Digital Fashion Week Conversations With Katarina Rodriguez: Building a Positive Self-Image

The fourth session of Digital Fashion Week Conversations focused on the importance of a healthy self-image, and some life hacks and empowering tricks on how to achieve it.

Digital Fashion Week founder Charina Widjaja,  together with Miss World Philippines 2018 & Stylista TV host Katarina Rodriguez and Adam and Eve’s Brand Manager Iya Miranda, talked about building a positive self-image by understanding and accepting your shape, maximizing your body’s potential, and some styling tricks that will complement each body type.

Katarina shared her insight about the importance of knowing and understanding your body shape to effectively make fashion work for you. “I think when it comes to fashion, knowing your body type is so important. Figure out what your body shape because sometimes a top or a dress or maybe like a skirt that looks good on someone won’t look good on you, and that’s not your fault,” she started.

“I have what they call ‘fashion boobs’. I have small boobs and there are some tops that I can just wear all the time that I don’t need to wear a bra. But then those same tops, for example if somebody’s bustier, they can’t wear those because it might look too much or too revealing (on them). Then there are bodycon dresses that I can’t always wear– only on specific days maybe when I’m dieting, working out, or wearing a body shaper. But somebody who has a very nice natural hourglass-shaped body will look amazing on them,” the beauty queen mused. “So you have to know these things, you have to know what types of styles that suit your body type and the shape of your body. What are your assets? What do you want to flaunt? Do you want to show your collarbone? Is it your butt? Maybe the curves that you want to accentuate? You have to study these things, and I learned that within pageantry.”

She further shared, “I’ll see something that I would want to wear. But my stylist would be like, ‘no you can’t wear that’ and I was like why? Then he’d explain, and then I would think about it and oh my gosh, he’s right. You know when they say that ‘wear whatever you want’? Yes, but do your research too because it helps.”

She also shared that when you do your research, you can be so knowledgeable that you’d master what types of clothes are gonna look great on your body down to the very last detail. “It can even go down to colors that match your skin tone, then your eye color. Everything–it all comes together. So it’s all about doing research about your own body.”

Charina agreed that research can indeed help. She shared that while it can be mind-blowing sometimes to see how Hollywood stars always look at their sexiest and best at red carpert events, she found out through her own research online that there are doable tricks that one can do to look more fab in fashion looks, too. Charina then asked Katarina what are some of her personal secrets and styling hacks that make her look stunning at fashion events.

“The ones that I used for pageantry was the intense body shaper or waist cincher. I would wear them under my gowns to help create the shape. It helps me tighten everything, and that helps me give that extra boost of confidence because I know there’s no loose skin and everything is in place and intact,” she said. “They come in different colors like nude, black and white, like if you wear sheer gowns. They’re a great investment because I used them not just in red carpet events, but also for photoshoots. I have a bag with all my bodyshapers, and that’s what I use for photoshoots. Since they come in standard colors, I can use them in anything. I definitely use them and it helps a lot.”

Iya Miranda shared that there is actually a premium and high quality body contouring brand that is accessible to Filipinas. In a special virtual segment of Stylista TV hosted by Katarina, Iya further shared about Adam & Eve and its line of shapewears.

Since its conception in 2019, Adam & Eve has been empowering women from diverse backgrounds by helping them feel more confident about their bodies and be at their best selves. The first-ever shapewear line in the country uses a highly effective fabric technology from Italy called The Revolutional Slim by Carvico, which helps in burning unhealthy fats and draining toxins out of the body. In 8 weeks, you can see the effects of losing weight that can then improve your body and health. On an instant level, every Adam & Eve shapewear can contour your body curves, lift your butt and breasts and improve your posture, which makes for a good styling trick to look and feel better and sexier in any outfits.

Adam & Eve‘s slimming fabric is rich in ingredients with active principles such as caffeine, vitamin E, retinol, fatty acids and aloe for slimming and skincare properties. Each shaper also has energy stones for better breathing system and blood circulation. The fabric is oh so comfy, breathable and stretchable. Wear one and see how it reduces unwanted fat rolls by spreading out body fats in more desirable areas like breasts and hips.  

Before investing in a body shaper, Iya shared that Adam & Eve provides hands-on assistance to help their clientele decide what type of shapewear would work best for them. “It’s really important that we analyze first the customer’s needs. We assess first the personal style of the wearer, and the size and body measurements so we will be able to offer the best one because we have different types of shapewears.”

