"Styles That Defines"

Slimmer, Hipper, Smarter, Better

by Charla Krupp, author of bestseller How Not to Look Old

We all want to look younger and hipper—we just don't want to have to do anything dramatic or traumatic (or expensive) to do so. There's no need to, really. Freshening up your look can be fast, easy and effortless. For starters, get rid of everything in your closet that doesn't make you feel good as soon as you put it on. Go ahead, try it on. Anything that's too big, too small, stained, ripped, discolored, embarrassing—out it goes! You don't want to be tempted to wear it—and you never want to look frumpy, dowdy, shabby or old, even if there's no one else around. Because the most important person you need to impress is you. So here are a few other easy ways for you to feel fabulous and look years younger fast!

Shorten and Narrow Your Skirts

Once you reach a certain age, a long, flowing maxi skirt is not a good look. Neither is the micro mini. There is a skirt length that's universally flattering, and it's that spot at the back of your knee where your thigh meets your calf. Bring your skirts to the tailor and have them shortened to right there—every half-inch can make a big difference. And while you're at the tailor, taper those boxy, dowdy A-lines into more flattering, body-hugging straight or pencil skirts. They're younger, hipper and shapelier, too, especially when paired with heels—kitten, chunky or stilettos. Banana Republic BR Monogram pencil skirt, $115, BananaRepublic.com

Faux-Tan Your Legs and Show Them Off

Nothing ages you like a wardrobe of shapeless pantsuits. (Sorry, Hillary, but you know it's true!) It's great to show some skin, and most of us still have legs worth showing. Before you bare, make sure your legs are de-fuzzed and are not pasty or ashy. The best way to get some color and cover up imperfections like veins, black and blue marks and scars, is a tube of faux tan. Apply it after your shower, and you'll be good to go in an hour. Don't have an hour? Spray on color with tan in a can. Just like makeup, it washes right off. (New this season: MAC's Skinsheen Leg Spray.) Tanned legs look slimmer, sexier, younger, better.

Paint Your Toes a Cool Color

While your fingernails are best kept a light, sheer pink, such as Essie's Limo-Scene, it's young to have some fun with your toes by going with a dark polish. For years, the shade of choice has been Essie's claret-colored Wicked. The hottest hue now is Chanel's inky Blue Satin, if you can wrestle up a bottle. Of course, you also want to keep your feet smooth and moisturized—cracked heels will give away your age! In between regular pedicures, shave away your dead, dry skin yourself with the genius Ped Egg, the best foot file you'll find for $10 (at CVS drugstores and Bed Bath & Beyond). Chanel Blue Satin nail color, $20, Chanel.com

Loosen Up Your Locks

If you've always had short hair, let it grow a bit. If you always wear it straight, see what happens when you let your hair go wavy and natural on its own. If hair spray is your styling product of choice, curb your addiction. Young hair moves; old hair doesn't. The every-hair-in-place look is dated. And hair condition counts. If your hair is dry and dull, buy a hot-oil shine product at the drugstore and give your hair a brilliant, lustrous sheen. Toss your head, run your fingers through your hair, let it go!

Pump Up Your Lashes

Long, lustrous lashes are young. As we age, our lashes get sparser and don't grow as fast—just like our brow hairs and the hair on our heads! Almost every star in Hollywood enhances her natural lashes with a few falsies. You don't need a whole ledge of lashes a la Carol Channing (too old of a look), just a few individual lashes strategically placed at the outer ends with eyelash glue and tweezer. It takes practice, but you can do it yourself. The results are sooo worth it. Best falsies: Shu Uemura's at Sephora . Camouflage the lash line with CoverGirl LashBlast, currently the best-selling mascara at mass retailers.

Slap on Tinted Moisturizer

The older you get, the less foundation you should use. A heavy foundation looks cakey, fakey and old. At this age, your skin should be clear, even-toned and blemish-free. If you have good skin, you want your natural glow to shine through. If you don't, you'll want to get your glow from a tinted moisturizer, light foundation or luminizing treatment product. This summer, you can finally buy a great tinted moisturizer in drugstores thanks to Olay Definity Colour Recapture available in three shades this July. Oil of Olay Definity facial cream, $24.99, drugstore.com

Switch from Dark to Pink Lipstick

Is there anything easier than changing your lip color? Dark lip colors age you. They bleed into your lip lines. They make your lips look smaller and thinner than they are. Pink lipsticks give you a natural, shiny, glossy look that radiates lightness. At a certain age, you want everything on your face to be natural-looking. Pink lipstick is flattering on almost every woman. Try Laura Mercier's Stickgloss in Rose Water—the perfect shade that's not too light or bright. Laura Mercier Stickgloss, $20.00, LauraMercier.com

