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Style "aha moments"

Kari

Veteran

I've come to realize some small things about my style-not big breakthroughs, but realizations that help me make sense of why I feel so fab sometimes and awful at others.

1. Having an overly grown out hair cut makes me feel way more frumpy and insecure than being overweight does.
2. Apply facial moisturizer/lotion more sparingly in the mornings when I plan to wear glasses that day, especially on the upper half of my face.
3. I'm courting a week long infection if I wear earrings without coating my piercings in Neisporin at the beginning and end of the day.
4. I really do walk differently- less heavily and with greater comfort- when I wear (low, 1-2.5 inch) heels than when I wear flats with no heel at all.

What tips or revelations have you picked up lately?

General

35 replies

Latest reply was from Kari

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

Mine is that I do much better and feel more calm and stylish if I carefully plan my outfits in advance. This is actually something I picked up recently from Angie and it's really been a revelation. I photograph the pairings. When I am thinking about what to wear the next day I just flip through the photos and pick something. No fuss, no muss.

Anonymous

Mine is planning in advance and ironing all of my shirts in one go.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Kari, overgrown hair makes me feel the same way. It would be ok if it were still a bob, but now that it's short, I have to keep it trimmed to feel good.

I've also come to the same conclusion about needing at least a little bit of a heel and some arch support to feel comfortable in shoes. Truly flat shoes make my arches hurt.

Jenava, I'm trying to plan in advance like you do. I'm too lazy to try things on in advance and then end up with some flops which were winners in my imagination. Live and learn

Anonymous

Painted nails make me instantly feel better also.

fashionista

Veteran

1. I feel stylish when my wardrobe is clean and organised.
2. I have noticed that exfoliating the morning after wearing heavy night cream reveals the best glowing skin.
3. I have started feeling myself exposed without cardigans.
4. My back aches more when I am in a sleeping position that sitting position (Browsing through YLF)
5. Watches do make or break an outfit.
6. Moisturisation is the best skin care one can give to oneself.
7. I have started loving YLF more than ever. Infact addicted.
8. Dry lips at bed (while asleep) makes me very thirsty at night.
9. Ironing clothes immediately after washing them makes them stay new and saves time. It also decreases stress and
10. Stopped browsing internet for fashion advices now after YLF and feel like I have met every member of this blog physically.

AJ

Veteran

1) If I walk in "trainer heels" (higher than I want to wear) for a couple of days, then wearing the height that I desire seems much easier.

2) It's the little things (like cuffing a sleeve) that can make an outfit better.

3) Angie's bookending tip, helped me to expand my shoe collection to more than black and dark brown.

4) My coarse, thick, curly hair behaves better when I put styling product on while my hair is still soaking wet.

5) This product has SAVED my lips from constant dryness:
http://www.marykay.com/skincar.....fault.aspx

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Great realizations!
I feel okay up to 2.5 or 3" heels, but over that I relate to the kind of heavy walk you mentioned.
I also feel bleh when my hair is grown out, even though it is quite long. When the layers hang instead of bring out bounce, it makes me feel like a ragamuffin.
I am starting to realize the tinted moisturizer that was fine in FL is giving me breakouts here, especially in my chin area, and no one feels great with splotchy skin. So, time to find a new one stat!

Funny how many of our style aha moments don't really have to do with the clothes themselves.

Deborah

Veteran

Kari I share the hair revelation with you. Hair is my #1. If I am due for a cut and/or color and I have left it too long between appointments I feel absolutely un fab.

And Jenava's comment re planning outfits hits home. When I have planned and organised I feel great. I enjoy 'creating' the outfit, so rushing around like crazy in the morning trying to put something together is another thing that makes me feel unfab. I also have photos of outfits that I can flick through to make a choice each day.

And probably my biggest recent 'aha' moment has been I can wear color! Wearing some color each day makes me feel good!

Thanks for asking the question Kari! Some very relatable responses.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Converse are my favorite MOTG shoe.
Knee high lace-up boots instantly up the coolness factor of an outfit.
I am a dress and skirt gal--trousers bore me and I have a hard time coming up with outfits using trousers.
I love juxtaposition--edgy and romantic, tough and feminine, retro and modern--to help balance outfits.
I love pattern and texture rich outfits.
And most importantly, I have to have at least one (or more) signature or recognizably GP items (jacket, shoes, patterned blouse or skirt etc) in my outfit to feel fab--otherwise my outfit feels boring!

