Personal style… what does it mean? Well in my case, it’s way less about fashion and way more about dressing for myself. My personal style happens to be centered around the age-old idea of “dressing to flatter”. I don’t care what the latest rage is (short, long, tight, baggy, what have you) I always dress in semi-classic pieces that accent what I’ve got and camouflage what I got too much of. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen a pretty gal with a splendid figure wearing too-tight, too-low skinny jeans, a too-tight bra and too-tight shirt all converging to give her the look of muffin-top with sausage rolls. And it’s such a pity. With a flattering top and properly-fitting jeans she would just look dyno-mite. This is where fashion fails us. Or as I prefer to see it, where we fail ourselves, by reading too many fashion magazines. So I’ve come up with a top 10 checklist for you, to keep you feeling good and your dance card full.
1. Mirror. Do you have a full-length mirror? Seriously, if you don’t, go out and buy one stat. And don’t go leaning it too much so it’s a skinny mirror. Suck it up and regard yourself as you are.
2. Jersey. Jersey is no one’s friend. Stretchy cotton jersey is comfy as balls. It feels like you’re wearing yoga pants…and well you should be…at yoga. Jersey shows EVERYTHING! So unless that shit has some couture master tailor’s name on it, leave it be. I have seen a person’s control top and the bunched up panties underneath it, thanks to cotton jersey. When in doubt, don’t.
3. Accentuate. What are your assets? Got a rack that just won’t quit? Are you booty-licious? Got stems that go for miles? Figure out what your best features are and learn to accentuate them. Those daisy dukes, flip-flops and tissue tee may look the bomb on miss 90lb tween down the road, but if you’re sporting a beer gut and thunder thighs…think about how you can translate that look to showcase your stunning ta-tas. Find some sexy, properly-fitting, medium rise, dark jeans, flops and a tissue tee (deep v-neck to show off your unbeatable décolletage). If your gut spilleth over, accentuate with a grand pashmina around the neck, allowing the ends to graze past your belt line. The fraying ends will cause a visual distraction to mask your blub. Voila, you’re still a hot sexy hipster.
4. Accessorize. You can be any shape and size and pull off fab shoes, bags, scarves, and jewelry. I prefer to wear simple staples and jazz them up with accessories galore. I use my small silk scarves for anything from my hair (as a headband or in a knot at the base of a ponytail), to wrapping around my wrist for a bracelet, to tying in a fashionable ascot around my neck. A jaunty hat is always a crowd-pleaser. And don’t underestimate the power of a statement necklace.
5. Hair. Big Forehead? Bangs! Round face? Have your hair cut so it falls below the chin adding length and slimming the visage. Petite? Make sure your long locks don’t overwhelm you. A good haircut can really make or break your look. Stop looking at celebrities and instead look at your face and your hair. Don’t fight your hair’s natural instincts. If it’s curly let it go! A good, properly shaped cut can make curly hair look fabulous. If it’s straight, stop trying to perm it and get it cut in one of those enviable precision cuts that only the straight gals can do.
6. Quality. It’s all about quality not quantity. You don’t need a closet filled with cheap crap. One or two properly tailored pairs of pants and some flattering blouses will get you turning heads in record time. And I don’t mean Dries VanNoten (ok, secretly I do) but even Banana Republic and J.Crew have some excellent, lined, tailored pants that could really take you around the world. Cheap stretchy unlined H&M or forever 21 will only get you to the dartboard and back.
7. Dress for the occasion. Strappy stilettos in January. Yeah, you! You know who I’m talking to. Don’t look like a turd out there. Dress for the weather – a trench in the rain. The occasion – that means no goddamn jeans at the opera. And the time of day – full blown foundation and shadow during office hours be gross.
8. Once-over. Before you leave, look in the full-length and do a 360 turn. Now bend over. Seeing panty lines? Grab a thong. Your underwear? That skirt may be too short. Camel toe? Those pants are too damn tight for you. Back fat bunched around the bra? Buy a properly fitting bra, but in the meantime, don a shirt with a little pucker and ruffle. A sheerish tunic over a sexy tank goes miles for showing your shape without sharing your bumps and bubbles.
9. Swagger. Oh man, you gotta have it in spades no matter how tall, short, skinny, or fat you are. When I’m out and in the zone, really feeling myself, adding an extra wiggle to my walk, I have to beat ‘em off with a stick, boys and girls. When I’m out feeling crummy, frumpy, sad, blue…turns out company doesn’t love misery. And it’s fine if you don’t really have it. You can fake it. Practice switchin’ your hips, holdin’ that head high and lookin’ ‘em right in the eye. They’ll be putty in your hands.
10. Know thyself. Feeling comfortable and happy in what you’re wearing is the biggest key to number 9 (see above). Just because it’s fabulous, expensive, or someone recommended it, does not mean it’s for you. Take time to look around in stores and such, alone. I hate shopping with people. The only perspective I need is my own. And you should too! Trust your gut. And if that gut protrudes, hide it with a well placed hobo bag!