One of the cult favorites is the Adam & Eve Waist Trainer Corset (₱ 3,220.00). It is raved for its amazing waist-cinching and boning properties that literally help in shaping your sexy curve, in topnotch level of comfort. The structure of this corset hugs your body so nicely, so comfy that you can wear it while working out, eating or even sleeping. This corset comes in black and nude colors.The brand also offers High-Waisted Shaper Shorts (₱ 3,295.00), also seen in the photo above. It’s made to wear under your leg-exposing ensembles like a mini skirt, short dress or a pair or shorts. This bottom shapewear flattens your tummy, slims your waist, tones your legs and lifts your buttocks.

If you’re looking to burn fats in your arms, the Adam & Eve Body Suit Shaper with Sleeves (₱ 7, 750.00) is the best bet. It’s perfect for when your go-to style is wearing sleeved tops, long sleeves and sleeved dresses. It has a crotch opening for hassle-free restroom trips. This one also comes in nude and black colors.

Iya assured that each of the shapewears can be worn for hours without feeling uncomfortable. Each one can even give better slimming results when worn while working out as you can sweat more. She recommended to wear the shapewear for at least 8 hours a day, and for 8 consecutives weeks for maximum slimming effects.

After the pre-recorded segment, Katarina shared that she wished Adam & Eve existed already two years ago.

“What’s really funny is I wish I had known about Adam and Eve or that it existed two years ago when I entered the pageant world because I had to look online for waist trainers. I had one in black and there’s the latex waist cincher– one for sleeping and one for working out. I have two because when you work out, you sweat. I use one just for working out and one for like when I’m getting through the day. I was so into the (Adam & Eve) presentation earlier because I didn’t know that the other shapers also help.”

Kat furthermore told the other ladies, “In all honesty Charina, I wore them for two years throughout my competition and they helped me so much. I wore them in what we called Passarella training, our walk training in pageantry when we wear high heels,” she said. “I also wear them for my workouts when I’m on the treadmill. I wish I had Adam and Eve.  In all honesty, when you’re working out and you’re dieting properly, a shapewear assists (in losing weight).”

She mentioned that her shapers before helped in achieving the body shape she’s always wanted.

“I used to have a square-shaped body because I came from an athletic background. I used to run for track and field in college. So I didn’t have that hourglass shape, and I got it when I started wearing waist trainers. It’s very helpful, it works.”

Adam & Eve also touched on diversity in beauty as the brand takes pride in celebrating all types of body shapes. The live conversation also tackled the importance of celebrating all body types especially in this day and age of social media.

Another topic that was talked about during the live session was the importance of viewing yourself in a positive way by building your confidence no matter what your size or color is. Charina also highlighted that everyone should recognize and embrace one’s body type to be the best version of yourself. It will help you start having a positive mindset, which in the long run will give you a lot of opportunities. According to the her too, a positive mindset can help you learn more because you tend to listen to people more.

Like any other women, Katarina shared that it is not always easy to have a positive mindset as she shared her fair share of insecurities whenever she’s browsing through the social media.

“I feel like that’s something that’s human nature where you’re going to feel insecure especially on social media and just going on and on and seeing other females or other people having this lifestyle or having something that you want. I think it depends on how you mentally shift your thoughts when it comes to these things. You want to have this person’s body? You want their curves? Just do the research on how to get the curves that you can get for your body.”

She shared the mindset that her parents taught her in dealing with insecurities “I’m very blessed to have had this mindset that my parents trained for me to have: to let the comparison go through in your mind, but then don’t spend too much time on it. Don’t get too much obsessed with that person. Just use that as motivation.”

“It takes a lot of just psyching yourself out of it that like this is what I have and this person is not going to have that. You just need to focus on yourself. Admire the other people, but bring it back to yourself and focusing on yourself. And I think that’s more on empowering yourself, not just women empowerment. It’s you empowering you and your own individuality, and what you have. Then you won’t compare anymore, you’ll just admire. You admire other people and then you empower yourself.”

For shapewear consultation, follow Adam & Eve on Instagram @adamandeveph, and on Facebook at facebook.com/adamandeveph. For shopping online, log on to www.adam-eve.ph. You may also shop at the brand’s Zalora store.