Shop With Style

Here’s the thing about nude lipstick…everyone’s “nude” is different. The nude that’s perfect for your very fair-skinned best friend might leave you looking like you’ve been dead for 3 days. And your perfect nude might make your very fair-skinned best friend look as if she went on a Doritos binge and forgot to wipe her mouth. So finding your nude can be tricky. Luckily, we’ve got a few tips that should make the hunt a little less confusing.

• Texture – There are some options when it comes to texture: sheer, opaque, creamy, matte. If you try a sheer nude, for example, it will allow more of your own natural lip color to show through. Therefore, it’s more of a tinted lip balm than a nude lipstick. That means we’re looking for something opaque to make more of a statement. Next consider finish: creamy or matte? Matte is great when it comes to bold colors like red and fuchsia, but in a nude, matte can sometimes make your lips look chalky and dry. So start your search focusing on a creamy, opaque lipstick.
• Prep – Any lipstick looks better with smooth, exfoliated lips. In fact, you really can’t judge it at all if your lips are dry and cracked. And no, just putting lipstick on over your dry, cracked lips won’t make them any more moisturized. Lipstick doesn’t work that way…if it did, it would be called moisturizer. So before you begin your adventure to find the nude of your dreams, be sure your lips are ready for action. Exfoliate them with a simple mix of sugar and olive oil. Rub in gentle circles with your finger, wipe clean with a cloth and warm water. (Another tip for making any lipstick look better: apply a lip moisturizer beforehand. After you rub your lips together, wipe the extra moisturizer off, or else the lipstick you’re trying will be too gloopy).
• Tone – Know your skin tone. You might be fair, but are your undertones more blue, yellow, or neutral, more cool or warm? Likewise, you might have darker skin, but are your undertones more yellow, blue, or neutral? That’s the tricky bit. The easiest way to know for sure is to head to a makeup counter and get matched for a foundation (it’s free). The makeup person should be able to pinpoint your exact skintone and undertones, which is not only something you will need to know for your makeup in general, but it will also help to find a nude lipstick that’s perfect. Since all lipsticks have undertones (blue, yellow, neutral), knowing yours should give you a range of colors that will work with your skintone, so you might actually be able to find 2 or 3 perfect nudes for you right at the makeup counter.
• Get together – If you are by yourself in your local drugstore, telling one nude lipstick from another can be more challenging. Pulling one color at a time won’t really help much either, since all nudes pretty much look the same when examined on their own. What you need is a contrast. So, pick 2 or 3 colors you think might work for you and hold them up next to each other. This way, you can definitely see if one is more pinky, or one is more orangy, or one looks juuuuust right.
• Try – You know the old adage… if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Finding your perfect nude lipstick is not something you can do without trying on a good number of the contenders. Don’t be afraid to try (and wipe off) multiple possibilities. Hey, you’ve gotta kiss some frogs before you find the Prince, right?
• Add makeup – Any nude lip is going to look 1000 times better with a bit of makeup on the rest of your face, because even the best nude lipstick can completely wash you out if it’s all by itself. A good rule of thumb is that if you are emphasizing your lips, go with a lighter eye, and if you are emphasizing your eyes, go with a lighter lip. Since nude is about as light as you can go with a lip, try putting a little more “oompfh” into your eye makeup. If you would rather do a moderate eye and emphasize your cheeks, then definitely be sure to add bronzer, cheek color, and highlight to really make those cheek bones pop. (Another tip – if you have cool tones to your skin, you might find that a warm-toned cheek color looks amazing. And vice versa, for warm skin tones, a cool-toned cheek color will really balance your makeup out).

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.

You’ve probably heard the saying, “Dress for Success.” Well, that’s easier said than done, especially if your budget is a bit thin. It’s a frustrating Catch-22: you need to dress the part to get a better job, but you can’t afford to dress the part until you get a better job. Luckily, there are some things you can do (yes, even on your current anorexic budget) to plump up your work wardrobe while you climb the corporate ladder.

• Sign up for sale alerts – Many websites, such as ShopItToMe.com, provide customized sale alerts. Simply choose which items you are looking for (in your initial wardrobe-building, focus on wardrobe staples such as pencil skirts, trousers, cardigans, etc.), and the site will email you with alerts when those items go on sale across the internet.
• Know what compliments your figure – If you are pear-shaped, you know to pick styles that hug your waist and flow away from your hips (A-line skirts are great). If you have an hourglass figure, you know you can pull off more body-hugging styles (but try to avoid items that are too clingy). If your figure is more boyish, you know to pick more feminine, flowing pieces. Once you know your body shape, a simple internet search will show you the silhouettes that flatter you the most.
• Find a tailor – Now that you know your best silhouettes, and you’ve found the deepest sales, you will be amazed at the difference a good tailor can make. In the skilled hands of someone who can nip, pin, and sew, a good article of clothing can be transformed into a fantastic article of clothing in no time flat. The best use of a tailor can be seen in that all-important professional wardrobe staple…the suit. Great suits can cost a small fortune, but a suit bought at a less expensive retail chain can be made to look as if it cost a small fortune…and made to look as if it was made for just for you… after your tailor has had their way with it.
• Focus on basics, not Louboutins – Sure those leopard print Louboutins look fierce, but when you are just starting out in the working world, spending an entire month’s salary on one or two pairs of shoes is absolutely ridiculous. And even though your feet will look fab, the rest of you will look like an impulsive, childish noob. You need decent quality shoes in black, brown, and nude. Those will work with just about anything in your closet.
• Invest in undergarments – No, we’re not talking about clearing the sale racks at Victoria’s Secret. We’re talking shapewear and bras. These are your foundation pieces for everything, and if they are ill-fitting, everything looks off. They don’t have to look pretty…they have to work. So go for form over fashion here. And don’t just go after the size you think you are… go get fitted for a bra, which is a free service in many stores.
• Know when to splurge and when to scrimp – There are certain wardrobe pieces that will never go out of style: black trousers, pencil skirts, a classic cashmere sweater, a fitted white button-down shirt, a large leather tote, etc. As you begin shopping with a more skilful eye, and as you begin earning more money, start filtering these “splurge-worthy” pieces into your closet. For now though, stick to the basics, and, most importantly… IGNORE LABLES. Besides, after you get through with the targeted sales, the flattering silhouettes, the shapewear, and the tailor, you’ll look like a million bucks!