"Nobody ever told me" thread

[littlecatfeet]

I was wondering, do you have any personal style/beauty tips that you worked out all by yourself?

I have two:

1. Never ever apply perfume when you're under stress - running late, or angry, or anxious - it seems to cause that horrible reaction that makes perfume unbearable.
2. When you are carrying 'le flab' (as I call it) a silk slip looks a million times better under a dress than shapewear. It slides past your creases and moves naturally. And you're comfortable!

What hard-won or fluke inspirations do you have to share?

[NoCureForLove]

Drinking lots of water every day is very good for your skin.

Navy blue is much more flattering than black.

[Fatted]

I have to disagree with the silk slip sorry. It's just asking for enough static to power the national grid for a few hours.

Also YY to navy is better than black.

[Horehound]

Watching with interest! I'm useless. Still haven't figured anything out!

[Atalune]

Showing the skinniest part of your body- your ankles, your wrists, will take pounds off you, combined with a sleek, monochrome look.

A bit of loose power on your face FIRST after moisturising and before foundation etc gives a long lasting finish.

Packing tape is a life saver for a quick hem up job.

[littlecatfeet]

@Fatted

I have to disagree with the silk slip sorry. It's just asking for enough static to power the national grid for a few hours.

Also YY to navy is better than black.

Oh! I haven't experienced that (I don't doubt you though).
Potential super-power if you could harness it properly, I'd love to be able to zap social enemies

[JaneJeffer]

I disagree with navy better than black. Depends on your colouring.

[FairyAndLavender]

Spot prone skin is better when properly moisturised. Your skin stops over compensating for loss of oils

Black doesn't actually go with everything.

Filed nails are less likely to chip

Jeans make you look a loe slimmer when they're high waisted

Converse don't look good on anyone over age 40.

Perfume gives a lovely impact when applied behind the ears

A blazer instantly adds another 'level', an instant fix to a too casual outfit

You should have your handbag over the shoulder of your dominant hand. It looks far better and sits well

Don't apply your foundation unless you've waited at least 3 minutes from applying moisturiser

Always size up slightly for t shirts to appear thinner

Garments with fake gold or silver buttons look far far cheaper than a matchijg material on the button, or small wooden buttons or plastic in some cases

[littlecatfeet]

Obviously, any personal style tips are going to be personal and not work for everyone

[DarkmilkAddict]

The enormous impact of carbohydrates on my skin, energy, belly size and overall size.

That lip balm is addictive - I dread to think how much I’ve spent and swallowed over the last 30 years! Lips have always been in extremely kissable condition though

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

Buy clothes that fit you. You will not magically lose that extra couple of pounds to make that sale bargain fit and look great; the two sizes too big sale bargain will make you look fat and frumpy. Buy your size.

I may have spent the weekend on a massive wardrobe clear out and sent quite a lot of unworn clothes to the charity shop. I am far too old to still be learning this lesson.

[Ginfordinner]

Clothes that skim are far more flattering than clothes that cling.

Less is more when applying make up to older skin.

[woopsie]

Use almond oil on your eyelashes every night and you will notice your eyelashes becoming fuller. Apply with a cotton ear bud and make sure you don't get in your eyes though.

[pepinanalilyplant]

Agree wholeheartedly about high waisted jeans and oversized t shirts.

[Readandwalk]

Heels however small will make you look better. Like inch block heels as worn by my grandmother until she died at 98.

[NoCureForLove]

Natural fibres are king. Down with sweaty polyester. Up with cotton and wool.

[Spiderbaby8]

Bralettes/bra tops are much better than underwired. Burn the underwire!

Wear what you like rather than worry what others think.

Sometimes rolling up jeans/tucking in a top can help finish a look, make you feel more stylish.

[VaggieMight]

If I'm wearing a new dress or skirt for work I bend over in front of a mirror and stretch my arms up (not at the same time) just to check how potentially revealing the outfit is. Hems that look fine in the mirror can suddenly rise up.

I wear dresses and skirts mostly. I always wear a slip. The static thing has rarely happened. Slips definitely help things skim. It also makes me worry less if it's windy. I had an embarrassing incident of full skirt uplift that I've never recovered from

[Mistlewoeandwhine]

Eyebrows make or break your face
You’ll always suit a top that matches your eyes
Blend your foundation down your neck

[VaggieMight]

Oh yes, shapewear is awfully unflattering. I've seen it so often at events, the roll down ruins the outfit. A tubby tummy looks better than fat squished by shapewear. Shapewear only works if you're stood upright all day, it's only useful if you're a weather presenter.

