Style rules you live by

[anyabanya]

Hi, I am just curious abut what style tips people have that improves their general appearance.

I am a bit of a mess really. I do not have a great sartorial eye, and always look a little as if i have just come in from mucking out horses. I am really trying to change my style.... i have become addicted blogs where people are trying to live chicly (is that a word?), like Anne Baronne's 'chic and slim' blog etc.

Despite my total messy nature, I do have a couple of rules I live by.... always wear dark toe polish; never wear competing patterns on clothes (so, horizontal stripes on a skirt and a top with a flower pattern for example).In winter I try and wear black and two other colours (black and emerald green is a fave) but other than that i seem to spend alot of time trying to look halfway decent... and failing.

I would love to hear what other people do.... what ideas they have in always looking good.

I'd agree with the never colour hair at home. I've done it about ten times and it was always fine, but trying to do the roots in February I gave myself chemical burns on my scalp. Not all over, just in a few patches. Not agony, just a bit like spots that will NOT heal.

NEVER again will I try to colour my own hair.

I've coloured my hair at home for over 20 years, and it's easy!

My style rule is: black and blue don't goo.

Never let your nailpolish get chipped. I redo my toes every day.

Properl fitting undies essentail-I'd go so far as to say only sheer bras. I hat seeing all the detail under a top.

Get your teeth scaled and polished at least twice a year. One of the prettiset girls I know has minging tartar.an she not see it???

Polish your shoes.

Do sone exercise.

Have a shower every day.

Go easy on dangly earrings. Discreet studs always a good bet.

Don''t get a tattoo. Ever

Don't die our hair Liz Jones black. horeendoulsy ageing.

Finger and toenail polish should match.

Eyes or lips- don't make up both heavily.

Never wear clothing with a picture of someone prettier than you on it.

Birkenstocks are the work of Satan.

Wedges lack the comfort of flats and the style of heels- why bother?

Leggings never work.

If you wear a bold print, don't chicken out by wearing it with black. Confident goes with confident.

And about a thousand more, but I will look mental.

OOh no, you carry on, girl. Am lving your work partic the leggings issue but not with you on the wedge issue.
I love a good wedge, me.

Although I am, by nature, a complete slob, I never leave the house in any form of sports wear.

Tethersend, you must be tall. If you were 5'1" you'd get wedges I promise you. I love these shoes.

Moondog - every day! I do two coats and a coat of seche vite and that lasts a good week.

I've got some Fly wedges.Well comfy.
I'm tall too but no har m in being even taller.

I should try that Trace.

It is very good.

I like wedge heeled sandals too although have hardly taken off my hasbeens this summer.

I do like a nice handbag and sunglasses and theres where I splurge.

Arf moondog- I upset myself with my rules.

I can never understand the point of wedges. Why not just wear heels? I have never met anyone who agrees with me though

I also never wear cardigans.

Cardigans v tricky I agree.
wtf reinvented a baggy old sack as a 'boyfriend cardigan'?

I have some nice fitted cashmere nos from Boden thoguh.

Hasbeens! God yes, I love mine althoguh one has rendered one side of foot as hard as a steeer's behind which is not good.

I like my tattoos! Although they aren't generally on display. I imagine one day I'll be grown up enough to get bored of them though, and my mother will be thrilled

Only suggestion I can add is, unless you are v stylish and can throw together looks easily, it can make life easier to have all your casual clothes have a similar 'look' (likewise all your work clothes). Like, most of my summer wardrobe is a variation on the theme of nautical, with occasional girly dresses thrown in (I actually prefer the girly dresses, but went through a mahoosive nautical phase a couple of years ago and am still wearing out all the striped clothes!). Anyway, the end result is that most of my clothes can be thrown together and will look something approaching civilised.

Moondog that Liz Jones comment totally justified. I seriously dislike her Morticia-black locks.

Don't wear heels if you can't walk confidently in them. It makes other people nervous when you teeter about, esp if you are tall.

Don't wear clingy/ too small clothes unless
you are devoid of flabby bits

I colour my own hair as I can't afford to have it coloured professionally. I went grey in my 20s so it's either grey hair, or colour my own. I had dark brown hair before and match it to my own now. Everyone's really shocked that I dye it (and that I'm so grey - nan went grey at 16 and mum at 18 so I did well to get to early 20s), so it must look natural. My hairdresser also thinks I do a pretty good job and she's scarily, brutally honest!

Your hair is the thing that gets noticed the most so put some effort in there

Do not wear sportswear unless engaged in sport and never wear it at the school gates or your dd will be humiliated (or so mine tells me)

Wear accessories to look properly dressed

Wear coloured jewellery that goes with your outfit - ditch the gold and silver, diamonds OK for events and evenings only

Watches are over

Bobba - golly - lots of mums wear their gym kit to school in the mornings.

And I always wear my diamonds and nice watch every day

Do agree though that hair is important and easier to do home dyes when brunette.

Oh my most important rule is - as you get older - check your face for stray hairs

Not that I suffer from that ever - oh no.

Just read back my post about diamonds - sounds like I'm Liz Taylor

I meant I wear my diamond studs every day - thats all.

Bobba I do all those!matching jewellery really?I love my gap joggers with flip flops and big chunky watch!Not all outfits need accessories! i do love a pashmina though