Find the Perfect White Jeans

Jeans that fit and flatter are your single most important age-defying piece of clothing. Slip them on and watch the years—and pounds—melt away. In the summer, you want them to be white denim, boot-cut and mid low-rise, with a bit of stretch (1 to 3 percent) and no embellishments, rips or holes. Labels that serve the over-40 butt well: Paige Premium Denim, Joe's Jeans, Citizens of Humanity, Seven for all Mankind, AG, Not Your Daughter's Jeans, Salt, Blue Cult and Chip and Pepper. Paige Premium Denim Roberson Wide leg jeans, $198, PaigePremiumDenim.com

Don't Give up on Sexy Heels

Just wear them when you absolutely need them—at a party, at a dinner, out to lunch, at a wedding, on the red carpet. I'm not talking 6-inch heels a la Gwyneth Paltrow. Three-inch heels will still make your legs look longer, leaner and sexier, without sacrificing comfort. (Try the Nike Dress Air pumps from Cole Haan with additional padding under the balls of the feet.) Yes, there are pretty flats out now, but there's nothing like a heel to give your confidence a boost and your whole look some rocket fuel. If you need to, wear flats when en route and carry your heels, then switch to sexier shoes when you reach your destination. Cole Haan Genevieve OT Air Pump, $295, ColeHaan.com

Wear Big Sunglasses

Big sunglasses are a great glam booster—not only for summer, but all year round. If you don't have time to put on your entire eye makeup, no one has to know. When you wear big shades (like the season's great wrap-around styles) they protect the delicate skin around your eyes from the damaging rays of the sun. And a bit of mystery never hurts. Also, if you're someone who keeps losing her glasses, check out the Isaac Mizrahi collection of sunwear at Target this summer. For less than $20, you can buy a gorgeous pair and not have worry when asking everyone in your household, Where did I put my glasses? Isaac Mizrahi for Target Glamour Oval Sunglasses, $17.99, Target.com

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Swimwear Women's Fragrance See products of this category Women's Fragrance Jewelry Ladies Footwear Lingerie Scarf Women's Fashion See products of this category Flipflops skirts shorts bags fashion accessories Jewelry Ladies Apparel fashion accessories Follow what we're up to of the shop ZlioShop powered by Zlio Chinese Laundry - Darcie (Black/Black) - Women's Zappos.com is proud to offer the Chinese Laundry - Darcie (Black/Black) - Women's: This unique woven-design pump...Read more From compare prices Chinese Laundry - Darcie (Natural/Brown) - Women's Zappos.com is proud to offer the Chinese Laundry - Darcie (Natural/Brown) - Women's: This unique woven-design pump...Read more From compare prices Betsey Johnson Women's Webster Two Piece Pump Betsey Johnson Women's Webster Two Piece Pump From compare prices Oh my Goodness! This little lovely from Beverly Feldman is like sexy lingerie for your feet. Floral lace, ruffles,...Read more compare prices LAUREN Ralph Lauren - Callia (Cognac Embossed Croc) - Women's Zappos.com is proud to offer the LAUREN Ralph Lauren - Callia (Cognac Embossed Croc) - Women's: Chic and tailored...Read more BGBGirls Fuller Peep Toe Platform Pump "Fuller" reptile-embossed leather high-heeled pump with peep toe from BCBGirls

The Fashionista's Guide

"Dress to Kill,Impress those MEN out there by dressing with simplicity & elegance."

Look for quality

You don’t have to break the bank to buy quality garments. Just look for items within your price range that have excellent cuts and classic colors. Tip: when looking to buy a quality coat, make sure the inner lining is well constructed- if this finishing element is well made, you can rest assured that the rest of the garment is too.

Avoid looking like a fashion victim

One crucial element to dressing chic is to avoid looking like a walking billboard. More than one initial display of a designer name in one outfit makes you a fashion victim. Prominently displayed logos- real or knock-off, look cheesy and cheap. If you want to emulate a celebrity, think Gwyneth Paltrow, not Paris Hilton.

Pay attention to details

Looking chic doesn’t have to be really expensive. Cheaper fabrics look more expensive if they are ironed. Change a cheap cardigan by replacing ugly plastic buttons with mother-of- pearl ones. Dressing chic is all about focusing on the details that make a garment stand out.

Pick clothes that flatter:Chic clothes never bunch, hang, sag, or constrict your breathing. They should graze over your silhouette, highlighting and enhancing your figure. If it doesn’t flatter your figure, leave it on the rack. If it doesn’t fit well, it will NEVER look good.

Focus on fabrics

There are lots of options for beautiful fabrics, even if you are on a budget. Rule of thumb: stick with fibers that can be found in nature. With proper maintenance they will keep their shape and wear beautifully. Keep an eye out for sales to get great deals on cashmere sweaters, and gorgeous silk tops for evening looks.Update your shoe wardrobe

A great pair of shoes really finishes an outfit, so make sure you appropriate footwear. A pair of black pumps is a staple that you can’t live without- they work great with a suit for work or with dark denim and a sparkly top for evening. Some other great shoes to invest in: a pair of classic boots, an open toed pump, and flirty flats. A great pair of strappy sandals for evening, and a stack- heeled boot for walking in should round out your shoe wardrobe.

