Project Runway

 

This week on Show Us How You Live we're sharing our best fashion tips.  I'm not so sure if mine are more rules than tips, but I think that's okay.  Back in the day, way in the day, my friends used to come over to house and shop in my closet.  My mom loves to shop and since she was the one buying my clothes, she usually bought what she liked for me.  This left me with a gigantic wardrobe, half of which I never, or rarely, wore more than once.  As I got older I tried to convey to her what my style was- sometimes this worked and sometimes I'd find a new a new kimono-esque dress hanging in my closet when I got home from school.  Of course most of my friends were jealous of me having a mom who loved to shop for me and I was grateful for all I'd been given- but (isn't there always a but) I didn't always act that way.  Basically what sums that all up is I just wanted her to "get" me and she wanted me to be happy with what she gave to me.  So all that unnecessary teen angst for those years, and me having tons of clothing options to pick from, gave me the opportunity to hone my Say Yes to the Dress and What Not to Wear abilities.  So here are a some of my tips/rules for fashion.

**  Don't buy trendy outfits.  Go with something classic that will still be in style a few years down the road and pair it with some trendy accessories.  I know that "trendy" items are generally cheaper, but they'll either be out of date in three months or they'll have come apart by then. Invest in some pieces that will last you a long time and will never go out of style. (Click on the pics to take you to their site).

**  Try and make sure that every outfit has a little bit of flair, something that makes it your own.  It can be something like a bold scarf, flowered hair clips, fun earrings, or a cool purse.  No matter how boring your outfit is, it can be spiced right on up with just one piece of flair.  (And you can get that kinda stuff pretty cheap, well, except maybe for the purse.) Since I wear a lot of black, I usually try and wear a colorful pair of earrings with a matching hair accessory.  (Click on pictures to take you to their site)

**  If you wear leggings, make sure you're wearing them with something that covers your lady parts.

**  Don't get sucked into trends when the classic version is available.  Right now blue, purple and pink Uggs are all the rage.  I know they're really cute, but chances are they're just a passing trend and really, how many outfits go with pink or blue boots?  If Uggs are your thing, buy a pair that's brown, gray or black- they'll still be in style next year and you'll be able to wear them with more outfits.  If buying the standard colors seem boring to you, than get a modified style like the the sweater button boot.

**  Don't wear horizontal stripes unless you're a size 6 or under.  It doesn't matter  how skinny you are, horizontal stripes will always make you look bigger than you are.  If you like stripes and you just can't part with them, then make sure the stripe is very thin- the thicker the stripe the thicker you look.

**  If you're a mother with babies or small children, the best things to wear are either solid dark colored shirts/dresses or ones that have a dark or bold print on them.  Tops that are light and solid colored show EVERYTHING.  And since we all know that the little ones know how to mess up our clean clothes the second we put them on, the best thing is to wear something that camouflages the dirt!  If you don't like to wear dark colors, a light color for the background of the shirt/dress will work as long as it has a dark and large print on it.

 (All of these shirts can be found at Shade Clothing, or just click on the pictures to take you to them)

** Don't be match matchy with the store's mannequin.  Buy pieces of the outfit and partner it with something else.

**  For those days when you're bloated or feeling a little bit heavier than usual, it's best to wear a skirt.  They are way more forgiving than pants and you won't feel frumpy.

**  No matter what, make sure that you're comfortable with what you're wearing.  It doesn't matter how great you actually look- if you don't like it and you don't feel good wearing those clothes, don't!  When you like what you're wearing, you'll wear it better.

And those are my main tips and rules regarding fashion advice.  I hope I get to learn some new things from the rest of ya'll.  If you want to see my favorite places to shop, click HERE.