When I was growing up I spent a lot of time looking in the mirror.  You too?  Each time I glanced at my reflection I hoped that my appearance would improve.  Maybe it was because we had some pretty big mirrors in our house, or maybe it was because as a tween, my parents sent me to charm school at the local department store, but between there and home, I got the message that my physical appearance as well as the way I carried myself were important.

At charm school, we learned how to sit and stand and even model pretty outfits for the store’s style show.  We learned about fashion, the best name brands, how to wear our clothes, and the importance of beautiful properly fitting intimate apparel.  I even have a visual memory of a splashy floral bra and panty set with which I was totally smitten.

I still remember one brand name from that class, Vanity Fair®.  That was a few years ago, but for 100 years, Vanity Fair® lingerie has been the brand that women look to for support, and a little bit of luxury.   It’s a brand that my mom always chose and one I still look for today.

Do you take selfies and share them on Facebook or Instagram?  

If you do, you have a ton more image confidence than me.

Television, magazines, the internet, virtually all visual media, project images of beautiful women along with a message.  The messages we hear can be direct or overt, and often translate in our minds to thoughts of not having a perfect face and body, and the need to do something about it.

Those messages we play in our heads often have nothing to do with reality.  My husband tells me I’m beautiful, but those words don’t seem to connect with what I see in the mirror.  Instead, I hear the words of my mother: “You have heavy arms and legs like your grandmother.”

What kind of messages run through your head?

Let’s make a pact today to cover our ears and eyes to negative messages.

Instead, let’s desire to have….

• the beauty of a loving heart.
• the beauty of caring hands.
• the beauty of a joyful spirit.

My heart resonates with the Vanity Fair® “Women Who Do”™ Campaign.  This uplifting campaign is dedicated to praising and celebrating everyday triumphs of women everywhere while highlighting the brand’s long-standing commitment to producing quality, affordable, and luxurious lingerie.

• Take a minute and think about Women Who Do amazing things in your life and community.  The ones who are making a difference in their family, schools, neighborhood, church, and community.  The women whose beauty comes from a loving heart, caring hands, or a joyful spirit.
• Take another minute or two and thank a few of those beautiful Women Who Do.  Leave a quick post on her Facebook page, send her an email or a handwritten note, send her a text message, or even phone her.  Let’s support and encourage those extraordinary women in our lives.

 Some Women Who Do make a difference in small, quiet, yet very significant ways. 

In 2009 my husband and I both lost our jobs at the same moment.   It was devastating to say the least.  But not landing that next job made it super tough.  We survived by living on what we had, selling things we owned, picking up odd work, and receiving gifts from dear friends.   During that time we did not purchase clothing and were in need of a few things.

One day, a good friend received some free money coupons in the mail from a local department store.  She insisted that we go there and spend them on something I needed.  I was down to one bra and it had been washed so many times it was barely doing its job.  I bet you can guess what we purchased.  I can’t tell you how good it felt to have two new bras.

Women Who Do are often the behind the scenes, touching lives with their loving hearts, caring hands, and joyful spirits. The memory of that experience is what made Vanity Fair®’s nationwide LiftTOUR, focusing on fit and philanthropy, resonate with me.  

Vanity Fair® is traveling across the country conducting bra fittings at major retail locations.  The part I love is that for every woman fit, Vanity Fair® will donate a brand-new bra to the local Dress for Success® Affiliate.

From now until the end of October, the LiftTOUR will stop at 70 different spots, conducting bra fittings at major retail locations in 12 major U.S. markets.   If you live near a stop, please tell your friends, or get a group of gals together and go for a fitting.   It’s a win/win for us and our friends and the Dress for Success Affiliates.

When I lived in the Southtowns of Buffalo my church had a clothing ministry and would provide wonderful donations to the Buffalo Dress for Success.  I enjoyed hearing stories of how women were blessed to receive a “new” outfit for that important job interview.   If you’re unfamiliar, Dress for Success is an organization dedicated to promoting the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, career development tools, and a network of support.  Vanity Fair® saw a welcome opportunity to lend its expertise, resources, and products to help replenish the lingerie of the non-profit organization. And, through this partnership, hopes to provide women with the lift they need to be successful.  

One perk I received for participating in the Vanity Fair® campaign was a lovely new Vanity Fair® Women’s Beautifully Smooth™ Next To Nude® Underwire Bra. It fit like a dream! Vanity Fair® offers feminine and beautiful lingerie in styles with clean lines for a smooth look under clothes.  They really do make comfort easy for women.  You will want to stop by the Vanity Fair® website to see the sophisticated color palettes and minimalistic prints for everyday wear.  I never would have thought to go shopping for the new Steele Violet color, but I’m loving it!  

Connect with Vanity Fair®…

Website / Women Who Do / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube

Wishing YOU an extraordinary day!
Diane

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