Anonymous

Mine:
I discovered I'm an accessory gal. I don't feel put together until I put my watch, bracelet and earrings. I'd do a necklace depending on the top.
I love "odd"shoes. The oxford Miz Mooz I posted about recenty have become the most worn item in my wardrobe, and I thought I would have a problem finding combos for them. I just ordered the tan and cognac, that's how much I love them.
I used to think of my closet as mainly under two categories: Work and casual. I do mix the two categories so much that I no longer classify anything under work or play.
I need a tailored item to feel put together. i.e if my blouse is flowy, my bottoms should be tailored and viceversa. I also need that third piece to feel like me.
Having a gallery of prior outfits does not help me any. I seldom repeat a combination. I get bored too easy.

Emily

Veteran

Good tips, Kari! I really like #3- I have lots of lovely earrings but I have to take off the ones that aren't gold as soon as I get home or my ears protest. I will try a little neosporin and see if helps.

I like #1 as well, Mo had it bang on with layers hanging vs bouncing.

NailPolishMan had some good points too! I really should do all my ironing at the beginning of the week, and I love having painted fingernails.

Anonymous

I've had a few major "aha" moments in the last few years...

I'm definitely a Summer, just not the typical Summer that's described in the Color Me Beautiful book. I'm a Soft Summer.

My hair looks awful when it gets past a certain length. There's nothing worse for than an overgrown haircut!

I definitely look and feel better in heels. Flats shorten my leg line and hurt my feet.

It's just as important to know about body proportion as it is to know about body shape.. I'm an hourglass, but I'm short in the waist and long in the rise (crotch) and have only recently learned how to dress this in the most flattering way.

It's important to buy the right skin care products, which are not necessarily the priciest. Using affordable but extremely effective Rx products prescribed by my doctor have cleared up my skin, whereas the pricey skin care products recommended to me by various dermatologists did not. Doctors should not be allowed to sell skin care products! It clouds their judgement.

Also, mineral makeup is best for my sensitive rosaea-prone skin, but bismuth oxychloride causes problems for me. I have to buy mineral makeup that does not contain that ingredient.

Lastly, it's very important to keep my skin moisturized.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I love to wear black but in my next life will colour coordinate my cats with my clothes - black clothes+white cat makes me go through a lot of lint rollers.

Putting on The Body Shop peppermint foot cream on and then socks before going to bed means I wake up in the morning with soft, beautiful feet.

I've made less thrifting purchase mistakes now that I'm more particular regarding fit and this feels good.

Footwear has become a major part of my outfits and therefore I'm choosing more interesting shoes/boots.

Isabel

Veteran

What a great idea for a thread Kari ! Thank you.

No more cheap, trendy shoes for me that are not comfortable . They don't work because I get uncomfortable and don't wear them.

I tended to buy all kinds of make up and lotions but I don't use them. I always fall back on my routine. So no more of that.

No matter how much I love something, if it give me too much work or is too high maintenance, I just won't wear it. I have accepted that.

"doing" my nails and my eyebrows makes me feel so much more put together. I feel as if I am falling apart if I start to neglect those. Strangely enough, I don't feel that way about my hair....

I will think of some more and come back....

ironkurtin

Veteran

- Life is too short to wear shoes that hurt

- Bras with wider back-spanning straps fit better than ones that don't

- I look best in tops and sweaters that hit at or below my hip bone

- Urban Decay eye pencils are way better than MAC pencils - better texture, point, etc.

- I have too many things.

marianna

Veteran

- When wearing trousers, I feel better in blouses that cover my rear. Otherwise I feel too exposed.

- Dry clean only items don't work well for me at this stage in my life. I like being able to machine wash everything.

- Ponte/knit blazers are a miracle and look so much better on me than cardigans.

- Threading my eyebrow is better and more efficient for me than waxing. My hair grows back too quickly when I get them waxed.

- I won't wear it if it's uncomforable.

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

Great read!

My guilty revelation:
DH has taken over the laundry in the last few months. He is a man with a mission and gets the whole lot washed and ironed and put away in record time.

My revelation?
It is FABULOUS to be able to choose from all of your clothes pretty much all the time, rather than waiting on what's in the laundry/ironing baskets.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Kari, you're dead on the money about the overdue haircut. A shapeless, overgrown cut can certainly be frumpy. But I'm terrible about getting cuts on time -- I end up going months and months between haircuts. I've found I can make heavy use of hats to get around this, or else style my hair so it looks like Russel Brand's (if it's sticking up all over the place and it's clearly deliberate, then at least it doesn't look frumpy! It's not everyone's cup of tea, but I particularly enjoy having disheveled hair when the rest of my outfit is ladylike. I like the contrast).

Why do you wear less moisturizer when you're wearing glasses? I'm curious. I'm pretty new to wearing glasses. Does the moisturizer make them slide down?

Other relatively recent style discoveries:

- nearly everything looks better with high heels
- too much bright colour makes my brain hurt, no matter how popular it is
- skirts that cover my kneecaps make me feel like a lady

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Things I learned this week:

1) If your heels are too loose, you should get rid of them. ASAP. Or else you will fall flat on your face and look like a moron.

