Body Language

The bikini is back. Unfortunately your body is not up for it. But do not despair, because nothing is beyond fixing. If you aspire to be healthy, beautiful and sexy, maybe it’s time to work on it.

When you see the pictures on this page, you will probably react like me, wistfully pondering when you will get the perfect model body.

And if your friends are like mine, they are likely fed up hearing the same continual whining.  

I had a habit of putting the blame on clothes makers each time I was unhappy with the clothes I bought or ordered. It is either that the cut is wrong, the color is off, or some other excuse to divert the blame from myself.  

But recently, I decided I’d had enough. I wanted to look better. My friend laughed so hard when I told her, but I didn’t care. If I wanted to upgrade myself I had to start somewhere. Before I started on a workout regime though, I decided to take stock of the situation. I got undressed and took a good look at myself.

Without going into the gory details, let me just say, it was an enlightening experience.

I realized then that I had always looked for a scapegoat in designers and the clothes I bought to deny my own flaws. It did not make me feel better.

The fault is all mine.

When I took a good a look at myself, I thought: if my body does not look good, how can I expect the clothes to look good on me.

Another event brought home this point even more.

Two months ago, I ordered an outfit from a designer. When I went to try it on last week, it felt too tight. I started to complain about this, but the designer would not have it. He measured my waist, and it turned out my waist had expanded in the two months since I visited the designer.

That, of course, is not a surprise.

I had just had a two-week vacation in Bali, where I indulged in suckling pig. Then I went to Yogyakarta for five days and stuffed myself with local delicacies.

Then, just ten days before the fitting, I polished off almost two dozen cara bikang cakes, and a box of chocolates, courtesy of a friend from Paris. All the time I managed to avert all physical exercise.

I’ve decided I am no longer going to fantasize about having a model’s body. I just want my body back. The bikinis offered here by international designers have not only taunted me, they also whipped me into the realization that I need to work to be healthy and beautiful.

Maybe someday, I will stop putting the blame on Mr. Armani.

+ Samuel Mulia

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