moisturizer, especially if you use it every day. It also allows you to customize the coverage level. Many women love looking bronzed and darker, but you have to accept the reality that your skin will be lighter in the winter and you must adjust your foundation shade accordingly. Embrace the paler, fresher you! Test out your new shade at the jawline to determine if its the right color for you. It should blend into the neck invisibly.

Time for Graduation Pictures! 
Now many of you young beautiful seniors will be having graduation pictures coming up soon. On one hand, these are the infamous shidduch pictures and you want to look elegant and mature. On the other hand you're probably 17 or 18 and don't wanna look like you're playing dress up with mommy's makeup. So how do you choose your color palette for your graduation pictures? The most foolproof way to look balanced and mild but still elegant is to go monochromatic in light-warm. Meaning, you match your eye shadow, blush and lip color. A peach, nude-pink or light copper/bronze work best for this. It prevents your makeup from drawing attention to any one specific feature, so people see the whole you - fresh but balanced. Use a brightening under eye concealer, a thin line of liquid eyeliner and mascara. This will ensure that you look aidel, yet sophisticated!

20% off for LadyMamas!
On a final note, mention LadyMama and get 20% off the first two faces when you book me for your makeup - for you graduation pictures, wedding or any other event! 718-986-1211

Beauty/Body Blogger

LadyMama is looking for someone to contribute weekly tips on everything beauty and body related!

Have fresh content that you'd want to share with our growing community of women? 

Contact mimi@ladymama.org

10 Tips For Your Post-Baby Bod

By Rachel Laber

Rachel's experience after gaining and losing weight from her first pregnancy encouraged her to become a certified Personal Trainer. She now helps others "commit to the game" and live a healthy lifestyle free of fad diets. She lives with her husband and two kids in Agoura Hills, CA. Read more about her health musings and personal experiences at www.proteinpancake.blogspot.com.

10 Tips For Your Post-Baby Bod

Once you're pregnant, there’s no excuse to turn into a human garbage disposal.

Do not assume you will lose the weight right after...it is not a free for all! 

We carry the kid for nine long months, then push them out for a grueling number of hours, then feed them, nurse them, carry them, soothe them, rock them, bathe them, change them and burp them for long months after. We deal with tantrums, cranky hours, sleepless nights, sleep training, potty training and eventually new sibling training... and the cycle starts all over again!

Yes, of course we do it lovingly, with a full heart, and wouldn't take back a second for anything. But, do we really need to be doing it all with an extra 10 lbs of unwanted stubborn weight? With all the stuff we got going on, wouldn’t it be a lot easier to feel good, be healthy and have the energy we need to deal with daily life?

So lets get started with the basics. Even if you're months after giving birth - or even years- its never too late! Use these tools to guide you and whip that body back into shape!

1.) Learn healthy eating habits. The most important rule of all. This applies before, during and after pregnancy. Of course, theres no better time to start than before you get pregnant. You're doing yourself and your unborn child such a huge favor by starting early on. The food you eat affects your entire being and, especially when you're pregnant, these are the foods you're baby will be living on for nine whole months. Once you're pregnant, there’s no excuse to turn into a human garbage disposal! Do not assume you will lose the weight right after; it is not a free for all! It’s probably the most important time of your life to be eating healthy, so adapt these habits now to ensure they stick for life. Here is a breakdown of the types of foods I like, but as you'll see in the next tip, they don't all need to apply to you.

The Overweight Shidduch Maidel

By Mimi Hecht

"Your destiny is not decided by your daintiness….
...and soul mates are not just for skinny people.”

Dear Mimi,

I have been shidduch-dating for years now, and have yet to find my soul mate. People tell me that I am a great catch and that any guy would be lucky to have me. But why am I still single? Is it because I am overweight? I feel frustrated with the way matchmakers represent me and wish the shidduch-system would allow someone to first see me for who I am. The entire saga makes me feel depressed. I feel if I was a size two, I would get many more suggestions. Perhaps you can address this in your next column?

Thank you,

An Overweight Shidduch Maidel

Dear Overweight Shidduch Maidel,

While the use of intermediaries to find our mates is a successful method that goes a long way in protecting people’s feelings and narrowing in on the most fitting suitors, nothing is flawless. Your frustration puts a spotlight on one of the perils of the shidduch system, namely its inadequacy in representing and advocating for those that have everything to offer but may not be best represented by descriptions on a sheet of paper. Of all the complaints people have about dating,

VivaLeVouChic: Chanel, the Anti-Semite

~*~*~
VivaLeVouChic
~~*~~

 A chic look into our levush

By Mor Binder

Come to LadyMama every week for Mor's take on all things modish...and modest!
Read more about Mor on the author page!

Second to finding out the tooth fairy was a figment of my parent’s imagination, the greatest disappointment I have ever experienced was the realisation that Coco Chanel was a devout anti-semite and nazi collaborator. Mind you, it was not from the numerous documentaries and films replicating her life that I came across this fact, but rather in the fine print of biographies that record the French “legend.” After recovering from the initial shock that saw me wishing I owned a Chanel item just so I could throw it out, I scouted around for a console on how this slight detail, of a very large epic, could perhaps be false.