2) If you look put together, you get strange comments from people. I think they just don't know what to say. i.e.: "You are really cute... uh... I guess you're not a nurse!" Okay? O_o; what?

3) I also like wearing little heels - but since mine are gotten rid of (see #1); I need to allocate budget next month (April) to get some!

4) Twirly skirts make me want to twirl!

christieanne

Veteran

I love lyn's twirly skirt revelation!

I am a total accessories girl. I noticed that on Pinterest, my accessory board is huge and my apparel board has like two things. In magazines, I also notice the accessories first. Maybe I am meant to have a smaller apparel closet and a bigger accessory cupboard?

When I am slightly more adventurous with color I feel better.

Totally agree with the hair comments - I even discussed this with my stylist and she showed me the "warning" point to look for as clue to make my appt. I am same way with gray roots but I can handle that at home quickly. Also, washing hair only every other day (for now) is teaching me to use less product and make hair healthier.

MsMary

Veteran

I had a gigantic hair "ah-ha" this week. Normally I go every three weeks to get my roots done, and if my colorist isn't available on Week Three, I have been waiting for four weeks and suffering through a week with my roots showing.

This week it suddenly hit me: This is madness! Madness, I tell you! Life is too short to have gray roots for even a week! Next time she can't see me on Week Three, I am going to go crazy and go in after TWO weeks instead of stretching it out for four weeks!!! Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What a fabulous thread! So much fun to read all the recent revelations, and I identify with many of them.

Here are a few of mine:

Grooming: Hair and eyebrows, hair and eyebrows, hair and eyebrows. If these look good, I automatically feel 100% better and ready to face the world without makeup and in my PJs, should it be required!

Accessories: Shhhhhh...don't tell anyone, but I am quietly falling in love with bags!! At the moment I'm still a "one bag a season" lady (or at most, two) but I have a distinct feeling that there will soon be four or even SIX "seasons" of bags in my closet and across my body or on my shoulder or in my happy little hand (x-bodies, shoulder bags & totes, and clutches being the only kinds of bags that work for me). My bright yellow spring bag is what has turned the corner for me. It makes me smile just to look at it.

Shoes: I am learning their importance to an outfit and slowly building my collection of interesting footwear.

Apparel: I feel best when at least one item of my wardrobe is tailored (waving at Zap).

At least for spring, I am craving crisper fabrications and sharper patterns with brighter colour.

HelenInCanada

Veteran

Fun thread! Amen to many of these revelations - especially about hair! If my hair is out of shape, I feel frumpalicious.

Other discoveries:
- Funky-tied scarves have saved many an outfit this past fall/winter. A whole wardrobe of them is a good idea. Just love 'em to death.
- Sneakers make me feel VERY young and a little on the dowdy side (although I love wearing my pull-on Keds, as a MOTG - so comfy)
- I need more interesting/colourful bottoms. I had become a black-pant-blue-denim addict for awhile.
- I feel prettier and more "me" in skirts and casual dresses. Must buy more of these.
- Drapey tunics are a lifesaver!
- I love bold colours, but am too shy to wear them together. One at a time. It's all good.
- I am a cross-body bag addict. Can't have enough of this style. Have one in taupe, black, and red. On the lookout for one more, perhaps patterned to spice up solid tops.
-Love pendants for special occasions. Feel naked/plain without one.

bj1111

Veteran

echoing hair roots as an a-ha moment.

also, stay true to being a non-bag girl and stop trying to expand my purses if what i have fits my very limited needs, which they do. heresy, i know.

i want to make the transition to comfy stylish shoes, but i hate spending money on flats. need to work on this some more.

Anonymous

...

I meant to post this in another thread. Oops!

Vildy

Veteran

Lining my eyes all the way 'round makes them a darker blue and makes me happy.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Popping a collar (and jumper if its cold) on Rosie that matches her Mum's outfit makes her Mummy happy.

kellygirl

Veteran

I like color and a bit of contrast (in moderation, of course) is a recent "aha" for me. I can relate to many of the other ones posted too. I won't buy uncomfortable/cheap shoes. I find I hesitate to wear clothes that require extra careful washing because I'm so lazy and too cheap to dry clean. I love the comfort of a knit blazer. Like Jenava, I feel most comfortable when I wear something that I've planned--I, too, refer to my WIW photos for fuss free dressing. So many great aha moments here!

shipskitty

Veteran

Hair and eyebrows - totally agree that this makes me feel so much more polished. Plus eye-liner and a necklace. Those four things just make me feel put together enough to face anything really.

I've found scheduling my hair and eyebrow appts in advance keeps me from letting anything get unruly and takes pressure off me when things get too busy. When I have an appt I schedule the next one before I leave. Not sure why this make such a difference to me but it does.

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