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.

But what trousers should people wear if not black?

Anyone see Prima mag's 'A Call to Arms' to persuade manufacturers to please produce eveningwear/dresses with some fucking sleeves.

My style rule is now to always keep my hair cut and make sure my clothes fit properly. I also use ProActiv products because otherwise I have bad acne. I colour my own hair.

Those are my two indulgences as I don't go out, drink, smoke, use drugs or go to restaurants and spend very very little on myself otherwise.

I haven't an issue with black trousers as long as they are good quality.
I like a very dark grey/charcoal too.

wukter, charcoal grey or chocolate, depending on what you want to wear for your top half. Both can look very elegant and expensive. Logically navy should be an option if you like it but for some reason I can't stand it.

I had a good grey nail polish from Barry M last year. Lasted loads better than the Chanel grey one I had for my birthday.

I feel I should buy some good, black trousers but I can't get past the looking like workwear thing...

CND do very long lasting nail varnish. Poppyfield is my favourite colour.

CND?

cupcakes, I'm with you on nail polish, I've found no difference between premium brands and high st. I never use a whole bottle anyway and it ends up getting binned because it's started to separate. Not worth splashing out on IMO unless you want a 'hot' colour - and within weeks the high st will be producing it anyway.

It may sound dated but I treated myself to a House of Colour style consultation.

See the advice as a handrail rather than handcuffs and its helpful for knowing which length of jacket/sleeves etc to choose as well as which colours suit you best.

Unlike many others, I don't have an innate sense of my own style and have had to learn it all. The HoC thing gave me a bit more confidence when choosing - shops just overwhelm me!

I think that black is over-rated. People seem to believe that black automatically equates to chic or, perhaps, hope that it magically transforms them into Audrey Hepburn. It doesn't!

To me it implies lack of imagination, dress-sense or style. I have the misfortune to share an office with two women who wear head-to-toe black every day. I might as well work in a morgue. Ugh.

I agree with expat about the lack of sleeves dilema.

lots of good advice on here.
I would also add never bleach your hair if over the age of 20, far classier to go dark honey blonde. Bleached blonde looks cheap.
Get a good haircut with a natural colour.

Never wear too much jewellery. One statement ring plus bangle is enough do not wear several rings along side it and layers of gold/silver necklaces.

Agree about covering up too. Looking good does not mean showing the world your backside/tits/fat bulging belly especially all at once.
Wear a subtle perfume, it makes you feel nice.

I see from some googling that the 'don't mix black with colour' is a Trinny and Susannah maxim.

I've fallen in love with A Scent by Issey Miyake. I couldn't wear perfume for years after having the dc because my nose became so sensitive but it seems to have settled now and this is lovely and light.

Also, being a woman of sturdy thigh, I have to say that the bootcut balance rule is poppycock; bootcuts render my legs shorter, stumpier and heavier. I've recently bought some well-fitting skinny jeans and I'm not deluding myself, they really do make my legs look thinner. Since I've been wearing them, almost all of my friends and relatives have asked if I've lost weight. The only rule here though is to wear a thigh-skimming top. You don't want to wear skinny jeans and have the waistband or pockets showing, even if you're a size 8.

I've just thought of a good one, but it's a bit of a tidying tip. I've just been having a sort out and thus occurred to me:

If you haven't worn it in a year, ask yourself if Oxfam would accept it. If not, get rid. I've just been really brutal with my old maternity and post-baby clothes, realising that I wore stuff to death and back and that they just look sad now, not loved. If I get pg again, I'm not wearing saggy, bobbly t-shirts and worn out jeans for 6 months just because they fit.

Bit that this has only just occurred to me...

Yes, that Issey M scent is lovely. I'm currently using Stella Nude which is also v subtle but my favourite 'scent but no scent' is Philosophy's Pure Grace.

ooh, nail varnish - which i wear all the time - i have found chanel to be the best, followed by revlon '7 days'. other expensive brands aren't as good & cheap ones aren't much good.

i do quite a lot of diy & gardening, but can still get a pale chanel to last about a week. darker colours about 4 - 5 days.

I always have waist and pockets showing on skinnies - why would I not?

No offence intended, Traceybath. I would just feel a bit like a member of an '80s glam rock ensemble if I showed the waistband of my skinnies.

But then I regularly go out sporting a very made-up eye plus "done" lips, so probably look like someone from Motley Crue as it is...

Wear clothes you love - and you know that suit you and your figure - to death - look after your clothes and they'll look after you. I have items which are almost 10 years old which I still wear and get complimented on.

Go for timeless pieces rather than the latest trend - will get more use out of them.

Aha cupcakes - I have fairly slim hips so like to show that bit off generally. Also am small so don't like anything too long/voluminous.

I for example am one of the few on mn who loathes tunics and leggings but know I'm in a minority

Aaah, tunics and leggings are your friend if your bottom half is a bit more, ahem, womanly. My petite best mate wouldn't be caught dead in them!

I'm - very ahem - larger on top and so if I wear a tunic over leggings I am at risk of looking like a lollipop. I wear dresses over wide legs - yes I do look like I'm copying Trinny but it's a look I started when I was pg and coudn't get tights to fit - not that I still look like I'm pg, you understand.

I'm still working on getting a flatter stomach after three sections (I won't tell you how old ds is ) and I find the most flattering look is a wrap dress over wide legs. The wrap dress has to be substantial - heavy linen or wool crepe - not jersey. Second best is a tunic dress that is fitted at the top and then is a-line, preferably with some kind of front detail to confuse the eye. I also have some nice long cardigan things that have flat fronts when tied. Worst of all is anything empire line - why on earth is this always marketed as 'flattering'?

Spirit - I do agree regarding empire line - it just makes people look pregnant in my opinion.

Draping far more flattering over stomach area.