Despite being comforted by numerous retorts(the most common amongst them being “well you never know maybe she didn’t have a choice”), nothing could stop Rabbi Winner’s words resonating in my mind. In response to girls’ complaints regarding false accusations, his answer would always be “well they don’t say these things about Mushky Cohen*” - an extremely quiet yet well behaved girl, whose head was more often in the books than out for fresh air. History supports the claim, “where there’s smoke there’s fire.” In this case, many sources detailed Coco Chanel’s affair with Nazi officer Hans Gunther Von Dicklage and her subsequent move into Paris’s Ritz Hotel, the German headquarters during their invasion of france in WWII. To settle all qualms that this was possibly an act of misguided romance, Chanel also acted as an ambassador to the German intelligence, taking part in a secret peace mission involving Winston Churchill. Following France’s liberation, Chanel was charged with war crimes, but was dismissed under mysterious circumstances, most likely Churchill’s intervention.

Chanel's "Tznius" Influence on Fashion

You see, it wasn’t just Chanel’s immense impact on the greater fashion world that led to my admiration of her. I had always held her in high esteem for her positive influence on fashion through tznius lenses. She was the driving force behind the shift from bust hugging corsets and figure constraining seams to comfortable everyday fabrics and cuts, encouraging women to dress for their own comfort rather than for the fancy of men’s prowling eyes. Her signature classic cut suits, most often seen in tweed patterns during the early years, are still wardrobe staples, dressing many of our Rebbetzins, mothers and bubbies. To this day, the house of Chanel carries a sophisticated, elegant style significantly differentiating it from the more modern promiscuous up-and-coming labels.

Chanel: Jewish Owned?

So what do we learn from someone who vehemently disliked Jews yet benefitted their cause? This story goes in line with the blueprint plot of the majority of our Yomim Tovim: “They wanted to kill us, we fought, we won, let’s eat!” For from its early beginning and up until this day, the house of Chanel is a privately owned Jewish family business raking in an estimated $2 billion net worth of profit per year.

How you might you ask? Not short of a Yiddishe Kop, successful businessman Pierre Wertheimer sensed the rising success of Coco Chanel, and in 1922 funded the first venture of branding a perfume with a designers name, creating Chanel No. 5. Chanel owned a 10% share of the company, which Wertheimer bought out in 1924 after her attempts to gain a greater share. Despite giving up the rights to her name, Chanel still received a 2% royalty from all Chanel products, making her a significantly wealthy woman. Wertheimer muted her claims that she was being exploited of her talents by reminding her that without his endowment (which he did not ask her to repay) her business would never have had the chance it did to succeed. Anti Semitic sentiments, particularly towards the Wertheimer family, were refuelled during the Second World War when she attempted to use the law banning Jews from owning businesses to seize control of the company. Once again, Wertheimer was a step ahead, having arranged an Aryan proxy to run affairs while the family fled to America. At the war’s conclusion Wertheimer successfully regained full control of the business.

Chanel left the world childless, without any heiresses needed to inherit a name that did not belong to her. There is no denying the legacy she left to the fashion world. However, despite her wishes, the brand rests control in Pierre Wertheimer’s grandsons Alain and Gerrard who are said to have a combined net worth of $8 billion. The press-shy and discreet brothers seem to be swayed to good old family values, maintaining Chanel as one of the only privately-owned, family-run businesses in the cosmetics and apparel industry. Topping the pie with a cherry on top, the brands creative director Karl Lagerfeld (hired by the Wertheimers in 1983) is said to have Jewish ancestry, with some sources listing him as entirely of Jewish descent.

So, to wear or not wear? 

The question still remains. With due respect, one must take note of the many holocaust survivors who felt driving Golfs and Mercedes was an abomination of our ideals. No clear horaahs from the Rebbe could be found on this matter, leading me to believe that this is perhaps a decision based more on emotional sentiments rather than rationale. Personally that double C logo will never resemble the same luxurious image in my mental wardrobe again. But until such time that Hashem showers me with the blessings to afford to make such decisions, browsing the glamorous looks created by the Jewish-owned - perhaps Jewish-run -house never hurt a girl’s imagination.

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Chanel Resort collection, 2011

Lagerfeld pulled off yet another refreshing and quintessentially picturesque ensemble at this year’s Chanel resort collection. Perfectly situated in the sun soaked city of St Tropez, the show saw models journey in on A-class motorboats ready to casually strut their pins down the street style runway, presenting a collection that saw the 70’s, grunge rock and bohemian styles meet, greet, shake hands and celebrate humanities effervescent craving to holiday. Caftans in frenzied pastals, long crocheted dresses and white lapelled ruffle dresses pinned against a sea of buttoned, tanned and patched accessories, offer just a few of the many looks from this up-beat celebratory show that can be adapted into the tznius wardrobe.

