10 Fashion Faux Pas
While the world may be leaning toward
more casual attire, there are still a number of fashion faux
pas you need to avoid regardless of the occasion or dress
code. These ten tips will help you avoid some all too
common fashion faux pas.
1. Wearing The Wrong Colours
All skin tones are not created equal.
The lime green or hot pink that you saw on the runways may
look fabulous on the models, but horrible on you. Experiment
with different colours and stick with the palettes that look
best on you, regardless of what's "au currant". Don't waste
your money on clothes that make you look pale, sallow,
jaundiced, or washed out.
2. Wearing Too Small a Size
If it doesn't fit, don't wear it.
Squeezing into a size 8 may feed your vanity, but it will
may you appear overfed to everyone else. Shop by FIT, not by
size. If you can't sit down or feel as trussed up as a
turkey, you're not going to feel your best. Why put yourself
through that kind of torture? Find clothes that fit or have
them tailored to fit and stack the cards in your favour.
3. Inappropriate Makeup
Light for day, heavier for evening,
sheer for sports or other strenuous pursuits. You wear
different clothes for different activities in you life; your
makeup should change as well. And if you're still doing
Cleopatra eyes, it's time to turn the page and see what's
happening THIS century in makeup styles.
4. Wearing The Wrong Colour of Hose
You'll look taller and trimmer by
matching the colour of your hose to your shoes and your hem.
Wearing a black skirt and shoes? Opt for sheer black hose.
Have a bright blue dress and taupe shoes? Go for the
taupe-coloured hose. What? You only wear black hose because
they hide things you don't want people to see? Well, guess
what: unless your whole outfit's black, you're CALLING
ATTENTION to your legs. If that's not what you want, it's
time to rethink your plan.
5. Rundown Shoes
You look great...from the ankles up.
If your shoes have seen better days, find a good shoe repair
shop and put them in for some TLC. Polish them regularly.
Use a felt tip marker on scuffs, and put a piece of soft
carpet under your feet when you drive. And most importantly,
invest in a good pair if you're going to wear them every
day. Don't buy them at the 5 and Dime and then wonder why
they don't last.
6. Broken Nails, Chipped Polish
Keep your nails clean and evenly
trimmed. To make repairs quickly, have clippers and a nail
file in your purse and desk at work. Paint over chips or
remove all polish. If you're in a business environment,
stick with conservative nail polish colours at work and save
the sparkly/neon/funky looks for weekends and vacations.
Dragon-lady lengths are never appropriate for business.
7. Slips That Show
Unfortunately, one length does NOT
fit all. Buy slips in several lengths and replace them once
the elastic wears. For the most discreet linings, buy slips
in the colours you wear most often, like black, navy, beige,
and white. You want to mute the sheerness of your
garment-not all attention to the colour of your slip.
8. Underarm Stains
First, buy deodorant that works with
your body. You may have to try a few to find the best one
for you, and you may need to change every now and again if
your chemistry changes, like after having a baby, starting
new medication, going through menopause, or the like. My
personal favourite: Mitchum solid. If you perspire heavily
or need a sure-fire method to prevent stains, consider using
dress shields.
9. Visible Bra Lines
Make sure your bra fits properly. If
it rides up in back, slips of the shoulders, or lets your
breasts sag instead of offering support, then it's time to
seek professional help. You can usually find trained fitters
in the lingerie departments of better department stores.
Call around for an appointment.
10. Roots
Hair colour can do wonderful things
for you, but it can also be hard on the budget. If you can't
afford the regular maintenance required by all-over colour,
consider getting highlights instead. And whatever you do,
make sure your hair colour matches your skin tone.
Take a few minutes to attend to the details. Why spoil your
look when looking great is nearly as easy?
 Diana
Pemberton-Sikes has been helping entrepreneurs turn their
EXISTING knowledge, skills, and interests into cash since
1999. To learn how you can turn your "passions into
profits", visit her online and subscribe to her FREE ezine
at
niftybusinessideas.com. Diana is also and author of
"Wardrobe Magic," an ebook that shows women how to transform
their unruly closets into workable, wearable wardrobes. For
more information, visit her website,
Fashion For Real Women.com.
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