beauty

Reader Request: Short Hair and Personal Style Shifts

by Sally on May 20, 2013 · 46 comments

short_hair_personal_style

Jess popped this question into the suggestion box:

As someone who is considering going from long to short hair, a post on how your crop has changed your styling would be very interesting!

I chopped my hair in July of 2011 so we’re going on two years for the pixie. Initially, I got a lot of comments about how changing my hair was causing me to change my dressing choices, and I can’t say that I agreed. In fact, looking back I’ve found that I am making very similar styling choices now, as a short-haired gal, to the ones I made with longer locks. Behold:

browndress

They’re different necklaces, belts, and heels but I chose to wear the same dress with a shortish necklace, wide-ish belt, and heels. Today, I’d probably reach for similar options, perhaps selecting a larger necklace.

redskirt

This skirt just looks best with button-front shirts! I’ve tried it with a few other options, but end up back at this pairing. In the short hair version, I went with a slightly bolder necklace, but the outfits are otherwise quite similar.

libertydress

The jacket on the right is more structured and the sandals are less matchy than the green pumps, but I added a very matchy handbag and stuck with the formula of over-layer and heels.

These outfits may look different because the change in hairstyle is pretty drastic. But the styling choices are decidedly similar.

That said, I DO feel that I’ve shifted my style since cutting my hair. Some changes are just part of the style evolution process that we’re all wading through as we age, but some changes are directly related to the haircut and its visual repercussions. The most obvious ones are:

I wear more pants

pants

This shift could really be a half-and-half situation. I’m wearing more pants now because I’ve finally found a few styles and cuts that I actually enjoy wearing, but I also feel like a shorter, more boyish, and slightly edgier haircut makes pants feel like a more natural choice. For me, not universally. I’ll never be a true tomboy or delve deep into the menswear look – I love my skirts and heels too much – but I am more inclined to wear pants now with a pixie than I ever was with my curls.

I wear large necklaces and small earrings

necklaces_short_hair_r

I wrote a bit about this phenomenon here, and explained that the pixie cut exposes my neck, so I’ve been inclined to do a lot chunky, statement-y necklaces. With such a close crop, doing big earrings AND a big necklace creates an imbalance. You can see all of both, and it just feels like a jewelry hogpile in my face/neck area. I do occasionally go for big earrings instead, as in the photo at the very top of this post, but it’s one or the other. And on most days, I do big necklace with small earrings. I feel like it’s a better balance for my features.

I do color extremes

neutrals

By which I mean that I’ve been gravitating toward all-neutral mixes, as shown above, and color-on-color mixes which you can see below.

color_mixing

I attribute this to a general desire to look more definite, and maybe a bit more extreme. Although I’ll admit that neutral mixes are somewhat of a fallback plan for me. When all else fails, I know a big mess of neutrals is likely to look relatively pulled-together. But I’ve wanted to do more color-on-color mixes because they feel challenging and interesting, and even two years in I feel like my short hair is also challenging and interesting. Now, there have been loads of outfits with both colors and neutrals, too, but I’ve noticed a tendency toward all-color or all-neutral over time.

Now, this is me. I would NEVER infer that any other woman who went from longer to shorter hair would experience the same shifts or feel the same desires. No two women are alike, no two styles are alike, and no two people will react to a drastic change in hairstyle in the same way. For many, a move from long to short hair can be a choice made to commemorate a milestone or a change made in hopes of spurring other change. For me, it was an experiment that stuck. I am happier with how I look from top to tail, though I’m fascinated to find that the changes I’ve made to my personal style have been relatively minor.

How many of you are mulling a drastic hairstyle or hair length change right now? How many have MADE such a change recently? How do you think it would change your dressing patterns and styling choices? Or how have you seen it do so already?

{ 46 comments }

Mirror Mirror Challenge and Giveaway

by Sally on May 10, 2013 · 48 comments

mirror_rev

I promised Kjerstin Gruys that I would participate in her Mirror, Mirror Off the Wall blogger challenge. I promised her! My friend and colleague, a woman for whom I have tremendous respect and whose work I am proud to help promote. And friends, I managed to tackle the challenge … but still feel a bit like a failure.

I was really looking forward to this challenge because I have often gone for nearly full days without looking at myself in a mirror, then caught my reflection and realized I forgot to pencil in my eyebrows/wear earrings/fix my hair from that recent encounter with A High Wind. I can get so caught up in the day’s tasks and ruminations that I forget my physicality entirely, so the challenge of going mirror-free from waking till sleeping seemed like it would be a relatively easy but fabulously introspective exercise.

