Free Reshaping It All by Candace Bure Page A

the wee end of the stick.
    Even though I was admired by thousands of young girls around the world, I still struggled with my own imperfections, concerned about weight and concerned about boys. We women are funny that way.
    Things are looking up these days as far as wardrobe goes. Summer, the character I play on Make It or Break It, has the cutest designer duds. While most of the girls on the show are wearing leotards, I'm dressing in Trina Turk and Rebecca Taylor outfits. On an episode titled "Are We Having Fun Yet?" I wore an outfit by Theory, which was a short purple satin skirt with a silvery silk tank top that had a few ruffles across the front. It was topped with a black sweater adorned with jewels around the neckline. Black tights and black booties, completed the fun party look. Summer definitely has a sense of style, and I'm loving it!
    The fun thing about being fitted while you're on a TV show is that there is a seamstress on hand, so everything is tailored and fit perfectly for me. It's so disappointing to go shopping after and find that things don't fit off the rack the way you know they can.
    When I'm at home with Val and the kids or just hanging out with my friends, I'm most comfortable wearing jeans. I love my True Religions, my Rich and Skinny, and my Citizens of Humanity. And since it's so warm in California, I throw on a tank top, slip on my Havaianas and I'm ready to go.
    I love fashion. Shopping seems to be my specialty, and living in LA gives me the opportunity to visit so many great stores. Shopping on Main Street in Santa Monica and then stopping at an outdoor cafe for a spinach salad (dressing on the side) and cold drink makes for a great afternoon out.
    People are always asking me about my style and how to stay current. The key to finding those pieces is to TRY, TRY, and TRY them on again! Most of us gravitate toward the styles we've always worn and feel comfortable in. Don't be afraid to step out of the box once in a while. Only you and the dressing room mirror will see if it's really that horrible. I do think it's important to go shopping with a trusted friend whose opinion is honest and hopefully has some sort of fashion sense. If I could go with each and every one of you, I would! That's how much I love shopping. I'm even known to do my own version of What Not to Wear with my friends and their closets. Oh, I'm getting excited just thinking about it! I like to step out of my comfort zone and try things on that I wouldn't normally buy. As a result, I'm often surprised at how different something looks on my body than it does on the hanger.
    I love shopping at department stores because of the enormous selection, but boutiques are great because of the personalized attention, helping me find the shapes and styles that fit me best. One more secret of mine—I'm a Lucky magazine subscriber. This practical fashion and shopping magazine gives me ideas on what's new, where to find it, and what fits my body type best.
    As a Christian, modesty is also important. It's something I struggle with at times because everyone's view of modesty is different.
    For some the idea of fashion is frustrating to say the least. Going to the mall isn't all that fun when you're restricted to oversized clothing at oversized prices. Wearing the fashion is frustrating when muffin tops are spilling over your jeans, underpants show every time you sit down, and skinny jeans are anything but skinny. I hear you, girlfriend.
    Clothes, makeup, hair, weight, and wardrobe—let's keep it all in perspective. It's fun to look pretty and to feel good while doing it, but I often remind myself that this outer shell is simply an envelope for my spirit. The contents are precious, eternal, and costly, bought with a price, and the envelope has been fashioned by the world's greatest Designer, the Creator Himself. We are each God's one-of-a-kind design, and there isn't a single person in this world that's a match.
    I encourage you to read and