Not so ordinary lips this fall, no ma’am. We see statement lips all over the place. I have focused one lip that is very vogue without teetering towards the extreme “black” lipstick seen on the runways.

Burgundy Lips

 That Vintage Wine gets a modern update when paired with fresh skin and a touch of blush. No mascara required

How to do it: 

-Don’t use liner for this lip, it can appear too harsh. Gently apply color in short strokes along your natural lip line.

-Keep your skin fresh, apply concealer and light powder only where needed.

-Swirl on light rosy blush

-Final trick: skip the mascara. Curl your lashes  but refrain the mascara to keep the look youthful.

No one likes to wear the same outfit day after day for weeks on end. It would quickly become dull and boring. In the same way keeping our makeup routine the same week after week can leave us feeling colorless, humdrum females.  I’m here to fix that with a few stimulating makeup looks making their debut this fall.

Try them, experiment a bit. Don’t go overboard. The beauty of your character should outshine the beauty of your face.  (coming soon, Must Know Makeup Basics)

Luminous Skin

Shimmering peach, pink and ivory tones replace conventional bronzer to give your skin an ethereal, lit-from-within glow.

 How to do it: 

- Brush or Dab on a light foundation, concealing any blemishes

-Blend a pea-size dab of cream highlighter (a pale cream eyeshadow would suffice) on cheekbones, brow bones and bridge of nose.

-Swirl and brush a generous amount of luminescent baby-pink blush on the apples of your cheeks. This is a soft ballerina look, so avoid burgundy or brown tinted blushes.

-Finish off with a light ivory or pink shadow on your lids and a dab of nude lip gloss.

Voila!

Guest post by blogger Anna Friedrich from Classically Clothed

If you dislike shoes it’s only because you haven’t been exposed to them enough. If your favorite footwear is flip flops, then it’s time to slip on pair of lighthearted, red leather mary-janes with a 2.5 in. heel and take an unceremonious walk on a fresh fall day down an avenue with leaves winding crazily down and the wind blowing your hair. If your flat brown oxfords are boring you to death, exchange them for patent flats in a bright vivid color that instantly adds pizzaz to your outfit. A girl can survive with the following bare minimum of shoes:

• Black Pumps in leather or patent leather, with a 2.5 - 3 in. heel. These pumps will add polish to your casual garb, and match with your skirts and dresses when attending wedding showers, parties, events, and church.
• Casual loafers, or flat mary-janes. Slip them on for running errands. No girl should be caught wearing tennis shoes or crocs while shopping. Another casual option is a pair of comfy Converse sneakers.
• Hide those flip flops in the back of your closet to save for a beach excursion and choose a pair of flat sandals with whatever sort of details appeal to you most! Get a pair of dressy flat sandals, and casual flat sandals. Here are some other options, as well.
• A pair of high-heeled leather sandals. Appropriate for wearing with cotton skirts and dresses during the summertime, and underneath white jeans on hot summer nights when out and about. Pick a sandal with a stable, walkable heel height, 2.5 - 3 in. Again, here are some other options. If you really want stylish stability, opt for a wedge sandal
• For cold, wet, winter months, pick a bootie, or mid calf boot with a shorter, sturdy heel that slips or zips on easily for wearing under jeans and pants.
• Tall boots are striking and comfortable to wear under skirts. Keep your jeans from getting wet by tucking them into your tall boots in fall and winter. Heeled or flat avoid going wrong with tall boots by buying refined looking leather in dark brown, or black, and if you choose a pair with heels, pick stable, chunky heels that are 1.5 - 2.5 in. tall.
• Flats are available in a dizzying array of colors and patterns. Spring and fall is the time to break out your Audrey Hepburn like flats for wearing with knee-length skirts and trousers.

To care for your shoes, store in the original boxes that you buy them in, but don’t store them all in one container unless they are laid flat and not jumbled together which will crease the leather or fabric. Brush off dust, and dirt with a soft cloth after wearing, and avoid wearing your shoes more than two times in a row, unless you want stinky feet. Usually, after a year of hard wearing your shoes will be ready to retire, unless you pamper them and walk only walk on soft carpets. Styles and colors are unlimited when it comes to shoes! You can never have too many, unless of course, one day you look in your closet and find boxes of shoes stacked up that you have never even worn.

