The Perfect Wardrobe – Key Basics

The Perfect Wardrobe: Key Basics to Invest In.

Undergarments Seamless bras (black and nude), sexy black lace bra and panty set, sports bra, thongs (black and nude), lace-trimmed camisoles (black, white and nude), Lycra camisoles (black and nude), one-piece body smoother with long legs (nude and/or black), nude footless pantyhose.

Tops Good quality cotton Ts (black, white and a handful of fun colors), cotton ribbed tank tops (black, white and some colors), black fitted turtleneck, black cardigan, comfy crew-neck or V-neck sweater, two or three crisp white blouses, sexy evening camisole top, simple black dress.

Bottoms Two or more pairs of great-fitting jeans, white denim jeans, slim black well-tailored pants, form-fitting skirt.

Suits One to two well-cut fitted suits in black or navy. You can also wear the jacket and pants as separates.

Jackets and coats Jean jacket, blazers (use them as accessories – try different colors or textures, velvet, leather), wool or cashmere coat, down jacket, trench coat.

Shoes and handbags Black low-heel sling-back pumps, colored high-heel sling-back pumps or sandals, gold or silver metallic high-heel sandals, ballet slippers (black or metallic), comfy flat shoes (driving mocs and loafers), suede or leather tall boots, sneakers (trendy and exercise), flip-flops, waterproof boots (Wellies), a designer handbag (or two).

Jewelry or accessories A great watch, diamond stud earrings (real and/or fake), silver or gold hoop earrings, chandelier earrings, tiny pearl or gem drop earrings, a pair of fabulous sunglasses, a cashmere wrap.

A Makeup Palette for Every Hair Color

Blonde Hair

Blondes look best in soft, pastel makeup shades that complement the lightness of their hair color. Dark makeup shades are an overly harsh contrast and will make you look too hard.

Eyes – Pick bone, ash, or petal eye shadow and dark brown liner.

Cheeks – Try pale pink or nectar shades of blush.

Lips – Go for light to medium tones of pink, peach or rose.

Light Brown Hair

Light brown hair has a tendency to give skin a lackluster look, so brighten things up with medium neutrals and sheer brights (natural-looking highlights work great too).

Eyes – Pick bone and taupe eye shadows and mahogany liner.

Cheeks – Choose pale pink, sand pink, and tawny shades of blush.

Lips – Try pinky browns, soft shades of rose, and sheer berries.

Medium Brown Hair

Medium brown hair tends to give he skin a monochromatic look, so create subtle contrasts with medium neutrals and brights.

Eyes – Try bone, beigh, and gray eye shadows and medium brown liner.

Cheeks – Go for pale pink, flushed pink, and pinky brown shades of blush.

Lips – Choose pinky browns, rosy pink and sheer reds.

Dark Brown to Black Hair

Dark brown and black hair can make skin look pale, so you need to add color to your face to counteract this.

Eyes – Pick bone, light brown, or mocha eye shadows and dark brown to charcoal liner.

Cheeks – Try rosy pink, brownish pink, or rosy brown shades of blush.

Lips – Go for pinky browns, plum browns, or blue reds.

Red Hair

The burnt-amber tone of your hair will warm up your complexion, so your makeup should complement this.

Eyes – Pick bone, taupe, or mossy green eye shadows and red brown to dark brown liner.

Cheeks – Try medium brown, rosy brown, or apricot shades of blush.

Lips – Go for peach, light brown, brownish pink or red.

White/Gray Hair

Gray hair can drain color from your face, leaving you looing washed out. Brighter makeup colors in cool tones will give your face a lift.

Eyes – For blue eyes, pick white and gray eye shadows and slate of navy liner. For brown or green eyes, stick to more neutral shades of eye shadow.

Cheeks – Try soft pink or coral shades of blush.

Lips – Go for nude, rose, pink, coral, or red – any colors that give the face a lift.

Body Types – What Are You?

Developing your own personal style takes into consideration your personality, lifestyle, budget and last but not least, your body type. It is in fact, the most important factor; which we’ll broach in this article.

Although there are many variances in body types, it can be classified in these 3 types; the apple, pear and trunk (or shapeless). Pear shaped type bodies have noticeably smaller upper bodies and full lower bodies. The shoulders are round, the waist tends to be defined and small, and the hips, legs and backside are full. It is considered the classical female shape. Pear-shaped women may or may not be overweight. Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez are examples of pear-shaped women.

An apple shape refers to those with a high hip to waist ratio. Apple shapes have wide upper bodies, slimmer legs, backsides and hips. This is more of a barrel shape and excess weight tends to be in the abdominal or back area. The trunk shape resembles more of a noodle. Sometimes they’re referred to as shapeless. They are straight up and down, the waist is not defined and the backside tends to be flat. It is a more angular shape; neither the top nor bottom is curvy.

So what body type are you? Whatever it is we cannot change the body that we are blessed with but we can always work with it. A style sin is committed when we buy a clothing item we know that doesn’t suit our body type but because we saw it looking good on Ms Trunk we just got to have it on our Pear-shaped body; and end up frustrated looking not half as hot as Ms Trunk. That’s a no-no! Dressing yourself according to your body shape can greatly enhance your assets and downplay whatever is unflattering. It is about identifying your best body features and drawing attention to it with the right clothing cuts and styles. For example, a person with a short neck should avoid wearing shirts with turtle neck but with a low V – neckline instead. That way it will give an illusion of an elongated neck. Anyone can look good with the right clothes on. When you feel good you would reflect that in your self confidence and your self-esteem would naturally be on a high. Hey, who needs to look like Kate Moss to feel good? Gone are the days (and the idea!) that skinny and stick-thin equates to looking good in your clothes.

