Ask Belle Roundup: Vol. III, No. 17

Jun 10, 2013

Hi Belle,

How do you determine whether shirts should be tucked or untucked when wearing a skirt or slacks?  I have a flat behind so I prefer to have blouses be untucked but then I feel sloppy.  Are there general guidelines regarding styles are acceptable or not?  Do you have any additional advice for me (besides doing squats)?  🙂

Thanks in advance! Kara

I almost always tuck in blouses and button-up shirts.  I do not tuck in t-shirts or sweaters.

For me, the deciding factor is usually the hem.  Is the hem straight cut or can you see shirttail?  If it’s straight, I probably won’t tuck.  If there’s a visible shirttail, odds are high that I’m tucking.

I know some people are against front-tucking (GOMI calls it the “shame-tuck”), but I think there are some women who can pull it off.  And I think it works well with skinny denim (when you don’t want your whole backside visible) or with shorts.

The best advice I can give you, however, is to stand in front of the mirror and try the look both ways.  Does it look better tucked or untucked?  Would it look better if I tucked this in?  What if I added a belt?  Sometimes you need to take a minute in front of the mirror and play around with your look.

Belle,

My teeth are in serious need of whitening.  Do you have a whitening toothpaste that you like?  Do those strips really work?  I’m hesitant to spend $50 on teeth whitener if it doesn’t do the job.  I’d love to know how you keep your teeth white.

Thank you in advance! Erica

For toothpaste, I like Rembrandt’s Deeply White.  It prevents tartar, restores enamel and has peroxide for whitening.

I’ve used Crest Whitestrips and they do work.  If you have sensitive teeth, I would caution against the 2-Hour Express kit.  My teeth hurt for days after I used it.  But the regular Crest Whitestrips Professional Effects line works well.

At home, I use the GoSmile Whitening System.  It comes with 12 whitening ampoules (four uses) and a UV lamp to whiten teeth using the same process you see in dental offices.  I’ve also used the ampoules as a stand alone and like those a lot.  And if you’re looking for a good deal on them, Gilt Groupe typically has the best prices and selection. (Not a member of Gilt? Click here to join.)

But if you really don’t like to spend money on beauty treatments, Pinterest has a lot of recipes for at home whitening using baking soda and peroxide.

Hi Belle,

My question is to do with summer sandals. I wore the Jack Rogers classic Navajo sandal in silver and gold before they exploded and now are EVERYWHERE. So of course, I don’t want to wear them anymore. Do you have any suggestions for gold/silver casual summer sandals?

Thanks! Annie

Metallic sandals are my summer staple.  I wear them everywhere.  Here are a few of my favorite pairs:

Silver.  I love these DvF sandals and these Vera Wang thong sandals, both on sale.  Surprisingly, the three best-looking pairs I found were under-$50.

I love the embossed animal skin on these sandals from DSW, and these strappy Nine West sandals.  But my favorite are these mixed-material sandals from Target.  I don’t even like silver, and I think I need those.

Gold.  There are a lot of cute sandals in my preferred metallic this season.  I like the simple, minimalism of these Anna Baguera sandals.  These Erika Sol sandals are modern with a hint of California cool, as are these Rebecca Minkoffs.

In the under-$75 category, I’m a big fan of these BCBGeneration sandals with a mix of cognac and gold.  These toe ring sandals look like something from Ancient Rome.  I also like these inexpensive Forever21 sandals.

Rose Gold.  These gladiator flats are kind of cool.  I also think these Loeffler Randall kitten heels are perfect for cocktail hour.  And these Jeffrey Campbell sandals are more art piece than shoe.

Dear Belle,

I am dying in this heat and humidity.  How do you stay dry?

Sincerely, Sweaty and Miserable

Two words: Aerosol Antiperspirant Deodorant.  During the summertime, you need to keep more than your underarms dry.

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  1. Beth says:

    The hyperlink for Aerosol Antiperspirant Deodorant links to a pair of shoes.

  2. Jess says:

    Just wanted to share: I asked my dentist about the peroxide teeth whitening trick and he advised against it.

  3. LadyMacbeth says:

    I like Listerine mouthwash with whitening. It tastes like battery acid (or, at least, what I imagine battery acid tastes like), but it’s effective.

  4. Rachel says:

    I think you meant inexpensive sandals from Charlotte Russe. At least that’s where the link goes.

  5. Julie says:

    I agree on the shame-tuck. It looks great from the front but terrible from any other angle. The blog Shame Puff (which might be gone now, sadface, used to tease bloggers for it.

    Style by Joules

  6. Katy says:

    Dear Ms. Kara FlatButt,
    Try wearing a belt over your untucked tops. It adds definition and polish, while maintaining some butt coverage.

    I do this often with a skinny belt over long, loose tops, blousing over the front (eighties “shame-puff” style) or just the sides (Grecian style). I use it to restyle tops that are too loose (I lost a lot of weight) or too long (I’m short).

  7. Ginger R. says:

    Pair your whitening toothpaste with one of those battery-operated toothbrushes. They enhance the effect. Husband bought a $100+ model from the dentist but I’ve managed to get by with a cheapo model from Target. The batteries are replaceable.

  8. Tori says:

    don’t use baking soda and peroxide it is rough on your teeth and brakes down your enamel.

  9. Katherine says:

    The Crest Advance Seal Whitestrips worked well for me. I’d start using a sensitive toothpaste about a week before you start and during the whitening treatments. It really cuts down on the pain!

  10. APW says:

    I second the Listerine whitening mouthwash. It doesn’t make your teeth too sensitive, but seems to do the trick if you use it regularly enough.

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