It’s all about ruffles and pleating and bows. For those who love the victorian style (you know who you are) you never fit in so well. Truly romantic.

Before you start bedecking your self in head-to-lace, here’s a few guiedlines for your fall choices:

How to Wear it:

Avoid the stiffness of Victoriana by adding structure–Straight leg pants,  a pencil skirt or a coat with clean lines. The contrast is dynamic.

-snag a lovely sheer blouse and pair it with a suit jacket
-toughen up a pretty lace or tuxedo ruffled blouse with your favorite slacks or cropped capris.
-pair with feminine ballet flats in silver, neutral, pink or black.

Don’t:
-Wear ringlets, barely there blush, or bold jewelry.
-make sure the lace you choose to wear does not look like lingerie
-wear ruffles if you are more of an apple shape, big bust or waist,

I just joined a fashion blog network, and so I’m linking back…

Here

Designers have warmly embraced “country” again, and we’re not talking about the genre of music. Tweeds, plaids, checks and corduroys in rust, green, brown, camel all the colors of harvest. It’s almost an equestrian feel, it’s just missing the riding crop.

How to wear it: 

Keep it all in proportion with a nipped leather jacket, a short cape or a little fur vest. Say yes to riding boots or wooly boots or pretty much any “countryish boots”.

-pull on a long skirt, wooly socks and cable knit sweater…but keep it body conscious with a belted waist.

-wear a silk scarf in contrasting fabric/pattern.

-Have fun with slouchy knits or wraps in plaids, solids or both

- add bits of fur, the lining of your coat or gloves, maybe the trim on your handbag.

-wear a beret or woolen hat. and Keep wearing them

-contrast the fabrics, leather with wool or tweed with plaid.

 Don’t:

-wear too many patterns at once.

-get lost in the volume.

Considering that yesterday was the first day of fall, I think it is appropriate to launch a series of posts highlighting the key trends this season. Starting with-

Fall Florals: 
Strong throughout the fall selection is a variety of beautiful floral and art prints. Find these pieces of art shining on dresses, blouses, skirts, coats and even handbags. There is an impressionistic feel to both of these motifs, which gives them a feminine summery feel. .

How to wear it:
-Transition summery pieces by adding opaque tights, chunky knits, slim jackets and boots in ankle or knee lengths.
-Consider layering a filmy frock over a fine gauge wool turtleneck for an eclectic look that is subtle and sophisticated.
-Mix things up by pairing florals with tweeds and plaids for a unique personal style statement
-Fall brings flowers to necklaces, earrings, even shoes and bags. Wear them against solid pieces where they can shine.

-Strong eye? Yes. Dark lip? Sure. Big hair? No.
-Accessories should be stark and graphic, try a solid clutch or square tote.

Don’t:
Wear jewelry. It is liable to be a distraction with the plethora of prints swirling. However, do choose a good, substantial shoe.

This post is for the wives amongst us, and the future wives in the making. 

Wife dressing is many things:
An art.
A science.
A labor of love.
A means of self-expression.
And, above all, a contributing factor to a happy marriage.

Wife dressing begins with the traditional rings for your third finger, left hand. But the wedding ring is only the beginning. When your husband’s eyes light up as he comes in at night, you’re in sad shape if it’s only because he smells dinner cooking.

Most men claim to be indifferent to fashion, if not down-right afraid. They can contemplate outer space without blinking an eye, sacrifice their very lives in defense of our country, or even explore the dark cellar where you’ve heard noises—yet the mention of a shopping trip turns them pale and trembling.

Why? I don’t know.
But one thing is clear, however many times he may mumble inarticulately when you ask his advice he will respond to every facet of wife-dressing whether you’re being the hostess, the maid-of-all-work, or the devastating creature curled up on the sofa with a Midnight Snack for Two.

So how can you serve your husband through your dress?

You will need:
1.    A frank understanding of yourself
2.    A healthy attitude toward your new responsibilities
3.    A willingness to learn and
4.    A buoyant elation about being alive.

