Tag Archives: Fashion tips
1. Do get measured for a custom fit. Tip: Some department stores have a free alteration service.
2. Do look for this season’s “Boyfriend” jacket. Longer and boxier, this trend gives a nice contrast to a frilly blouse.
3. Don’t be quick to throw out your old jackets; alterations, new buttons, trims, and a little creativity just might bring these oldies back to life.
4. Don’t always match your jacket to your skirt or slacks. Try a dark one with a light bottom or a light one with a dark bottom. Color is good, too!
5. Do look for unique jackets in trendy boutiques. These pieces can end up being staple wardrobe items.
6. Do spend more on suits. The better fit will pull you together like nothing else.
7. Don’t pass up that cute, leather jacket in your favorite color. Color trends come and go; you might not see it come around for awhile.
8. Do look for classic pieces at Goodwill or thrift stores. I once found a vintage, black velvet jacket for $3.00.
9. Do belt a classic blazer with your favorite scarf for a pop of color.
10. Do look for A-line trenches if you are pear-shaped.
Photo: Crop Leather Ruffle Jacket, available at Victoriassecret.com, $168.
1. Don’t ever, ever wear a flannel, granny nightgown to bed. Don’t do it even if you are a granny.
2. Do let your significant other see you in lingerie that flatters your body.
3. Don’t think because you aren’t a size 6 that you can’t rock a black teddy.
4. Do shop at Victoria’s Secret for the latest in intimate apparel. The sales staff is trained to assist women with selecting the right size and shape for their body type.
5. Don’t assume that your cellulite and bulges are a turn off. We are the only ones who obsess over our flaws.
6. Do be confident in whatever you are wearing, 
even if it’s nothing.
7. Do try a fragrance that stimulates sexual appetite. (Pure Romance products are great; visit Pureromance.com).
8. Don’t let your undies get to the gross stage. If you see holes, stains, or elastic fibers poking out, it’s time to go shopping.
9. Do fix your hair and make-up for the bedroom encounter.
10. Do love your body the way it is!
(Photo upper left, Intimissimi Teddy, available at Victoriassecret.com;$78, sizes s/m-m/l. Photo lower right, Lace Babydoll, available at Misallilingerie.com; $38.50, size 1X).
1. Do make sure you know the difference between business, casual, and evening attire. The book, Style Clinic: How to Look Fabulous All the Time, at Any Age, for Any Occasion by Paula Reed is a great resource.
2. Do try one of the new nail colors in OPI’s South Beach Collection. With names like Suzi & the Lifeguard, Sand in My Suit, and Clubbing Til Sunrise, you know they will add a little sizzle to your night. Hot, hot, hot!
3. Do go ahead and wear your pearls; stop saving them for a wedding or funeral.
4. Don’t leave the “slim trouser” behind just because you think they won’t look good. In a slimming dark color like black or navy, they can be chic with a variety of pieces like a tunic, blouse and cardigan, trench coat, heels, and flats. Experiment with this closet staple. (Photo pictures the Martin sleek straight pant; available at bananarepublic.com, $79).
5. Do use some “green” products in honor of Earth Month. Try clothing made from organic fabric, all-natural skin and hair products, and cleaners; you never know, you might love them and make the switch for good. Anthropologie is introducing Edun’s 100% organic ”Bee Tees” to help generate awareness of the disappearance of honeybees. (Available at Antropologie stores, $58).
6. Do exfoliate and protect your lips for a beautifully smooth kisser! Mary Kay’s, Satin Lips set will prepare you for summer’s romantic moments. (Lip Balm, 3 oz., $9.50; and Lip Mask, 3 oz., $9.50. The set is available for $18 through a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant or marykay.com).
7. Don’t always think you have to spend loads of money on a new outfit for a special occasion; ask a friend or family member if you can “shop in their closet” for your outfit. With the savings, you can treat them to lunch!
8. Do express yourself artistically this season with clothing, colors, and makeup that bring out your creative side.
9. Do try on an outfit that you normally would not; a new shape, color, or style will keep you on your fashion toes.
10. Do a closet overhaul. A fresh perspective on your current wardrobe will give you inspiration.
“Are you kidding? You ask, “I’m lucky to get a shower and four hours of sleep a night.” Trust me; I understand. Well, ladies, if it really took that much effort and time, I wouldn’t be able to do it either, so bear with me. With a little creativity and a few changes in your daily routine, I assure you it is possible to look your best every day.
An Experiment
Next time you go to the mall, sit on a bench, sip a cup of coffee, and look at all the shoppers. Yes, I’m talking about people watching. You will be surprised what you can learn by observing others. First, you may notice how they walk, how they interact with one another, and mostly how they look. When you notice the lady’s baggy sweats drooping in the butt, the man’s shirt that is missing two buttons, or the sales clerk who is ruining her slacks because they are too long, suddenly, you wonder how others may be seeing you. Chances are they see just as many bad and good details that you do.
