Do’s and Don’ts

First let’s start with the do’s.

- Do wear fabulous jeans that fit you perfectly. You can never go wrong with a great pair of jeans. I prefer a dark wash, trouser cut, which can be dressed up or down, depending on the occasion.

- Do wear shoes that pop. Wearing classy neutrals with bright shoes puts a fresh and fun spin on classics. For example, wearing scarlet pumps with your little black dress, or turquoise wedges with a white suit.

- Do wear big accessories, but only a few. A delicate gold necklace is one thing, but a long string of bright glass beads, chandelier earrings, or a chunky bracelet can add oomph to a simple outfit. I personally prefer my accessories to be non-plastic, but anything is okay as long as it doesn’t look cheap.

- Do go simple. Clothes without logos draw the eye to the whole outfit, not the words scrawled across your chest. Simpler clothes with clean lines don’t become dated as quickly and can make an excellent backdrop for special pieces you want to highlight.

- Do find your perfect haircut. Don’t be afraid to let an experienced stylist find a cut for you. At the same time, don’t go in without any idea of what you want. Give style and color ideas, and be willing to negociate when it comes to length. You might be pleasantly surprised. I know I was!

- Do find your signature. Be it scarf, blazer, pump, earrings, or color, don’t be afraid to find something you love and wear it a lot. Not following every trend that comes along sets you apart from the crowd as someone who knows what she likes and isn’t afraid to express herself.

And now for the don’ts!

- DON’T wear clothes that don’t fit you. I cannot stress enough the importance of this! If you try and squeeze a size 10 into a size 8 or worse, a size 6, you’ll look at least ten pounds heavier than you actually are, if not twenty. Muffin top is not attractive. Butt wrinkles from too-tight jeans is not attractive. Magnified belly pooch from too-tight tops is ugly. And for godssakes, people, STOP WITH THE VISIBLE THONGS! Better something is too big than too small. When in doubt, wear something structured (like a jacket, trousers, button-up shirt, etc.).

- DON’T over-accessorize. You’ll end up looking either overdressed or like you forgot to take off last night’s jewelry. Too many accessories will also undercut their own impact. Using a single piece of great jewelry or a fab scarf makes more of a statement than lots of different things.

- DON’T try to mix and match trends. You’ll end up looking schizophrenic. Or desperate. Possibly both. Trends are all well and good (though some should be burned and scattered to the four winds), but they make much more of an impact when worn one at a time.

- DON’T make the (unfortunately common) mistake of thinking that sexy means showing a lot of skin. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against showing a bit of skin, but keep in mind that pairing a micro-mini with platform boots and a low-cut top will probably make you look easy, not sexy. Sexy is more about confidence and how you act. If you like, pair that micro-mini with stiletto boots and a long-sleeved sweater, or that low-cut top with great jeans and heels, and you’ll look sexy, but not slutty.

- DON’T wear too much makeup! Being comfortable in your own skin is sometimes sexier than an articially flawless face and perfectly smokey eyes. If you must, go as natural as possible, or highlight only one feature, like smokey eyes OR scarlet lips, never (or very rarely) both. And don’t be afraid of color, as long as it stays in a natural palatte. Reds, pinks, peaches, golds, and browns are colors that work year-round and for any occasion. And keep in mind, when doing your eyes, that opposites attract. Blue eyes can pop with brown or gold, green can glitter with pink or grey, and brown eyes can glow with purple or blue. Hazel is up for anything!

- DON’T wear something just because it’s trendy, or was made by a designer, or cost a lot. Pick and choose what you like because of how it looks on you, not because someone else says it looks good. Don’t wear shoes that are too small just because they are Manolo Blahniks or a dress that’s too tight just because Vera Wang designed it. But there is nothing worse than a girl who wears something trendy that just doesn’t look good on her. Case in point: skinny jeans and bubble skirts. Very FEW people can pull these looks off (most of them are models), and if you’re not one of them, don’t try to pretend that you are. Analyze, ponder, and decide what you like and what looks good on you. True style is about self expression, not blindly following designers who have to come up with something new twice a year, just to keep the industry going.