100 Lessons on Style
in 100 Words or Less
by Natasha Bird
Copyright 2011 Visual Aid Publishing Limited
Published by Visual Aid Publishing Limited at Smashwords
Table of Contents
24. Tennis shoes are for tennis
86. Radioactive is not attractive
A stylish existence
Did you know that people form their most significant first impressions within thirty seconds of meeting you? And that it can take three times as long to change their minds? Your sense of style projects a message, a message that is received before you even open your mouth to say “Hello.” So it is pretty important to make sure that your appearance speaks in exactly the way you want it to.
Underneath the clothes
Before you even begin to ponder the merits of wedge heels over stilettos, or the eternal damnation of the scrunchie, you need to remember that style is as much about attitude as it is about fashion. If you carry yourself well, then you will be able to pull off just about anything. So before replacing everything in your wardrobe, check that your self-esteem doesn’t need a makeover first. If you learn to feel good in your own skin, you’ll look better in whatever you choose to clothe it in.
Get a head start
We all dream of stepping out of the hair salon with a spring in our step and a grin from ear to ear. Hair really is your crowning glory. It frames your face and shapes your features. A good haircut can bring out your cheekbones and jaw-line. A bad haircut can make you feel like supergluing a baseball cap to your head and crawling behind a large rock. Do your research, ask for advice, find pictures of people with a similar facial structure. And remember, it doesn’t have to be edgy and daring, it just has to make you happy.
What’s the hold-up?
The right underwear is crucial. It can hold you up, pull you in, push you out and control the wobbly bits. A top will obviously look better if the bra underneath it isn’t letting your breasts have a wrestling match somewhere in the vicinity of your belly button. Try on lots of different things until you find the ones that work best. A full-cup tee shirt bra, balconette, push-up, minimizer, corset, half-corset and several different types of form-controlling underwear might all be useful wardrobe staples. Make it your business to know which ones to wear with what outfit.
The right foundation
When it comes to style crimes, you’d be hard pushed to find a worse offense than that little orange line that runs around your jaw, highlighting the fact that your face is a different color from your neck. This line occurs when ill-suited foundation is badly applied. A tone that is too dark for your skin will not make you look tanned; it will just look like you went apple-bobbing in a vat of orange paint. Blend in circles, gradually moving outward, to your face and neck—incidentally, this also helps your circulation, reduces bags and keeps your skin supple.
Dress your age myth
You don’t have to go beige with age. Nor is it true that the longer you live, the lower your hems should creep. If you are happy and healthy, self-assured and confident, then don’t let outdated rules govern your wardrobe.
Don’t drown
Many people believe that piling on the layers is an effective way of masking the contours and bulges of the body. Unfortunately, this is entirely untrue. If you keep adding one baggy garment to another, it will just contribute to your bulk and you will end up looking like an overstuffed pillowcase. No one wants their outfit to feel unstructured, overwhelming and badly put together. Wear your clothes, don’t let them wear you!
Flesh tones
It’s a popular misconception that under pale clothing you should wear a white bra. White bras have been around for centuries. The first bra ever to come into existence was probably white! However, other than symbolizing a certain virginal purity (and honestly, who are we trying to kid), they are pretty much useless. If you are wearing a white top and you don’t want your underwear to show through, then your best bet is to find a bra that closely resembles your own skin tone. Skin-colored bras and underwear are a model’s uniform, so make them yours too.