The purpose for this little experiment is to generate ideas about what “looking good” means to you. Because beauty is subjective, not everyone agrees about the definition. That is why you have to do some research for yourself. By just looking at other women, younger and older, you will naturally be drawn to some of the looks and repelled by others. Call it style education. No matter what style level you are on or if you have no style at all, you can always gain knowledge that will help you look better.
Now, down to business. Once you sort of get an idea of what your personal best is, you can certainly give it a try…you have nothing to lose.
First, I want you to take this as slow or fast as you need to.
Second, understand that you don’t have to be someone you are not; be yourself.
Third, remember, you can do this!
Whether you work, stay at home, work at home, or none of the above, you need to take care of yourself. There are certain simple things you can do that will make a HUGE difference in your daily appearance. We will focus on those first.
- Keep your eyebrows plucked, waxed, shaped, and trimmed. (If you can’t do this then pay someone who can).
- Use lotion on your entire body EVERY DAY!
- Wash your face every morning and every night before bed. (For best results, find a good skin-care line).
- Keep hand crème with you and use it regularly. While you’re at it, stop biting your nails and get a manicure. If you can’t afford it, do it yourself.
- Figure out what your best colors are and wear them.
- Figure out what shapes work on your body and wear them.
- Figure out what doesn’t work in your closet and don’t wear those things. Just let them go…
- Keep a couple of cute hats for bad hair days.
Make-up
Now that I got that off my chest, we can move forward. Let’s talk about make-up for a bit. Realistically, it takes very little make-up to give any woman a healthy, happy glow. And, truly, the older you get, the less you need. So, I don’t want to hear any complaints. If you have time for only one or two products, go for base and mascara. The base gives you a nice, smooth complexion while the mascara helps define your eyes naturally. Just don’t leave the house without doing something for yourself. You never know whom you might run into out there in the world. If you consider that for a moment, you might go ahead and find time to do a complete job. Caring a little will go a long way.
Your Hair
If you see more than three quarters of an inch of another color coming from your scalp then it’s time to get your roots done. It’s not cool, and it’s not edgy; it’s just plain wrong. Get it taken care of at the salon or at home. I can’t stress more how important it is to have a good cut. You can get away with so much when your hair looks good dry, wet, dirty, up, down, curly, straight, and with a hat. Ask your stylist to suggest something that fits your hair, face shape, and lifestyle.
What to Wear
I want to touch on your clothes briefly since I publish Daily Fashion Dos and Don’ts often. See the archives for past posts. Make sure you only wear things in public that fit properly, are still the color they were when you bought them, generally have the same shape, and don’t have stains on them. I know this sounds silly; you saw it at the mall, remember? Take care of your dress clothes; they are too expensive to replace before their time. Lastly, have you ever heard of an iron?
My final tip for looking your best is this, if you want to make an impression on someone for any reason, pay attention to your nails, jewelry, and your shoes. Strangely, people always look at those things first, especially if they are sizing you up for a job or relationship. Be well-be beautiful.
Photo by Olechkasun
1. Do use hair gel or a product like Aquage’s Transforming Paste to get a sexy, piecey look (available at salons $16).
2. Do try to stay away from clothing that has kittens, puppies, horses, or Christmas trees on it.
3. Do cinch a light, Spring coat at the waist with an interesting, wide belt. (Hint: vintage stores are loaded with yesteryear’s hot accessories that nobody else has).
4. Don’t skip your weekly personal care; such as, facial, nails, soak in the tub, and tweezing just because you are tired. Pampering yourself can actually rejuvenate an aching, exhausted body.
5. Do host a girlie get-together where you can socialize and swap wardrobe items that you are ready to part with. Have a contest to see who can come up with the most creative outfit using items other than their own.
6. Do keep an eye out for other fashionable women. Don’t be shy; ask them where they got their outfit. Borrowing ideas is no crime.
7. Do invest in good, attractive luggage. You want to look your best when you are traveling; a beat up, dirty suitcase just won’t do. If you are on a tight budget, try stores like TJ Maxx and Burlington.
8. Don’t forget to scope out malls and boutiques when you travel. There are likely stores that you don’t have at home.
9. Do invest in a taylor’s services to custom fit your business suits and evening wear.
10. Do add gel pads to the inside of your heels. It’s definately not cool to limp your way around a party or night out on the town. Also, carry bandaids just in case you get a blister.
1. Do be sexy without being too revealing.
2. Don’t think you have to only wear women’s cologne; give these men’s scents a try (Calvin Klein Euphoria Men eau de toilette ($65, at Macys.com), Sean John I Am King eau de toilette ($74 at, Macys.com), Gucci by Gucci Pour Homme eau de toilette spray ($70 at Saks.com).
