How Long Makeup Lasts...and when to pitch it!

Ever have a nasty eye infection from using expired makeup? I have. It was pretty bad too.

I got said nasty eye infection from an eye cream that was suppose to "smooth fine lines and crows feet". Well, whatever. I ended up with a pus-inflamed red eye lid that looked like I had something contagious! I stayed home for DAYS people! If I would have seen someone like me (Cyclops) walking around town... I would have gathered up my small children and ran the other way--FAST!!!

The point is, don't take chances with makeup (especially anything that goes near your eyes). When it doubt--toss it out! I've always tossed questionable left-over food and milk past the expiration date without hesitation.  But, I guess sometimes a gal just has to learn things the HARD WAY! LOL!

I found this cool info-graph telling you when to toss it OUT!

WHEN IN DOUBT...TOSS IT OUT!!!

When is a bargain...really a bargain?

Recently I spent six long hours in a client’s closet. Her closet was so crammed full of clothes there was no way she could possibly add in one more shirt!

She contacted me to help her organize her closet and show her how to put outfits together. She was concerned about all the money she has spent on clothes—and yet she felt she had nothing to wear. Sound familiar?

When buying clothes for her wardrobe, my client had never thought about her body shape, coloring or actual wardrobe needs—instead her clothes were always impulsively purchased. Most of her clothes were purchased on SALE--because of this, many of them had become quickly outdated.

The main problem for this woman was that she had purchased “sale” clothes without any thought or plan in mind. She had become “sale-crazed” and purchased only “bargains”! A real wardrobe plan (that I was going to give her) was what this dear sweet woman really needed!

YOUR TURN....So, when is a bargain really a bargain? Share your 'bargain' or not so great 'bargain' stories with us!

Did you know stylish women often spend LESS money!

Did you know stylish women often spend LESS on clothing than most women do? 

Stylish women know the following tricks to being “chic on the cheap”...
__Invest more in classics and base your core wardrobe on them

__Have more solids, fewer prints

__Buy the best quality of basic pieces you can afford (you’ll wear ‘em a lot)

__Wash less and care correctly for your fabrics so they’ll last longer

__Use accessories to dress up or down your wardrobe

__Update seasonally with trendy inexpensive accessories

__Buy only styles that flatter your body and enhance your natural coloring

__Insist on good fitting clothes. Ill-fitting clothes never flatter

__Use a full-length mirror to assess your proportions

Need more style help? Check out my style website

Make Your Jewelry Viewable

The best way to insure you'll wear your jewelry is to have it where you can SEE it! Don't hide it away in drawers or let it get tangled up in a jewelry box...no, no, no! 

Put your jewelry on display! When you see it, you'll wear it!

Here are a couple of ideas for storing/displaying your jewelry...

Below, these are stacked plastic cutlery trays...

Q & A How to Accessorize Correctly

Dear Leslie,

I need help with accessories. Since you always seem to wear just the right accessories and just the right amount I know you can help. Do you have rules that you follow when picking out your accessories each day?

For example if I wear a bold necklace, should I not wear earrings or is it okay to wear both? If I wear a chunky bracelet should I wear a ring on the same hand or on the other? What about mixing a pearl necklace and diamond stud earrings, yes or no? I just feel pearl earrings will look too matronly with the matching necklace, am I right about this?

By the way I love your website and all your style tips you share with us! My style has dramatically improved since joining your site. I’m also having fun playing dress up in my closet like I’m a little girl.

Thanks! Janella

By far my long strand of pearls are my favorite accessory...

  Dear Janella,

This is a hard question to answer since the answer is somewhat subjective. Even stylists don’t agree on what is the right amount of accessories. You’ll see everything in the magazines from no jewelry on to over-accessorizing—and everything in-between. It’s hard for the average women to know what is truly stylish.

Coco Chanel said "Always remove one thing before going out the door". I notice too many women who over-accessorize with earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets all heaped on at one time. It comes across as chaotic and quite distracting--not stylish at all. Coco was right on this one: LESS is more when it comes to wearing accessories.



Everyone’s accessories should describe their personality. If you aren't absolutely confident that you have your accessories right, then just wear one piece that you love and leave it at that. If you have the confidence, you can pretty much pull off anything. 



So to answer your question: “What rules do I follow when picking out my accessories each day?”... 
Here goes:



1. I pick and choose my accessories by instinct and by my mood. 

Since I know (and don’t like) to wear matching “sets” I choose my accessories based on the color I’m wearing and the occasion I’m dressed for. Sometimes I wear large silver hoops with a chunky necklace because the silver in the hoops bring out the silver pieces in the necklace, or because the look I'm going for is a bit more trendy or urban. I try to experiment and pick pieces that describe my mood or vibe for that day. In other words, try on different accessories and see what looks the best on you.



2.  I keep my look balanced.

I usually spread out my accessories to balance my look. If I wear a large necklace, my earrings are minimal. Or if I wear large earrings, I’ll wear no necklace. Or, if I'm wearing a statement belt, I don't wear a necklace so that the necklace doesn't compete with the belt. Again spread out your accessories—and use your full length mirror.



3. Get style inspiration everywhere! I read fashion magazines and peruse catalogs like J.Crew, Ann Taylor Loft and Anthropologie to see what is hot and what I like.

