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!

Get Your Burning Style Question Answered!

This week at MissusSmartyPants.com you'll get your burning style question answered!

Simply ask your question on my MissusSmartyPants Facebook Fan Page and read the answer this week at MSP in your Personal Profile! You'll want to use this LIST as a reference guide to help you when you get stuck in a fashion dilemma from time to time.

You'll learn answers to style questions like these (and more):

How to wear a necklace so that it won't compete with your belt
Tucked in or let untucked? What's the rule?
The right top length when wearing a skirt
To wear a necklace properly when you have a full bust
How to wear bootie-shoes
How to go sleeveless
How to wear brown and black together or navy and black
Can a woman with a full-booty wear skinnies?

White Under White is a Fashion Don't

Just a little reminder...under white tops (and light colored ones too) a WHITE BRA is a fashion DON'T.

A NUDE bra (close to your skin color) always works under white and light-colored fabrics!

Here's a photo of what NOT to do :)

This fashion don't was posted in the MissusSmartyPants Style Forum here...

There are lots of great posts on this 'white under white' issue...however there's another great tip posted regarding white pants and pocket show-through here.

RareGemma says: One of my sewing magazines showed me how to solve "visible pocket" issue with white pants. That's where you can see the pockets through the pants in the front. You just get some nude fabric, trace out the pocket, cut the single piece of the nude fabric, turn the garment insideout and and sew it onto the pocket (on the side that faces the front) The nude fabric masks the white fabric of the pocket!

That's pretty cool idea for those that still want to keep their pockets...I've always suggested you have them cut out!

Jump Right In & Join Our Style Challenge!

Dear Leslie,

Today I wore a sweater top with an attached crocheted belt. Where the belt ties I wore my gold pin as a buckle for the belt.  Even through I've worn it several times before, today I received a complement on my sweater!  I would never have thought to try this without you.  I've been a subscriber for about a year and a half. . . And I still have a problem with sticking with just one or two neutral colors for my basics. Last week I wore the same pair of gray pants for 3 days in a row with different tops, jackets, jewelry, and shoes. Those three days were some of the easiest day in getting dressed I've ever had because I was wearing the same basic neutral color. . . .and NO I didn't feel that I was wearing the same thing everyday! Looks like I'm finally catching on to the concept of stylish dressing. 
 
Thank you for helping me dress my "D" figure for success!  Jennie in KY

 
Dear MSP SYSters and Jennie,  

I just LOVE getting your emails because they inspire ME! I'm always hoping to inspire YOU and help you find your own brand of style...and yet I end up inspired and enthused about exploring yet another style topic with you! 

In Jennie's email (above) she points out that by adding an accessory (a gold pin... Style Mission from 1-15-13) her outfit became extra-special and it got her compliments! This proves that accessories complete our look. We just don't look polished without them.
Jennie also explains how dressing was so EASY last week when she wore the same neutral color (the same gray pants). By using one key basic piece...dressing was easier.

Jennie's email is the inspiration for this week's Style Mission: Wear FEWER pieces to create MORE style! 

Thank you Jennie! Love, Leslie MSP


This week it's a "Style Challenge"!

This week's Style Mission is: Wear Only 8 Pieces for 7 Days!

For example, here are the 8 pieces I'll be wearing this week:
1. (1) pair of jean (I've got some casual days where I'll be at the computer all day. Wearing jeans are perfect for these days).
2. (1) dress pant (Easy for dressing up or down, as needed)
3. (1) sweater Dress ( I have a business meeting to wear this to, plus it can be dressed down easily another day)
4. (3) blouses/tops
5. (1) sweater
6. (1) blazer

Here are my 3 tops (red shell, gray turtleneck, chambray blouse) I'll wear this week...

The rest of the 8 pieces are posted here in the MSP Style Forum

 
I HAVE CREATED A POST IN THE MSP STYLE FORUM SHOWING MY 8 PIECES I'LL BE WEARING FOR 7 DAYS! I'LL POST MY DAILY OUTFITS & SO CAN YOU. Here is the link: Join the MSP Challenge: 7 Days, 8 Pieces!

What's NOT included:

Exercise/gym clothes (these get sweaty, gross and need changing immediately after exercise...so they don't count)

Pajamas, undergarments, shoes, winter coats/outwear, accessories (Take as many servings of accessories as you want! These are unlimited-like zero-calorie sweeteners. In fact, play up your accessories to really change up these 8 pieces you'll be wearing!)

Won't you join in and take the "7 Days, 8 Pieces" style challenge? You can post/share your select 8 pieces and daily outfits in the MSP Style Forum. I'll be checking in DAILY! Hope to see you there!
 
Love, Leslie MSP

Beauty Product Have a Limited Shelf Life

Beauty products have a limited shelf life, so chances are lots of what's in our makeup drawers and bathroom cabinets has long expired!

TIP: use a permanent marker and DATE your new makeup when you add it to your drawer.

Eleven makeup products & how long they last:

1. Concealers. Up to 12 months.

2. Powders. 2 years.

3. Cream & gel cleansers. 1 year.

4. Pencil eye liner . Up to 3 years.

5. Eye shadow. Lasts up to 3 years. TIP: dark eye shadow can double as an eyeliner. You'll need an fine eyeliner brush for this. Get the brush a little damp w/ water and dab into the eye shadow (dark gray, brown or deep jewel-tones work great). Work the brush into your lash line focusing on the space between your lashes, and then sweep the eye shadow just above your lash line.

6. Brushes. Wash them every 2 months in a mild soap

7. Sponges .Wash weekly and throw out monthly

8. Foundations. Water-based foundations will last up to 12 months, oil-based will last up to 18 months.

9. Lipstick. 1-2 years. However, if it smells rancid, throw it out.

10. Mascara. This product doesn’t have a long shelf life: Throw out after 3 months. Don't pump the wand in and out because you will expose the mascara to the air and dry it out faster.

11. Nail Polish. Up to 12 months, depending on the quality. TIP: when brand-new dab a little vaseline on the inner rim to keep it clean and easy to seal.

OPI Color: Sand in My Suit

Love, Leslie aka MissusSmartyPants
http://www.missussmartypants.com/index.php?route=common/home

Being Your Authentic Self

"I think women see me on the cover of magazines and think I never have a pimple or bags under my eyes. You have to realize that's after two hours of hair and makeup, plus retouching! Even I don't wake up looking like Cindy Crawford." ~ Cindy Crawford

Just be you... Be your authentic self

Get real. Have real expectations of what real women (like you) really look like. Take a look around, the women you see everyday are real (no retouching required).

Dress your shape. Learn to dress in only the most flattering styles for your body type. When you accept your shape (and body) for the way it is TODAY...you will make peace with it and actually love how it looks in clothes!   

  

Change that attitude, girl! When you have a more positive attitude and are willing to "step out of the box" you will learn new ways to improve your style and keep your look current! Get that attitude going and you will FLY (Finally Loving Yourself)!

With love, Leslie aka MissusSmartyPants...the creator of the MSP Personal Profile System

Tip to make nail polish last longer

Nail polish is a fun way to add a touch of pizzazz to your look. With every color of the rainbow now available (not to mention all the sparkles and iridescent nail polishes too)...why not paint on something fun?!

Since nail polish never seems to last long enough....I thought I'd pass along this tip of how to make it last longer.... Rub your nails with white vinegar to the the moisture out of the nail, which helps the polish adhere and last longer! It's that simple!!!

Pick a fun COLOR!