MSP's Weekly Style Missions

Working on your style in small, bite-size pieces is the best way to become more stylish. It's so much better than dumping your whole wardrobe on the floor and starting over from scratch. If you are desperate to make some changes in your appearance, by far this is the worst thing you could possibly do!

Making quick (and often irrational) decisions with your stale outdated wardrobe (like dumping just about everything in the trash can) will end up costing you more in the long run. You will end up making poor choices because it takes time to really understand what you need and want. A good wardrobe is made up of a small amount of core pieces and each piece should be the correct silhouette for your body type. 

One of the best ways to start improving your style is with weekly style missions. Taking on one weekly mission that will improve your style will teach you what is the most flattering for you. It also gets you to explore with colors, jewelry, accessories and more!

Check out the FREE weekly style missions over at MissusSmartyPants.com (or sign up and have them emailed to you each week). 

In fact, take a peek at this week's MSP's Weekly Style Mission. It's about "dressing backwards" and using brooches in creative ways to "up your style". Style should be fun. It's a process or journey. Enjoy what you wear--let your clothes express the woman you are!

Get creative...think out of the box! You can wear a brooch so many different ways. Wear it on...READ MORE & VIEW PHOTOS

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)

To Belt or Not to Belt...

 
Belts really can be slimming because they offer a 'hint of waist' definition (which makes any woman appear more balanced in shape)...so they are worth giving them a go. Having a waist is better than not having a waist and looking like a big rectangle!!! So, don’t say ‘NO’ until you try them a couple of different ways.

Belts take some experimenting to discover what works best for you. Your waist, body type and height are all things to take into consideration as your experiment. 

Stand in front of a full-length mirror and start playing around using my suggestions below:
 

  
1. Find where on your body a belt works best. Sometimes the area will be a little higher than your natural waistline and sometimes a little lower. When you’re regular bust size and carrying a little extra around the midriff, positioning a belt just above the waistline is usually best. When you’re short-waisted and with a full bust, positioning a belt lower than the waistline in front and at waist level in the back is often for you. If you’re long waisted, wearing a belt high on the natural waist is usually most effective.

Still not sure about a belt? Try this...

This empire waist style of dress has a fitted band of fabric that brings attention higher up (right under the bust) for a body slimming look!

Ralph Lauren Metallic Gathered Empire Dress

2. Select the right width. Once you’ve found the area on your torso that works best for you, think about the width of the belt. Sometimes wide elasticized belts worn above your midriff hides your extra bits or you can try the belt right over the top of the extra bits to hide them. With a straight undefined waist, a narrower belt worn a little lower in front is a good choice. Long-waisted SYSters can wear extra-wide belts, on the other hand short-waisted SYSters look better with skinny belts. 

How about a peacock-colored skinny one?

 3. Take contrast into consideration. Once you’ve found your best belt location and your best, you need to decide if your belt should have contrast or blend in with your outfit. A low contrast belt is usually best for waistlines which aren’t defined, this will give you a long lean line without a color change. On the other hand, a high contrast belt will draw more attention to the waistline.

High contrast makes your waist stand out more...

 

Low contrast brings less attention to the waistline...

    

4. Add a layer.  Layering a jacket or cardigan over a top with either a low or high contrast belt is a fabulous way to wear a belt! Belts can add an interesting dimension to any outfit when they are ‘peeking out' from under a jacket or sweater. (Great idea for undefined waists :)
 

Chauncy Jacket by Chico's

5. Embrace an elastic belt. Wearing a belt with elastic means it will move when you do and be more comfortable.
 

Simple Pleat Stretch Belt by Chico's

6. Belts take practice. If you haven’t worn belts for awhile, you may find they are a bit uncomfortable and take practice to get use to them. Give them a chance, you’ll be glad you did. 

7. Belts are NOT for everyone or every outfit. If you simply can’t, won’t or choose not to wear a belt…go for a slender and straight proportion instead. 

 Milly Maxi Sweater by Chico's

Are you ready to give wearing a belt another try?

Do you enjoy these style tips? Get your weekly style fix and tips created just for YOUR body type at MissusSmartyPants.com