Sometimes we make things more difficult than they need to be. I know I'm guilty of doing this all the time. I find it's my need for perfection that leads me to know everything about something...before I even dare take one-step forward. As this new year unfolds-I'm working hard to stop doing this!!!!
Instead of a complete third degree investigation-I'm opening my eyes and my mind and just getting in there and DOING IT. Whatever it is that's new to me, I'm going forward and learning as a go.
Most of this "wait and figure it out" attitude pops up its ugly head when it come is to learning new technology. I hesitate to push buttons and easily get frustrated. However, on the flip side, when it comes to my fashion-I'll take lots of chances and try (just about) anything!
My "I'll do it" attitude is full-on go with my style! Stop and take a look at your style choices. Question what you are wearing. Are your outfits daring or creative? Are they colorful? Are they innovative and unique-or do the lean towards the boring side? What changes in attitude can you make in order to improve your style?
Here's a quick way to move your style forward in 2018...Use the ABC's of style every time you dress. Let me know your thoughts and challenges as we begin this new year together.
Need more style suggestions and help for dressing for your body's shape?
I believe most women have a fair amount of common sense. However, sometimes even the most wonderful woman can be lead astray by a style she thinks looks good on her (twenty years later). You know that woman I'm talking ab'out. She's over 40, yet still wearing short skirts that she (literally) wore in her twenties!!! It's obvious the short skirt is not a favorable look with her aging legs. Who wants to be the one to tell her that she looks horrible?
The truth is...she's too OLD to wear that style! Yes, in MissusSmartyPants' opinion clothing labels should have an"expiration date" on them so this "too old to wear it" dilemma would no longer occur.
There are plenty of young, hip, trendy styles that can make you appear OLDER. Yes this is very scary, but it is true you need to tread lightly with the trends when you are over forty!
Here are just a few of the "youthful" styles an older woman should totally AVOID:
Message tees. You know the tees that say things like "Your boyfriend thinks I'm HOT!" Wearing a message tee (or ass-vertising sweats) like this...screams desperate!!!
INSTEAD: Choose to wear a great quality cotton tee that you can dress up or down...with NO silly writing, LOL!
Overly Trendy Denims. You've seen these women before: a rocking-hard body and a face that looks over 60, or more. The overly trendy jeans that are ultra LOW rise, torn and/or embellished with rhinestones just aren't doing this "hot mama" justice!!!
INSTEAD: Choose a dark wash bootcut jean and you'll look fabulous and "on-trend" no matter your body size or shape. This style of jean is the best for helping slim and balance your proportions.
Sky-high heels. Too high or overly theatrical styled shoes can make you look silly--not stylish! With these shoes be sure to include thigh-high boots, and 5 inch cork wedges.
INSTEAD: Stop torturing your feet! It's time to be kind and get real with your shoe styling. As we age we lose that fatty cushioning we had in our youth. Look for shoe styles/brands that are wider, sole cushioned and with thicker shorter heels. TRY BRANDS LIKE: Cole Hann, Aerosoles, Nurture Shoes, etc. PAY more when it comes to your shoes because foot comfort matters so much!
Micro-minis. Tina Turner pushed the limits on this one because she had pretty hot-looking legs! However, keep in mind she was on STAGE!!! ALL etsy-bitsy skirts should be sent directly to Goodwill. End of story.
INSTEAD: replace short skirts with straight or A-line skirts around the knee. TIP: if you have a slightly shorter skirt (a couple of inches above the knee) you could still wear it if you wear opaque tights at the same time.
Excessive Cleavage. Some women are well endowed and well some aren't. That's just the way it is. All 'boobage' is womanly (regardless of size) and therefore is beautiful, in my humble opinion.
BUT when it comes to cleavage in public: less is more!
'These are just a few of my un-favorite things' that can trip up any beautiful woman's style! Keep it on the classic side and you'll look fabulous every day.
