"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?

that is maddening. I hate it when shops start selling think vest type tops in February!!! It seems to be full on summer clothes or depths of winter and nothing in between sometimes.

Totally! So annoying! Most of us want to buy clothes for the way the weather is NOW not what it’ll be like in 4 months!

That is the sum total of my six decades of fashion wisdom. Other than that clothes are slippery, duplicitous bastards that can look perfectly fine and flattering when you get dressed in the morning but all kinds of hideous wrong when you're out and about and catch sight of yourself in a mirror unexpectedly. definitely true too

Wearing something is not the same as just putting it on and how it looks in the mirror

Plus there are other factors - eg floaty designs/fabrics are NOT really practical when dealing with babies/young children and for me (ocd don’t like my clothes getting “contaminated” but also disability means last thing I need is sleeves getting caught on handles etc) they’re not a good idea either. I’m better with fitted sleeves and trouser cuffs

Fashionable certainly doesn't always mean stylish. Often, they are two very, very different things.

You cannot go wrong with Bobbi Brown make up.

Never, ever skimp on personal hygiene.

Money spent on beautiful lingerie is always money well spent.

Knockers over tights to keep them up

Mine are still above my waist thanks very much

Short hair is not soooooo unflattering if you have a beautiful face. Most women who can carry off a pixie cut are confident beautiful women who don't conform to the 'having to have long hair to look good 'bollocks.

When trying on clothes, only buy the ones that you really love. Sounds obvious but I’ve bought countless items that looked “ok” on me. Also if there is even one thing that doesn’t quite work don’t buy it. Slightly tight waistband, a bit too short, pocket sits weirdly. You’ll never wear it and if you do, rarely. Waste of money.

Tightlining with your eyeliner. After years of wobbly eyeliner because I have a completely unsteady hand, this was a game changer!

Eyeliner on bottom lids is ageing (certainly on me anyway!)

Totally agree with nude bras under white clothes!!

See, I'm 49, soon to be fifty, and I got my long hair cut off, stopped dyeing it (lots of grey), and bought several pairs of converse. Never had more compliments. So basically all the roolz is shit, and a complete waste of time.

1. some think they can't wear certain colours: you can wear any colour you like but the SHADE has to be correct for your skin tone. E.g I can wear white but not Ecru.

2. never wear white bras under white garments, always wear a nude colour, preferably a nude that is closest to your skin tone.

3. sometimes we wear something nice but it doesn't look quite "right", usually a lip colour can fix this. If it's white and black go for nude or red, if you're wearing colours look for a corresponding lip shade to pull it together.

4. check your neckline: as we get older open collars flatter us less so swap a V for a round neck or button your blouse/shirt up to the neck.

5. check your hemline: if you have wide calves don't wear dresses that end on your calf as it will make them look bigger, either go to the ankle of just below the knee as that is the slimmest part of your body.

6. don't wear big earrings if you have a short neck.... you need the gap between your collar bone and your earring to make it work.

I could go on forever......

A red bra won’t show under a white top if you don’t have a nude one clean.

Please do go on FelicisNox

Jeans without back pockets look dreadful and make your arse look massive.

Save on expensive creams for shaving your legs, use hair conditioner.

I prefer separates over dresses since I am pear shaped. My top is a different size than my bottom. If I find a dress to fit my bottom it's baggy on the top and if it fits on the top it won't fit over my hips.

A red bra won’t show under a white top if you don’t have a nude one clean.

I thought this couldn’t be true but I have a reddish pink bra and it’s true!

Well I would just wear a dirty nude bra #slattern

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

Tried this for my first day at work today and ended up with falling-down hems and packing tape stuck to my shoes. Don't think anyone noticed luckily as trousers, shoes and tape all black!

A silk or satin pillowcase will keep your hair from looking like a birds nest in the morning.

Doesn’t work on my thick frizzy hair on hot nights but the rest of the year it’s very reliable.

@wonderlust2 I concur

Never ask your OH for his opinion on an outfit.I could wear an old potato sack and OH would say it "looks fine" just because he feels it's the right thing to say and doesn't want to offend me by telling me I look ridiculous.

@Spiderbaby8 I'd love to be able to wear bralettes as hate wearing underwires but unfortunately I have large wide boobs. If I don't wear a bra with underwire they look awful & just look squashed! 😂

@Fatted It will only cause static if it’s polyester!! Silk slips won’t cause static.!

A light dusting of powder over the eyes before mascara, eyeliner etc stops everything moving around. I couldn't understand why moving from foundation and powder to BB/CC cream meant my eyes ended up halfway down my cheeks by lunchtime at first...

White sneakers is a classic look for all ages, whoever makes them

Original Nivea - in the blue tin - takes years off you as a moisturiser if your skin can tolerate it. Slap it on thick as a night cream.

Those who say waterproof mascara doesn't last have clearly never tried Max Factor or Maybelline waterproofs. They will last for days.

Oh yy, silk doesn't cause static. Ditch polyester, acrylic and nylon for will, cotton, bamboo, viscose etc and reduce your sweating as well

A light dusting of powder over the eyes before mascara, eyeliner etc stops everything moving around

A light dusting of powder anywhere on my face would age me by at least ten years. I'm 61 and have reached the age where any kind of face powder is very ageing, except for blusher.