I interpret the styles for the season and use what I have in my closet. I make up my version with what I own. Sometimes I only need a small item to complete the look!



4. Always say YES to a sale! I stock up on accessories when I run across a good deal—and I’m always on the lookout.

Why pay a lot for accessories, when you can buy them on clearance for a $2 or less at thrift stores, garage sales, Claire's, Wal-Mart, or Target? The more you have the more options you’ll have for creating your own unique look. DON’T buy junk! Only buy what you like in your seasonal colors.

At the beginning of each season I buy several trendy accessories to update my mostly classic wardrobe. I have a few pieces of real jewelry, shoes, and handbags to fall back on, but I love stocking up on inexpensive items to keep my wardrobe fresh and stylish.



5. I organize my accessories. 

You won't be inspired to wear any accessories unless you can see them all spread out! How you organize and display your jewelry is up to you. You may want to use hooks or accessory hangers to see all that you have. When I open my closet I can see all my options. I can see my necklaces, scarves, bags, belts and choose what to wear with my outfit. I organize each item by COLOR because I find that most helpful.

 

Now to answer your other accessory questions you have asked. Should you forgo earrings when you are wearing bold necklaces?

 You don't have to, but you certainly don't want your earrings to distract from your statement necklace. Small stud earrings that coordinate with the necklace always look great. They don't need to match perfectly, but they must compliment. My rule of thumb is if my hair is up, I always wear earrings. I usually do wear small studs if I am wearing a bold necklace. If my hair is down and I'm wearing a statement necklace, I might fore go earrings. But that is just my preference. I've seen women pull off bold earrings with a bold necklace.

 

Should you wear both bracelets and rings on the same hand?

 Definitely! I would wear several bracelets too. You are making a statement by going strong in one area. I just would fore go a necklace, but balance the bulk out with large earrings. Again, this is just my opinion. 

Should you wear a chunky pearl necklace with diamond studs? I worry pearl earrings would be too “matchy-matchy” and old fashioned look—am I right?

You are correct, matched jewelry sets are quite outdated looking. However, if I'm going for a more classic look and I’m wearing a bold pearl necklace (chunky or several strands), I usually wear small pearl studs. If you are worried about looking too matronly, just fore go the earrings and let your hair cover your ears.

The most important thing about accessorizing is exploring. Try new ways to wear a scarf. Try a new bold necklace. Try, try, try! Once you get over your initial anxiety, you love “Showing Your Style” SYSter!

Love, Leslie aka MissusSmartyPants  (creator of the Personal Profile System)

A Reminder from your "Cyber Stylist"...

Reminder from MissusSmartyPants...A strong sense of personal style isn't about following trends. It's about wearing things that make you feel great and having confidence in your own standout look.

 

Have a stylish week! Love, Leslie aka MissusSmartyPants

10 Ways to Get Your Style Fired Up Again

10 ways to get your style fired up again:

1. Catch a flick. Movies are very influential on the fashion world. Costumes are used to set the mood, personalities, and time period. Take a moment and think of movies past and present. For example, ‘Flash Dance’ suddenly every teen girl wore tunics and leg warmers; ‘Annie Hall’ started the trend of dressing like Diane Keaton. Or ‘Legally Blonde’, a Tiffany heart necklace became the norm for every girl’s wish list.

2. Lace up your sneeks. Go to your mall and lock your wallet in the trunk!  Go window shopping (not spending) and check out the storefronts. Observe the latest styles and trends and make note of the ones you love.

3. Become a couch potato. Watch TV just to see what the characters are wearing. Check out what “older” women wear…like the women on CSI, Oprah, The View, and Kelly Ripa. Find same-shaped celebs and copy their style!

4. People who need people. People watch. Admittedly, this is one of my favorite things to do! Go to the mall, a park or cafe and watch people--and more importantly what they are wearing. Critique what they are wearing and if you think it’s working…let them inspire you.

5. Sign on the dotted line...online. Sign up for emails from your favorite stores. Even if you can’t afford to always buy from them…let them inspire you with new styles each season.

 Want a quick way to becoming more stylish? 

Invest more in wardrobe essentials that you can wear a variety of ways....

6. Go ask Alice. Or, any other trusted friend, sister or those whose style you admire. There is nothing like getting inspiration for your style from a real person.

7. Gloss over the mags. Take a look at the magazines. I’m not talking teen magazines. It can be any magazine from Redbook to Woman’s Wear Daily. A variety of magazines will show women of all ages. Look at what they are wearing.

8. Talk with your teen. No, don’t have THE talk!  Ask them for fashion ideas, silly! They may not quite get where you are coming from—heck we don’t get where they are coming from either! It’s worth a try--they are walking billboards for all the latest styles and trends!

9. Stamp your passport. Travel! Different cultures can inspire your style. See what is popular in another country. I remember going to Paris, France as a teen. The classy styles the women were wearing became “fashionable” years later here in the States!

 10. Don’t be a victim. Know when to pass on a style or trend. It is more important to dress age appropriate…don’t dress like your daughter or grandmother either! You need to be comfortable in your own skin.

Go to MissusSmartyPants.com! For the ultimate fashion tips and style help. Join MSP for weekly style advice and follow the fit guidelines and you will learn to dress for your body type like never before!