4 Steps to Chic

1. Start with a feminine top

2. Pair with classy slacks

3. Ground with bold shoes

4. Finish with statement earrings

MissusSmartyPants: How to Wear a Brooch

Add it to a pearl necklace...

ABC's of Style

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? 

Check out MissusSmartyPants.com

HAIR: Our Crowning Glory

Hair, our crowning glory-or is it?

Embracing Our Hair....

It's too thick, or perhaps it's too thin, too curly, or as straight as can be... Yes. It's hair we are talking about and its not always our 'crowning glory'.

Many of us (me included) are guilty of working against our natural hair texture. A few weeks back this sign at my hairdresser's salon really made me ponder about our struggles with our hair:

 "Life is an endless struggle filled with frustrations and challenges...

but eventually you find a hairstyle you like" 

Yes, the struggle is real when it comes to working with or accepting our hair.

QUESTION: Have you embraced your hair's natural color and texture? 

Or do you endlessly color and straighten (or curl) it? How much effort and money are you willing spend on hairstyle management?

SHARE WITH ME YOUR STRUGGLES WITH YOUR HAIR...(below)

Love, Leslie aka MissusSmartyPants

Which Outfit Do You Like More?

MissusSmartyPants.com-Festive Outfits

Use your Little Black Dress to start....

Yes, you might be too old to wear...

Yes, you might be too old to wear...

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.

All the best, Leslie MSP

You can find me helping women dress their best based on their body shape at MissusSmartyPants.com