3. Do wear polka dots- yes, they’re back in.
4. Don’t wear overly faded out clothing. If you can, dye it to spruce up color; otherwise, pitch it or use for housework.
5. Do give your body a slimmer look by wearing a blazer over a dress or blouse with a small print.
6. Do use an all-over exfoliant like Neutrogena’s Sugar Scrub Body Exfoliator ($10, at drugstores).
7. Do seek out jackets with big collars or interesting contours around the neck.
8. Do multi-task your jewelry; wear a necklace as a headband, bracelet, or anklet.
9. Don’t forget to add a well-fitting spring/rain jacket to your wardrobe. Choose one that hits you below the hips and is belted at the waist.
10. Do get out of your matchy-matchy rut; go for unexpected elements to give your outfits a chic edge.
Hey, there’s nothing wrong with rockin’ to your favorite oldies from a bygone era, but let me give you nostalgic gals some advice, keep your music, but bring your hair and makeup into the new millennium. It truly is a good idea to ask someone you trust, “How Do I Look?” So many women don’t reach their beauty potential because they are stuck in a past decade fashion rut. The rut I’m talking about keeps its victims from experimenting with exciting new trends and manages to keep them thinking that they look good in what they wore in college. Dressing for success in your personal and business life is not rocket science, ladies. Here’s a few tips to get you going.
Excuses For Not Changing With the Times
1. I don’t know how to look fashionable. (Buy a magazine.)
2. I can’t afford nice, new clothes. (Goodwill is great!)
3. I don’t feel comfortable dressing that way. (Find something that makes you feel pretty.)
4. I don’t have time to fuss over my looks. (You won’t say that when people notice the change for the good.)
5. I love my long, stringy hair that has no style. (Girl, just let it go.)
6. My husband loves the way I look…has for 25 years. (Are you sure?)
7. I don’t want people to look at me. (Trust me; they’re looking.)
8. It’s a waste of time and money. (Be quick; be frugal.)
9. I’m too fat or skinny to be in style. (There are tricks to help both issues.)
10. I can’t find anything that looks good on me. (You mean, you don’t want to.)
Have you said or thought any of these things? If you have, then its time that you take another look at yourself in the mirror and let go of that mantra that has gotten you where you are today…in a fashion rut.
Your Clothing
First, let’s address your clothing. I know we all have items in our wardrobe that are like family to us. Whether it’s that fave pair of jeans or that cashmere sweater that has seen better days, there is likely something that you have never considered letting go of. Well, maybe it’s time. If you could just see that by replacing those items with new, classic pieces, you will be taking the first step in fashion rehabilitation.
Make Shopping Fun
Make a big deal out of shopping for the updated versions of your favorites. Don’t forget to take a trusted friend or family member with you to the mall. You might need the encouragement and fashion advice. Teenagers are great for this task as they are usually up on the latest trends. It doesn’t hurt to skim the fashion magazines (age appropriate ones) for pictures of outfits that you like. Take them along when you shop so you don’t forget what you are looking for.
Meeting Your New Clothes
In addition to your tag-along shopping buddy, take any undergarments that you will need to try on clothes, like a body slimmer or strapless bra. I also think it is a good idea to wear comfortable, simple clothing so the dressing room experience doesn’t turn into a work out. If you usually wear makeup, apply it before going out, that way you look your best to meet your new clothes.
Build Confidence One Day at a Time
Lastly, be patient, the transformation may not happen overnight. Start slowly and work through any barriers to your new look. Just getting one new piece of clothing may be all you need to get you started toward a greater confidence.
Oh, That Hair!
Remember the Mullet, Shag, and the Beehive, though my wonderfully talented hair stylist would find a way to make all three of those dated styles look hip and polished, I doubt many of us could or should attempt a trip to the bad hairstyle graveyard. Okay, maybe they weren’t so bad in their day, but the key words here are “in their day.” I used the three obvious examples of hair gone wrong to produce a visual for you. Even people with bad hair will chuckle at someone sporting a mullet. The point is it’s time to stop the madness; tell you hairdresser to give you a new look. If they have a mullet, maybe you should get a new hairdresser.
Outdated Hair Will Age You
Like the out-of-style clothing, dated hair can age you. If you are quickly noticing that you don’t get the attention that you used to back in the day, then you likely need to do something about it. Yes, you can start fresh with a haircut and/or a color change. Don’t make it harder than it is. Look through some magazines and find a look that you are attracted to and just do it! It will help to choose a style that looks good on a model with a similar face shape to your own. If you are still unsure, there are computer programs that can show you what you will look like with any hairstyle.
Ask the stylist to show you how to style your own hair so you don’t get frustrated when you try it solo. Again, moral support is good. Take along a friend who is excited about seeing you make some rewarding changes. Enjoy the process. Good things are headed your way!