Invest in classic pieces

If you are going to hand over your hard earned dollars for an expensive designer piece, make sure it’s a classic that will transcend trends and last more than one season. Think Manolo Blahnik, Chanel, Ferragamo for shoes, Louis Vuitton, and Hermes for bags; Dior shades.

It’s all about the attitude

Whether your outfit cost 100 dollars or 1,000 dollars, the trick to looking you spent a fortune is all in how you wear those duds. Focus on good taste, confidence, elegance, and maintain an air of mystery, and no matter what you wear, you will always have what the French call a certain, je ne sais quois.
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Lady Apparel- The look of elegance

Today, lady apparel and the impact of fashion has changed the perception of clothing from merely being a tool to protect the body from harshness of the environment and extreme weathers but a device in measuring the height of success of its wearer. This is especially true for women. Though it is still deemed necessary for all mankind to be fully and presentably clothed, in some part of the world, clothing has evolved into a fashion statement that represents a woman’s well being.

Turning fabrics into apparel is not as easy as it may seem. Ignorance to this fact has made modern day consumers take clothing for granted. Before the method of making textile was mechanized, processing textile was very tedious and labor intensive. The industry was the first to be mechanized during the Industrial Revolution.

Over the centuries, man became more efficient in making clothes. Man has also incorporated creative ideas in making their attire. As a result of this, the fashion industry starts blooming and different methods in beautifying clothes have developed. One significant method is embroidery.

Embroidery is known as the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with designs stitched in strands of thread or yarn by using a special needle. Evidence suggests that Ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, Phoenicians and Hebrews used embroidery for decorating their robes. The Moors has been found to decorate much of their apparels with embroidery as well. The style and uniqueness of each individual culture is usually embedded in the pattern and designs of the embroidery. Back in the days, embroidery also represents the sign of wealth and power one possessed. The rich traders and merchants are often willing to pay a large sum of money for the luxury of embroidered clothing. The one who always benefits the most from this are their wives and mistresses.

Decorating with embroidery is one of the most beautiful ways to express your identity on clothes and accessories. It brings the lady wearing the attire a sense of style and elegance. Hand-made embroidery is regarded highly because more work and energy is dedicated into creating a faultless piece. Careful work which usually take days or even months are required as the creator work on every part of the fabric in detail. Today, machines have helped human to simplify their work and the quality of machine-made embroidery are now equally as beautiful as hand-made embroidery.

Embroidery on clothing can provide the wearer with a sense of individuality. With help from machines, almost every garment can be embroidered. The rich and famous has taken this to full advantage by creating their own unique attire. This is done by having the clothes tailor-made with their initials embroidered. Fashion is without a doubt a universal concept. No industry or activity is ignored by fashion. Even sportsmen and women are not left behind in the world of fashion. With adoring fans wanting to dress like their idol such as Tiger Woods and Michelle Wie, fashion has found its way to the greens! Lady golf apparel is now making statements on golf courses despite the fact that golfers are guarded by dress codes and rules.

Today, clothing is not just bare necessity, a mean to protect the body from dangers in the environment but also gives the wearer a sense of confidence and pride. The world of fashion is a dominant market in which designers are more creative and eager to explore different ways to produce garments that are equally as beautiful as the ladies who wear them!

Express Yourself through Your Clothes

As we pass through life we start to realize that people, including us, have a tendency of becoming more and more common. We give up the things that make us special and unique so we can be plain and common for reasons I am sure we do not even understand.

Either we do not have the courage to be unique or we just come to believe that being creative and different are not such good things after all. Luckily for us it is never too late to turn into the person you used to be. It is never too late to break down the barriers and run free and wild. One way to do that is through your clothes.

Independent fashion designers are one of the most obvious examples that we have. They refuse to give into the constant globalization process that seems to evolve with each passing day. What they feel, what they love and most of all how they want to be is expressed in every piece of clothing that they design. This is one true form of art. No two tops are alike as no two feelings could ever be the same.

Independent designer labels can give you that certainty of being one of a kind and still look amazing. Art is an expression of our feelings and thoughts and what better way to show who you really are than through what you wear? So maybe you are not talented and you can not design your own clothes but you just wish you would stop seeing the same skirt you have on three other girls on your way to the store. You love that skirt, that is why you bought it in the first place and there is nothing wrong with other people having that same clothing item as you, but somehow you feel trapped. You feel like a piece of you is missing and at that point you start to wish you were alone in a crowd.

There is a solution to your problem. Choose clothes that combine fashion with art, feelings with places and people, choose independent designer labels and independent fashion designers that look at life and fashion the same way that you do. More than that, become your own designer and show the world that being you is truly amazing and most of all special.

Art can take many shapes and sizes. What independent fashion designers do is take art to another level and pass on the joy of being yourself at all times. It is not what you wear that makes you who you are, but it surely tells a lot about you. People make the clothes and not the other way around. However, the clothes that you wear should be a piece of who you are and this is why independent designer labels can be the best choice for you. Art is found in each clothing item ever made, but how that art is expressed is what makes the difference.