Also avoid hand-made hokey jewelry, goth inspired belts and necklaces with spikes, black nail polish, glitter makeup in bright colors....GOSH! I could be here all night listing the SILLY TRENDS a grown woman really should avoid.
I'm asking for your help this week. I need your burning style questions/dilemmas. I'm going to answer as many as I can of them. This week's style article (located for all body type Personal Profile members) will be chalked full of style questions, dressing issues with my answers of "how to wear it right"! I'll be sure to have lots of photos and explanations. Please email me your style questions to: missusmsp@yahoo.com (Thanks, Leslie) For starters: I'm often asked the best way to choose your wardrobe colors. Well, to start with, choose colors that are pleasing to your coloring (your skin, eye, and hair color). You should then next consider creating color combinations by choosing color across the color wheel or those right next door. I found this cool graphic to explain just what I mean!
1. Top too low (gives you clever cleavage coverage). Nothing worse than seeing too much of the girls, LOL! (Mine is in 'animal print')
2. Top too short (gives you coverage so your tummy and backside won’t be accidently exposed)
3. Pull it down to cover over a swimsuit bottom.
4. Wear it as an instant infinity scarf (my creation, see below). Great for when you travel and the back of your neck gets chilly in restaurants and on long air flights.
Leave it to women to creatively solve our dressing dilemmas! The Camiband was created by my friend, Holly! She has kindly offered an exclusive offer to all my MSP SYSters:
Buy any Camiband and add to the customer feedback box “MSP sent me” just before checkout and you will get one of these pretty lace headbands included with your order! http://www.camibands.com/
Get that layered look without wearing
all the layers that make you too HOT!
A Camiband is a style tool that can solve lots of your dressing dilemmas! I love mine and I think you will love it too!
For some reason women always think their bodies are not quite right, rather than--the clothes are not quite right. Do you try on pants only to have them rest practically under your bust? If you are short-waisted this can happen. On the other hand, if you have a long waist the pants are snug in the rise and you find yourself constantly pulling them down. Why do some jackets make you appear shorter or heavier? Or, why do some shirts never seem long enough?
It is all about your body proportions. How each part of your body relates to the other parts is what makes up your unique proportions. Generally speaking, you are always going to have the same basic body shape whether you gain weight or lose weight. That is why following the fit guidelines at MissusSmartyPants.com will help you dress your best. Along with your body shape, there are unique proportions like a tummy, long arms, short waist, etc. These are also something you need to take into consideration when dressing.
The most common proportional issue that women face is being long or short-waisted. Knowing how to “correct” your proportions will help you know what to look for when shopping.
Grab a tape measure and decide if you are long, short or balanced in your waist line. Measure the area between the bottom of your rib cage and the top of your hip bone.
Short-waisted—the space will be about 1-2 inches
Average-waisted—the space will be about 2-3 inches
Long-waisted—the space will be about 3-4 inches
A balanced body will have a crotch that is halfway up the total body length. Your waist is balanced when it is at the halfway mark between your armpit and crotch. If your waist is above halfway you are short-waisted, if it is longer, you are long-waisted.
Rule of thumb: when you have a body part that is short—look for long. When you have a body part that is long—look for short. For example, short-waisted? Look for a longer jacket. Get it?
Don’t forget your jacket. One of the best articles of clothing that a SYSter can have in her wardrobe--is a jacket. The right jacket for your body type (and waist proportion) can help correct your body imbalance and make it appear balanced and in proportion. Not only can you disguise an undefined waist, but you will make it appear more “hourglass” with a structured jacket that is “body skimming”. The right length of jacket can make your waist or legs appear longer. Generally speaking, if you are short-waisted, a longer jacket is needed. If you are long-waisted, a shorter jacket works for you. If you are petite in stature, then you do not want to go too long with the length of your jacket or it will drag you down.
Experimentation along with the fit guidelines for your body type will help you correct your proportional dilemmas. Learn more about long and short of your waist and dress better than ever before!