[All runway images courtesy of Style.com]

 

 

 

SHOP THE LOOK

PONY STUDIO

BY MICHAEL SHYKA

CAFTAN CHIC 

$365

Diane von furstenburg

www.couture.zappos.com

$189.05

Kimchi blue tassel purse 

 Urban Outfitters

$38.00

ASOS Mega Pack of Wooden and Enamel Bangles

Asos.com

$25.36

Haute Hippie

Mixed Fringe Necklace

Shopbop.com

$97.50

Viva Le Vou Chic: Tznius Has It's First Day At School

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VivaLeVouChic
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 A chic look into our levush

By Mor Binder

Come to LadyMama every week for Mor's take on all things modish and modest!
Read more about Mor on the author page!

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Tznius Has Its First Day At School

I’ll never forget the first time I attempted to go to school dressed “modestly.” The record states it was my shortest day of school ever. It took a lot of determination and emotional strength to finally take the hem of a skirt that just about covered my tuchus down to one that easily covered my knees. My arms clung to the insides of my sweater, glued by the perspiration of the Australian mid-summer sun. If I was going to do tznius, I was going to do it all the way.

Legs shaking and heart racing, I walked into the school grounds internally palpitating in preparation of the social suicide I was about to commit. Suddenly, all my notions of standing up for what I believe in, being proud of my Jewish heritage (as the Chabad house had so deeply ingrained), flew out the window - more like, ran out the door. Beyond the glaze of my shell- shocked friends, I was left standing in the middle of the courtyard resembling those year-7 girls on their first day of high school, dwarfed by their oversized uniforms that end up being miraculously transformed into hip hugging leg baring promiscuous school dresses within 24 hours of the school years commencement.

My short lived episode with the world of tznius lashed a red mark across the mitzvah, and a whole two years passed before even the thought of approaching it resurfaced. Fear not however, for my introduction to the inside world of Lubavitch was just around the corner and with it a realization that to be tznius did not necessarily mean having to look and feel like a cupcake. Kudos to the immaculate dress sense that can be found in our local Chabad Houses, in the hubs of our centralised Lubavitch communities and - *gasp* - even in the dark confines of our seminaries. Among those long denim skirts and daggy sweatshirts came some savvy outfits that made leaving behind the Levi jeans, bonds singlets and havaina flip flops, less of a daunting concept.

As most cliché love stories go, this one too ends with a happy ending. For the hate felt towards such a dreaded deed turned into a deep love for the beauty of fabrics, fittings and all things fashion. Metallicas undershirts, boots worn all year round, Kookai skirts, the wonders of layering, the need for endless formal wear, vintage dresses, an eye to alter, the femininity of stockings, fitted blazers, sequenced cardigans, a-line denim skirts, patterned rain boots (Burberry or Target)...heck, Abercrombie sweatshirts - they were all aspects of the tznius wardrobe that were both necessities and accessories that opened up a world of creativity, femininity and individuality that achieved way more than any pair jeans could have.

I came to learn that the fashion we create for our community can be one that reflects our beliefs, taking only the crème de la crème of the wider fashion world and altering it to our standards. Chabad teacher Rabbi Paltiel recently said at a gathering, “Lubavitchers don’t go to college, but if they go, they have to be the best.” I guess you can say the same about fashion; while it's not our life’s focus, the amount of attention we do give to it must be enjoyed and pulled off with style. Viva Le Vou Chic!

On the theme of school, below are my preppy style inspirations, as well as some finds more within the average maidel's budget!

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If only the reality of chic preppy school styles had been revealed to me earlier in life. Featured is a collection of such looks unaltered off the runway – modest and all. The timelessness of this style is undebatable and its ability to be paired with up to date accessories of each season maintains its credibility. Pearls, headbands, ribbons and scarves all add to the sophisticated ensemble. Winter wearers, feel free to team up with stockings and socks (stick to knee-highs if you’re opting for a slimmer look) of all types; patterened, lace, argyle, opaque, sheer. Stockings/ sock combos are bold and lift the notch on the preppy barometer. Boots serve to reduce the playfulness in such a piece but if summer is your season don’t shy away from experimenting with ballet flats, mary-janes and kitten heels.

Dolce and Gabbana 

Dolce and Gabbana 

Charles Nolan 

 Charles Nolan

 Jill Stuart 

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No wonder schools choose these as their staple food. Adding a blazer to any outfit lifts the sophistication bar at least 10 points. Crested or not, fitted or loose these toppers are bound to come in handy  weekdays, shabbos and everything in between.

SEE BY CHLOE

Crepe boyfriend-fit blazer

$515

SMART JACKET

TopShop.com

$80

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Plaid skirts work both formal and casual, depending on whether combined with a plain t-shirt or blouse. If finding knee length styles proves challenging, almost any second hand or vintage store you walk into should have a set. They can be bought very cheap and then altered for a slight fee to create a more modern cut.

Brown Plaid Skirt

Antipodium - www.liberty.co.uk

$175 

Covington Plaid Skirt 
Sears
$9.99 


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Coupled with a cute blouse, or sleeveless dress, cardigans prove their usefulness in a tznius wardrobe time and time again. Deeper cuts rather than more open neck styles are better suited if being used on a hot day as sleeves.

 Oscar De La Renta 

$1, 290

Cardigan
Urban Outfitters
$48.00