Shop With Style

You’ve got some great pieces in your wardrobe. You know you do. So then why is it that every time you open your closet, you either A) find you have absolutely nothing to wear, or B) stick to your same ol’ “safe” outfits. It might all come down to a very simple reason: you are not taking full advantage of color matching. Once you start looking at colors, and new ways to combine them, a world of possibilities with your existing wardrobe will open up before your eyes!

• Complimentary Colors – Unless you remember high school art class, you might need to get on Google for this. On the color wheel, a complimentary color is one that can be found directly across from your current color, and it is combo guaranteed to look fab. See? It’s science!
• Think Ombre — Admittedly, this is the easy way out, but it will work in a pinch. It might even get your color matching juices flowing! Just as ombre uses varying shades of the same color, try pairing differing hues of the same color in pastels, jewel tones, earth tones, etc.
• J. Crew Cheat Sheet – When in doubt, hit the catalogues! It works to find inspiration in almost anything… decorating, interior design, gardening…so why not fashion? J. Crew in particular is fantastic at coordinating items resulting in the most beautiful array of colors and patterns you’ve ever seen! It’s almost guaranteed that even if you don’t have the exact pieces J. Crew is using, you most likely have the colors. So look at how their experts are pairing the colors, and follow their lead.
• Look to Your Prints – Some of your favorite, most unlikely, most delightful color combinations might be hiding right in front of your eyes! Maybe it’s in your closet, or your accessory drawer, or maybe it’s something straight from a fashion mag or your favorite designer’s runway show. Prints! You know ‘em, you love ‘em…and they can unlock all kinds of winning color combinations for you. Also pay attention to the proportion in which each color is used. Make the most-used colors the inspiration for your big pieces, and let the lesser-used colors inspire you for small pieces and accessories.
• Black and White – It’s classic for a good reason: it works! Pairing black and white is not only striking, but it works on a scientific level, since these two colors are opposites on the color wheel. And they also combine to provide an epic base for adding a pop of color in shoes, belts, jewelry, bags, and other accessories (just do us a favor…don’t take it too far and go all Cruella Deville on us).

Oh great…just in time for the Victoria’s Secret runway show. Curves, curves, curves. That’s all you seem to see and hear about in the fashion magazines today. Celebrity style magazines also have more than their fair share of curves, thanks to such glamazons as Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, and Beyonce gracing the glosses pages. But if you’ve got a boyish figure, you might find it hard to identify, let alone rock those feminine, figure-hugging styles with any confidence. The good news is that you don’t have to wear Lycra to look like a glamorous woman. It’s all about fit, creative camouflage, and illusion! Here are the basics:

What identifies a boyish figure?  Typically, boyish figures are also known as “lean” or “athletic.” Shaped more like a ruler than an hourglass, your hips are narrow and your waist is small, as are your breasts.

What to avoid:

• Strapless anything
• Shapeless clothes, clothes that are too loose
• Body-con from top to bottom, you need to always wear at least one piece that is more structured with one piece that can create curves

Tops: One of the best features of that lean figure of yours will be your shoulders, so tops with high necklines, crew necks, boat necks, sleeveless, and halter tops will help to show off your shoulders will creating the illusion of a slightly larger bust. Also don’t forget great camouflaging helpers like ruffles and peplums. Not only will they add a distinct air of the feminine about you, but they act to add dimension without adding bulk or swallowing you up.

Jackets: Tailoring is key, as it is with jackets for every other body type. You are looking to add curves, so look for a structured jacket, or  a shorter jacket that nips in at the waist (with a tie or a button), and then softly flairs out. Cropped cardigans also help to “create” a waist for you. Another benefit of your lean figure is that your jackets can definitely have embellishments, and you can accessorize both jackets and cardigans by layering on a thin belt…again, helping to create curves where there aren’t many.

Bottoms: It might be tempting to go for tight or boxy mini-skirts, but instead, you should opt for softer yet flattering silhouettes, like circle or skater skirts. If you’re looking to go longer, fishtail or mermaid shapes are so flattering and absolutely girly. In terms of pants, you can definitely pull off cropped straight cuts, but don’t discount the effect of a great pair of structured, boot-cut trousers. Skinny jeans, leggings, and jeggings will work well, as long as they are paired with a slightly more flowy top, or layers like a ruffled blouse and a short cardigan. Low rise jeans with wide waistbands are a good choice too, and don’t forget that a bit of detailing on the hips and butt will also help to give the illusion of a curvier figure.

Dresses: Obviously, the best dress for the boyish frame will create curves. That means a flowy fabric, nipped in at the waist. Don’t shy away from ruffles, embellishment, or fullness at the bust, since your narrow hips will balance it out. Look for empire and A-line shapes, or dresses with a fuller skirt. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you need movement in your dress, not something too clingy. Dresses with movement will skim your boyish figure but nip in at the waist, giving the appearance of more curves.

Let’s continue our exploration of the best and brightest of makeup and beauty’s all-time faves. These are the products that have been propelled into the must-have Hall of Fame, not only due to their overwhelming popularity, but for their constant high-quality performance. To get on this list, it’s not enough for a product to have a season of “gotta have it.” Nope. To be named here, a product must go the distance, over and over, to prove its worth. Maybe they came onto the market last year…or last decade…but they all have earned their spots on this list, as well as in our hearts!

•             Butter London Nail Foundation – Over the past few years, we’ve come to know and love the bold colors with the cheeky British names. They all really hold their vibrancy, and wear so well. But one of the most unassuming looking Butter London products is also one of the most amazing! The Butter London Nail Foundation works behind the scenes to flawlessly smooth out any ridges and bumps so your finished product has a perfect satin finish.

•         Bare Escentuals Powder Foundation – When this foundation first came on the market, no one quite knew what to make of it. A powder foundation… with medium coverage… that was actually good for your skin? What is this magic?! But Bare Essentuals has proven itself year after year, garnering more devotees by the day. No caking. No creasing. No breakouts. No oil. Perfection. Swirl, tap, and buff!

•           The Original Beautyblender – It looked like a gimmick at first. And it’s certainly had dozens of copy-cat products claiming to work as well. But there really is only one Beautyblender. The pointy end gets in all those tight spots next to your nose and around your eyes, while the rounded end smooths out all the other spots. The tap-and-rock method, thanks to the sponge’s unique consistency, really helps to get that foundation and concealer blended flawlessly. Airbrush perfect.

•            L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream – Yes, it’s French, and that does secretly make us feel extra fancy when using it. But that alone wouldn’t get the L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream on this list. The lush 20% shea butter formula absorbs quickly and completely, and the smell is divine! Our purse would feel empty without it (and our hands would definitely be cracked and dry)!

•            Ole Henriksen Truth Serum – For years, beauty science has been trumpeting the effectiveness of Vitamin C in increasing cell turnover and eliminating dark spots and acne scars. But the real genius of the Ole Henriksen Truth Serum is the smooth, fast absorbing gel. Your skin feels instantly moisturized, while under the surface, that Vitamin C is hard at work making you even more beautiful!