All this can be boiled down to one word: Discipline.
Discipline makes you the woman you are. You are you. Not the model in that photo, or the girl beside you in the elevator, or even the gal sitting at the next lunch table. Discipline is the secret to good grooming, no matter your budget. Discipline prevents you from being deluded about the squishing into the wrong size, or buying something just because it’s on sale. Discipline makes you a stickler for details which left unchecked could lead to a catastrophe.

Find part 2 and 3 at Empowered Traditionalist

What’s the perfect way to fix up those fingers for your next outing, “dress-up” event, or even friendly get together? Naturally we all would answer fingernail polish. Whether we wear it 24/7 or just on special occasions, fingernail polish is a lot of fun. The question now is what color goes best with your skin tone? What color will be most flattering? Here are a few tips to help you find your perfect color:

Fair skin
As a rule of thumb, you should wear lighter colors. However, one advantage of having fair skin is that you can sport colors that others could never pull off—
Do: wear red, light-medium shades of purple or  bright pink for starters. Each of those colors will look very nice with your skin tone.
Don’t: wear dark blue, gold, green and yellow.

Olive skin
For those with warm more yellow tones,
Do: darker colors, grey or charcoal polish. Also hints of copper or orange will be great for you.

Medium skin
You’ll look best in very bright, vibrant colors, even colors with a touch of metallic. (These will make your skin look more tan than it already is.)
Do: bright shades of pink, blue, and orange.
Don’t: Not-so-good colors are red, navy blue, and dark purples.

Dark skin
You can get away with bold and bright colors.
Do: burgundy, wine, dark greens and reds, (even gold!). Also, chocolate brown can look fantastic if it’s not too dark.
Don’t: Avoid white, silver, and orange. You might want to avoid those which are very bright or too light as well. Hint: take your favorite lipstick or shirt- those colors that look best on your lips and near your face will look best on your nails.

Good luck in your nail-polishing endeavors!

Fashion tip: This season’s mauve, rose, and plum tones are the perfect complement when combined with darker greys or browns to create a smoky eye. Grey shadow for eyes is not unusual, but on your nails? Several lines have produced nail lacquer in shades that range from freshly poured cement to deep-dark asphalt. If you’re not so daring, try a plum or taupe with grey undertones to achieve the same unique effect.

Do keep your nails short. Long nails are out.

Does everyone say you look younger than you really are? Are you being mistaken for a younger person often? For some people, this is a blessing. But for other people, it’s a headache.

Do:
1. Take care of yourself by washing regularly, using deodorant, and, for women, try to do your makeup as often as possible.
2. Fix your eyebrows. Some surveys say that when your eyebrows are done and put together, you can look more mature and therefore, look older.
3. Wear sophisticated looking clothes. Stay tuned to trends that suit your age or the age you want to look.
4. Consult with a hair stylist. Give a brief summary of your situation or just simply ask for a “mature cut”. Someone who follows hair trends generally is or appears to be older.
5. Listen to others. People who are good listeners appear more mature.
6. Be comfortable when talking to people who are older than you.
7. Wear heels, and wear a watch.
8. Focus on cute shoes and accessories. They make you look more “put together.”
9. Look for more neutral colored handbags. Look for leather, for some reason the older you become, the more leather you own.
10. Women: Wear Makeup. If you are a young woman, only use a little and learn to do it properly.
11. Care For Your Skin. If you have acne, do something about it. Go on medication, have a skin clearing regimen.
12. Keep up with current events. It is true that not all adults keep up with current events and it is almost impossible to keep up with all current events. But watch the news once in awhile. Being able to have an intelligent conversation instantly matures their first impression.
13. Be careful with your speech. Use proper English. If you’re using a lot of slang, you will not sound like a mature man or woman. Avoid saying “like” every two words. Enhance your vocabulary.
14. Choose a mature role model to emulate. Jackie Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn, Sarah Palin, women who you admire and respect.

Don’t :
-wear pastels such as bubblegum pink, light blue, sea green etc.
-shop at Abercrombie, Hollister, and American Eagle because they are symbols of teen style.
-wear plastic flip flops.
-wear extremely colorful purses