Knowing your style would definitely serve you a lifetime and is absolutely worth the investment. It will save you heaps of money on shopping because you no longer invest in wardrobe “white elephants”. Let’s admit it, we make clothing mistakes sometimes, if not most of the time; when we buy with our emotions and tend to end up with items that do not really go with the existing wardrobe. We collect what I call the wardrobe “white elephant” – an unprofitable investment. Something you bought but never got to use because it just doesn’t go with the rest of your outfit or doesn’t suit your body type! Remember, looking your best and being presentable could be your ticket to that next job, that hot date or the best gift you can give yourself. 🙂

How to Pack the Perfect Makeup Kit

It’s a good idea to have two different makeup kits – one that you keep at home and one that you carry with you for touch-ups during the day or when you’re traveling.

At-home Kit

Cleanser

Eye cream

Moisturizer

Primer – (I love Napoleon’s Auto Pilot)

Concealer

Foundation

Loose powder

Eye shadow (light, medium and dark shades)

Mascara

Bronzer

Blush

Lipstick

Lip gloss

Lip liner

Makeup brushes (eyebrow, eye shadow, eyeliner, concealer, powder, blush, lip)

Tools (makeup sponges, velour puff, tweezers, eyelash curler)

On-the-Go Kit

Pressed powder (if you have oily skin)

Eye liner

Blush

Lipstick or lip gloss

Figure Fixing Clothes

If you have an ample bottom or fuller hips

It’s all about fabrics that have stretch! Choose long, slim-cut tops (layer them) that cover part of your bottom. Go for pants with a fitted thigh and slight flare at the bottom, and avoid straight or tapered legs. Opt for A-line skirts and dresses and add a heeled, pointy-toe shoe.

If you have narrow hips

Create the illusion of curves with empire-cut tops and dress, full skirts or tiered skirts, and fitted pants that are flared at the bottom (avoid straight-leg pants – they’ll just emphasize your narrow frame).

If you have short legs

Avoid capris and go for straight-leg pants that flare at the bottom. Skip ankle-strap shoes in favor of sling-backs and heeled or wedged sandals. Choose shoe colors that blend with the color of your pants to help elongate your legs.

If you’re short-waisted

Wear skirts, pants, and belts low on your waist to create a longer-looking torso. Avoid anything that cuts your natural waist-line. If a top is too short, pair it with a longer tank underneath. An empire top with a fitted bust is a great option because it draws your attention up and away from your waist.

If you have a long torso

Choose skirts and pants with wider waistbands and wear them on your waist-line (not on your hips). Wrap dressing (sweaters and dresses) is a great way to break up a long torso and bring attention to the waist.

If you have a thick middle

Start with undergarments that smooth and hold you in. A fitted blazer or wrap dress is a great way to cinch you and create the illusion of a leaner midsection. If you prefer to draw attention away from your middle, wear dark colors on top and use pretty jewelry to draw attention up toward your face.

If you’re large-breasted

A minimizing bra will create the illusion of a smaller bust while still enhancing your shape. Wear a smoothing camisole under your clothing to create clean, smooth lines. Choose fitted and tailored blouses, jackets, and dresses over large, unstructured tops. Stick to solid and darker color tops. Ballet necklines are very flattering because they emphasize your décolletage while covering the bust line. Layering with a cardigan or jacket is another way to visually minimize a fuller bust.

Comfort Over Trend?

Comfort over style? No. Comfort over trend? Yes!

Comfort is my top priority when I dress. I’ve figured out what works for me and I stick to it. I’ve never been about avant-garde or funky looks, and I’ve always felt most at ease in clean, simple styles. Through some trial and error I’ve learned that I look best in fitted jackets, pants with narrow legs that flare slightly at the bottom, and slim-cut sweaters. OMG, I remember once when someone actually made me buy a tapered slim leg Levi’s – when it was really trendy then. Heck, what was I thinking? It made me look like a toad a.k.a. the frog leg look and yes, I only wore it twice and had given that away. $80 just disappeared into thin air.

Lesson learnt: I’ll never ever squeeze my legs into slim cut pants. If you have thunder thighs like me, stay away from those. Don’t risk being spotted as a walking frog. The worst is wearing that with flats. Yes, think Robin Hood’s Men in Tights.

I’ve always admired women whose clothes reflect their personal style. As I get older, women who dress young and fresh (but who don’t look like they’re trying to compete with their daughter’s style) inspire me. To name one, it’s Pastor Maree de Jong, she’s an absolute doll! J

I think it’s important to be comfortable (and stylish) in your clothes – but remember comfortable doesn’t mean sloppy. You can never go wrong if you keep it simple and elegant. This is a time when less is more! Opt for the best fabrics and shoes that your budget allows. Stay aware of the trends without following them too literally. Evaluate your wardrobe on a regular basis (one or two times a year) and get rid of anything that is worn out and shows signs of aging (unless it’s a an invaluable vintage piece). If an item of clothing or pair of shoes isn’t comfortable or if you haven’t worn it in the last two years, it’s time to let it go.