[SandAndSea]

I always used to be disappointed when I went to the hairdresser, then a friend told me that she always cuts her own. I was really surprised as this had never occurred to me but her hair looked nice so I thought I would give it a go. Anyway, I've never looked back and another friend recently told me that my hair always looks nice! It's a very simple style but doing it myself means that I can always keep it fresh looking and I've saved a small fortune.

I sleep in ear studs (I actually read this on here), so that I'm always a bit more 'polished' than I might otherwise be, even if I'm running late.

I completely agree about showing your thinnest area and wearing high-waisted jeans. I only discovered this recently and have been showing my ankles with abandon!

I like to keep things simple so, I don't shop very often and when I find an item of clothing I like which also goes with other things, I often buy more than one. I also tend to stick to a limited colour palette so I can wear more things together and can trust that they suit me. I mix it up with scarves, jewellery etc. so I don't always look the same. I've discovered pinterest can help with this sort of thing.

I also use pinterest to store potential purchases for a while before I get them. I've found that this has stopped me from making too many spontaneous purchases, which used to end up going back or to charity.

I declutter regularly. I've found that it's good to do this when your laundry hamper is full or you're packed for a holiday, as what's left unworn often hasn't been worn for a reason. Having a clearer wardrobe has really helped me to speed up getting ready and reduces decision fatigue.

I have 1 small make-up bag and everything I use is in there. It makes getting ready and packing to go away much easier.

[SandAndSea]

Another tip (learnt the hard way): If you've got a long hair (or several), crazy eyebrows or an unsightly mole on your face, it's quite possible NO ONE will tell you. It's also likely that you won't always be able to see it yourself in the normal scheme of things. So, it's good to check yourself out every so often. (I have a magnifying glass.)

[Graphista]

I am most definitely not a regular style and beauty person so you may want to ignore 😂

But mine are:

1 find out and wear what shapes and styles suit YOU not what’s in fashion JUST because it’s in fashion

2 ditto colours, plus if you stick to a personal “colour palette” which includes some “neutrals” it makes shopping easier and quicker and all your clothes will go together - I’ve made the mistake in the past of buying something in a hard to complement colour and hardly ever getting to wear it as a result

3 NEVER buy shoes that are remotely uncomfortable - never worth it

4 NEVER buy dry clean/hand wash only - if you’re like me and don’t pass the dry cleaners regularly and/or can’t afford dry cleaning costs you’ll hardly wear these items and they’ll spend most of their time languishing in the bottom of the laundry hamper!

5 don’t buy items intended for certain seasons that aren’t practical for those seasons - eg where I live (west coast of Scotland) where it rains a LOT especially in autumn/winter it’s pointless buying non waterproof coats/jackets, equally I’ve lived in warmer places and made the mistake of buying “summer” clothes in non breathable or “sweaty” fabrics

6 if you hate ironing don’t buy stuff that needs expert ironing - may seem obvious but I’ve made this mistake myself and noticed lots of others have too

7 work out if you suit silver or gold better, very few people genuinely suit both, also work out as soon as possible the longest length of jewellery that suits you - earrings and necklaces

8 I’m not a huge one for makeup but being a redhead with pale but “ruddy” skin tone green corrective moisturiser makes a HUGE beneficial difference to me

Converse don't look good on anyone over age 40. could not disagree with this more. Perfectly acceptable on us over 40’s I hate ageism in “fashion”

buy your size I agree with, women are too focused on not wanting to admit the size they really are rather than focusing on buying and wearing clothes that fit well and are comfortable - only you know what size you’re wearing nobody else really cares.

When I was slim myself I noticed overweight friends wearing clothes too small and kidding themselves that they were a smaller size but they didn’t look good,they looked uncomfortable too. Now I’m overweight myself I try and avoid doing the same, I also find if I wear a waistband or bra that’s too small it gives me incredibly painful indigestion anyway! Also gaping blouses/shirts are never a good look and that's mostly about sizing too.

Hems that look fine in the mirror can suddenly rise up. yep! They can be a lot shorter at the back too!
This one was pointed out to me by my female supervisor in my first office job when she caught a Male colleague peeking when I bent to
use bottom drawer of filing cabinet!

She did also give him a bollocking though.

[BestIsWest]

Fuck off with the ageism for a start.

[PartoftheProbl3m]

High waisted jeans look awful on me. Like a baby in a nappy. So no to that one.

[PartoftheProbl3m]

@Spiderbaby8

Bralettes/bra tops are much better than underwired. Burn the underwire!

Wear what you like rather than worry what others think.

Sometimes rolling up jeans/tucking in a top can help finish a look, make you feel more stylish.

This also vollocks unless you’ve tits like fried eggs