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 want recs!

you want the fantasie balconette ici of chantelle one www.figleaves.com/uk/product.asp?product=Chantelle-Hedona-Underwired-Bra&product_id=CN-2031&size=32e &colour=White

sorry wrong fantastie link her eit is - not pretty but does job

That 2nd one is v similar to the ones I have - but Moondog mentioned sheer, which sounded lighter feeling!

Thanks.

no pictures of people - people should be looking at me, not someone else on my clothes

no writing - the statement should be made by the clothes, not by sth printed on them.

always wear clothes that fit today (not, may fit after another week of weight gain/loss).

check in the mirror. your toddler is not a reliable judge of appearance.

water
sleep
daily shower
clothes that actually fit
only browns or grays with black
a damn good bra in the right size
body maintenance (skin, eyebrows, feet etc.) will make you feel better and thus look better whatever you wear (with reason)

BelligerentGhoul I'm a 32E too, I've just bought a Triumph Super Soft and it's an absolute revelation. It says it's padded but it's just a very soft, thin shell. It's a full cup bra but not hight IYSWIM, doesn't show under anything and manages to give my spaniels ears a lush, firm shape.

(with reason) lol within reason

Thanks Driven. You know those 'moulded cup' ones though....do they not make the norks inside them look even more enormous? They are terrifying on the hangers!

No! I was amazed, just look the same size but lovely and firm. I'd never tried them before and it took ages to find one the was right. The super soft is my new best friend

Loads of preformed bras are quite rigid which just doesn't work with the movement you get with our norkage (standing vs sitting vs rolling on floor with DC). They kind of fold/ridge in some positions. Not a good look.

Thank you for the info - I will certainly go and try one on. Not this month though as we are broke!

I never brush my hair! I know that probably sounds a bit odd, but I spent years with really frizzy hair until I realised that it's brushing it that makes it frizzy. So I only brush it before I wash it and just run my fingers through it in the morning.

Also, if I try something on in a shop and I'm um-ing and ah-ing over it in the mirror it goes straight back onto the shelf.

Snap Binkster! I've the same hair type and manage it the same way.

And a walk everyday no matter what the weather.

Am probabaly miles off topic now as only glanced through, but:

re scarves, it really matters what shape face you have. I have a round face and need to wear those really think scarves that are almost like a tie, and then just simply wrapped around once with the ends left. O/wise I draw attention to my moon face and look like I have a massive double chin. Thicker scarves look good on, well, anyone who doesn't look like me! Although I do wear chunky scarves over coats when I'm too cold to care.

Another top tip is to wear jewellery according to your frame size. Although I'm not exactly small, my wrists and fingers are long and thin, so I suit large bangles, rings etc. Little delicate pieces look lost. I like this as its possible to pick up good statement pieces quite cheaply.

I do wear black because it suits my colouring (pale skin/blue eyes/ dark hair). If any colour doesn't suit you, keep it away from your face and you can still get away with it.

Clean hair, cleanse and moisturise. Must admit to being a bit of a make-up fan - I don't have a lot but what I have is expensive - doesn't stop me looking like a panda wearing concealer though.

Er, that's thin scarves...

Posture.
Sunscreen or a moisturiser with sunscreen every day.
Lots of fruit and veggies every day.
Exercise.
Vitamin B6 is good for your skin.
Pay attention to hair and eyebrows.
Wash every day.
A great bra, changed daily (so maybe buy three of them).
No need to 'balance' black trousers with a brightly coloured top. Black and royal blue is especially a no-no.
Jeans that fit are worth spending money on.

Aye to bra advice to you Belligerent. Best of luck.
Snigger at 'no matter how meaningful your Hebrew script'.

Tatts are like weddings-everyone thinks theirs is unique but they are all pretty much of a muchness (no bad thing if that is your thing).

Hi Belligerent
Re bras, have a look at Bravissimo (online) or House of Fraser if you have one near you. M&S bras are useless over a D cup or so, they are just not right for large boobs.

Square necklines balance out large hips.

Go easy on the boob jobs, trout pouts, fake hair and fake nails and fake tans. It's been a good few years since they fooled anyone, you know. They just make you look trashy, vain and desperate. Especially if you like to sport all of them at once.

(saw a woman, clearly in her 50's in a shop last week, whose trout pout was so over the top she looked like she'd had a plate inserted into her top lip. Vile.)

These are all brilliant, thank you. Many are really resonating with me.... the eyebrow grooming.....(I am a little slack here) and also ironing everything..... I am VERY slack there. I am of the throw it in the drier then give it a shake kind of girl.

Echo allarm on bras BG - ditch M&S they are useless. Bravissimo or if your budget stretches to it pay a visit to Rigby and Peller (32E here too so I feel your pain).

Never wear black trousers and colour top - looks "I cannot be bothered" cheap unless the colours are very muted (non-colours really). High wasted balcktrousers in particular are a no no with 95% of the population.

It's worth investing in some key pieces that last (good jeans, good coat, good trousers, belt) and then update with a few high street items every year which I am happy to throw out.

Find the intelligent shop assistant in a (small) shop that you like - I have developed a relationship with a couple in my favourite shops and they are not only brutally honest but they pick out only the stuff/size/colour they know will fit you, keep stuff aside in the sales etc...

Some of these rules are hilarious - thing is we all have different rules and thats how it should be really. We don't all want to look the same.

BG - I like bodas for plain bras which give a good shape.

Do agree that I don't like lacy bras under close fitting stuff but I need a little padding as years of bf had seen all fullness leave the top part of boobs.

I believe it was trinny and susannah who started the don't wear colour with black thing. Personally I find black doesn't do a great deal for me in the daytime although ok at night.

God, yes to ironing clothes. FGS how long does it take?
Also don't wear those wet little single strand necklaces that dangle at nipple height.

Never by cheap black trousers and team with one of those fake blouse/tank top combos, unless you want to look like an NHS admin. assistant.

Black trousers are very awkward actually. Everyone always thinks they should have a decent pair as a wardrobe staple, but (unless it's a suit) it can be really hard to find the right top to go with them. The only thing that really 'goes' is more black (too solid and funereal) or white, and then you look like a waitress. Tres tricky.