Shop With Style

Nothing quite beats a drop-dead-sexy pair of stilettos, not only in terms of what they can do for an outfit, but also what they can do for your confidence! But, if you’ve ever tried to walk in a pair for any length of time, you also know they can be equal parts beauty and medieval torture device. The good news is, there are a few simple things you can do to make any high heels more comfortable.

• Gel insoles – Yes, those little gel inserts you’ve used in flats, boots, maybe even in sneakers can work wonders in a pair of heels. You can either cut down and shape an ordinary insert, or find those made especially for high heels. There full-shoe inserts, those made only for the heel area, or those made for the toe area, depending on where you feel the most pressure when you walk. If your shoes allow for that extra bit of room to add a comfy gel insert, do it!
• Opt for heels with straps or ties – It seems a small thing, but even well-fitting stilettos can annoy you with a bit of slip in the heel area, causing you to drag your feet while walking just to keep them on. And that on-and-off friction can also lead to blisters and chafing. Straps or ties help the heels to not only stay on, but are adjustable to add to your comfort throughout the day.
• Stretch ‘em – Even if you bought them in your correct size, even if they are of the highest quality, some heels just need to be stretched out a bit. There are wooden forms you can insert into them yourself, turning a dial to spread the form, which then stretches your shoe over a short period of time. You can also take them to a cobbler (yes, there are such people in your area), who can stretch them out for you.
• Tape ‘em – Okay…this is going to sound a bit odd…but it is said to work wonders. Tape your 3^rd and 4^th toes together (counting from your big toe). There is a nerve that runs the length of the leg and ends there, which can contribute to foot pain if it’s pinched in shoes. By taping those toes together, it alleviates the stress on the nerve.
• Shoe shop at the end of the day – As you walk through the day, your feel swell. That’s a fact. If you shoe shop at the beginning of the day, your feet are obviously not as “big” as they are going to get. Any shoe you buy, even if it’s in your correct size, will not feel or fit as they will after walking all day.
• Pick a shape that’s easier – No, this doesn’t mean you have to give up stilettos. However, you might find that platform stilettos will feel loads better on your feet. It’s a bonus that the platform pump is hugely popular now, and will no doubt be so for many years to come (some classics just never go out of style). Platforms cut down on the angle and pressure coming down on the ball of your feet, while still managing to give you height. A slightly rounder toe, or a toe that ends in a longer point, will also give you some wiggle room…literally…which will add to your comfort.

A girl might think that the most important article of clothing she could wear is a fancy shirt, or a pricey pair of jeans, or even a killer pair of shoes. But a woman will tell you that the most important article of clothing in your wardrobe is unequivocally a really well-fitting bra. In fact, wearing the wrong bra can actually make you look fat! But worry no more…we’re here to explain how the wrong bra can be effecting you, and what you can do to fix it.

How does your bra make you look fat?

• Your boobs are hiding your waist – When your bra is ill-fitting or sagging, your boobs will sag. Since the smallest part of your torso is the area just below your chest and just above your bellybutton, how is anyone supposed to see it with your boobs hanging in the way?
• Your too–small bra is creating the appearance of extra fat rolls – A bra that is too small around the band will dig into your back. No matter how skinny you are, trust us, that too-small band will create fat rolls on either side of it. And if your cups are too small, your boobs will be pushed out above, below, and out the sides, again creating rolls of fat.
• Your bra is causing your clothes look too tight – You know how frustrating it is to try on a shirt, only to face the mirror and see gaps and gaping? You try on a larger size, only to face the mirror and now see the shirt looking sloppy on you. 9 times out of 10, it’s not the shirt…it’s the bra.

So how can you fix the bra conundrum?

• STOP…FIXATING…ON…SIZE – So what if you wore a perfect 34C in high school. Does the rest of you still look the same as you did in high school? So why would you think your bra size would still be a perfect 34C? The main reason why women wear the wrong bra size is because they have a stigma in their head about going up a size or two. Stop thinking in terms of a “bra size” and start thinking in terms of “a bra that fits, size-schmize”!
• Get properly sized – You might be thinking…”I can’t afford to get sized.” But guess what? You’re wrong. Many lingerie departments in department stores have trained their sales people to size bras properly. You can also get free sizing in some stores, like Victoria’s Secret. So be sure to ask to be sized when out bra shopping! It’s one of the most important factors in looking better in your clothes!
• Take a deep breath, and make the investment – Aside from the size-stigma, the second biggest reason why women cling to their life-long bra mistakes is that they don’t want to spend the money for a really good, really well-fitting bra. Stop thinking your bra is unimportant just because it’s unseen! Again, this is where you need to shift your priorities. Your bra needs to be on par with your outerwear, or with any other purchase in fact, clothing or not, in terms of you forking out money. A good bra fits and holds up better because it is a better made bra. It is an investment. One you will never regret!

As women, we like choices (we pretty much demand them). And in terms of makeup choices, there are literally thousands of makeup products on the market. One of the most popular today is cream eyeshadow. I’m sure you’re more than familiar with its predecessor, powder eyeshadow, and cream shadow is not meant as a replacement for it. But they are obviously very different formulations, and best suited for different individuals and occasions. So what is it and how is it different?

Not only is cream shadow obviously a different formulation from powder eye shadow, it is more versatile. Cream shadow can actually sometimes double as a shadow base or lid primer, as long as you check the label (it will specify use as a base). This is perfect, especially if you are attempting makeup for hooded eyes. Since the hooded eye has a slight overlap of skin onto the lid, ordinary powder shadow and regular kohl liner can often be rubbed off within a matter of minutes after applying. Talk about frustrating! The best way to utilize cream shadow as a base is to pick a color complimentary to the powder shade you will be using. For instance, if you’re going for a simple smokey eye in browns, start with a shimmery taupe cream eye shadow (some excellent picks would be Clinique Touch Base for Eyes in Uplighting, Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in 15 Taupe, and Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo in Tough as Taupe. But if you really want to pop your eyeshadow color, choose a white cream base for the lid. Any color will look bold and vibrant over that.

Cream shadows also come in very matte colors that mimic various skin tones (such as Laura Mercier Eye Canvas, Lancome Aquatique Waterproof Eyecolour Base, and L’Oreal Magic De-Crease Eyelid Primer). Such creams are mainly used as eyelid “primers,” which act to smooth out the eye area, and provide an even canvas on which to create your eye makeup masterpiece. These matte skin tone finishes can be used to anchor any color powder eyeshadow to make the powder shadow “read true,” as opposed to the bolder or vibrant examples with colored primer bases above.

Cream eye shadow in a darker color can also be used alone to create wonderful smokey eye looks. They are easy to blend, easy to drag down under the lower lash line, and easy to smudge, for the ultimate in smoked-out sexiness. And as long as the formulation is long-wear, your smoky eye should last all night!

Powder eye shadow, on the other hand, is like a comfy pair of jeans. The ones you could never do without. You know just how they will fit, and just how to work them. You also know their limitations. Matte, shimmer, glitter, holographic, baked, loose, and pigment…powder eye shadow has come a long way, in the past 10 years alone. But basically, it is what it is. You know how you can use it, and you also know how long it usually lasts on your lids (All through the work day? What about a humid summer afternoon? A party night of dancing?). So yes, powder shadow, when worn alone, does have its limits. But one thing powder shadow can do is double as some of the best brow powder around! MAC shadows, in particular, have dozens of suitable “brow shades” of eye shadow (such as MAC Charcoal Brown, MAC Omega, and MAC Brun).

Basically, what you’ll find is that it’s impossible to say that one is better than the other when comparing powder to cream eye shadow. They are both amazing and useful in their own ways. And when used together…they create an unstoppable, unyielding, undeniable eye makeup tour de force! In the end, you’re the one who wins, since you get to use them both!