The past few weeks have been busy and hectic, and there were very few days in which I felt comfortable doing messy hair or going eyebrow-pencil-free. Because my calendar has been filled to the brim with book events and speaking engagements and TV appearances and style consult clients and business meetings. And as someone who works in a style-related field, I just couldn’t handle the pressure of winging it sans mirrors for any of those things. How I look is part of my brand, part of my business. And since my pixie can get really funky if it hasn’t been flat-ironed, and since I can’t apply lip color without looking, and since I really do prefer to make sure my outfit looks polished and appropriate when I’m doing business stuff … I just couldn’t go mirror-free on a day in which I’d be interacting with clients, customers, or the press. My anxiety won out. In fact, the mere thought of heading out to a paid speaking engagement or client meeting without being able to check myself in a mirror makes my heart race a bit.

So my mirror-free day was a day spent at home, working by myself in the company of my cats. I know, total cop-out. I did my hair messy (more or less like this), pulled on a foolproof outfit (this one), and settled in. It was a day of writing, conference calls, and online client correspondence so I was absorbed in my work all day long. I didn’t need to leave the house, so I didn’t.

What I learned:

It is HARD to avoid mirrors

I felt like covering the two mirrors in my home would bring my cheating to a whole new level, so I left them alone. And the main thing I noticed throughout the day was that when I passed a mirror, I wanted to look into it. I turned toward it automatically. That need to assess my looks at every given opportunity was strong to the point of feeling like an instinct. Though I know it is not one.

But engaging my brain makes it easier

As I mentioned above, I can get pretty caught-up in my work – or even in non-work activities like reading or house cleaning/organization projects – and when I do, it never occurs to me to stop and consult the mirror. Unless I am walking by one, I don’t feel compelled to check. I often conflate boredom and hunger, which results in mindless snacking. When I’m not bored – when my brain is fully engaged – I snack a lot less. Mirror use feels similar. I don’t need it, but when I’m feeling at loose ends or even a little bit bored, I’m more likely to do it.

I am terrified of presenting an unchecked appearance in a business situation

Again, mentioned this above but it bears repeating. I hadn’t realized how important it had become for me to be able to monitor my appearance, hadn’t given serious thought to that brand-look connection. I mean, I try my best to look my best whenever I’m doing anything related to my business, but I’d never realized that my schedule makes going a day without mirrors feel impossible. Not be impossible, as I know I certainly could’ve sucked it up and gone to any one of those meetings in an unchecked state without bursting into flames. Doing so would’ve been a fascinating and worthwhile experiment. But what if I showed up for a client meeting looking rumpled? The client’s confidence in my expertise could be damaged, and she might be less likely to recommend me to friends. What if I show up for a reading in a slightly mussed state? Attendees might question my judgment and be less likely to buy my book. Big ifs, possible excuses. But I just couldn’t let go of those potentially damaging possibilities.

I’m still mulling what this means and if I should adjust any behaviors or expectations accordingly. As I said, I often get ready in the morning using a mirror, work all day, and don’t check my reflection until late at night. So I don’t feel like I have an unhealthy relationship with mirrors or an obsession with my own reflection. But I do feel like I’ve begun to equate controlling my appearance with keeping my business afloat. And that equation might need to be tweaked over time.

 

MMOTW 300DPI

I may not have any mind-blowing insights to share, but I DO have a copy of Kjerstin’s truly engaging and thought-provoking book – Mirror, Mirror, Off the Wall – to give away to one lucky Already Pretty reader. To enter the drawing, just leave a comment on this post telling us if YOU would be able to do a day without mirrors. Be sure to enter a valid e-mail address into the e-mail field when you comment. (No need to put it in the body of the comment.) I’ll draw a winner on May 17 and notify the winner via e-mail. This contest is open to all readers, including international. Good luck!

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Why Color Trends are Your Friends

by Sally on April 24, 2013 · 12 comments

color trends are your friends

When I first became aware of fashion trends, they were irritatingly fleeting. Back then, you needed to identify a trend, procure the item in question, wear it for the appropriate amount of time (anywhere from a couple of weeks to a few months), and then discard it. The discarding step was essential to sanctioned fashion trend participation. If you continued to wear a trendy item beyond its trend window, you became the subject of much behind-the-hand snickering.

Oh, how times have changed.

And for the better! Trends still cycle in and out, but they do so on a much longer timeline. Style mavens, celebs, and fashionistas can be seen wearing trendy items years after they were introduced and marketed. Trends stick around longer, can be interpreted in many ways, and encompass a huge variety of items and styles.

But many women still avoid them. They’ve been badly burned by the quick-turn cycles of yesteryear and hesitate to participate in the current batch of trends. And you might be among them. Pondering peplums, sheer fabrics, and midriff-baring cropped shirts may cause you to break out in hives. But you might still consider heeding color trends because they are the most universally appealing and the easiest to wear. Here’s why:

You can wear them regardless of age, size, or build

Many trends skew young, while others require a certain physique. But color can work for everyone because it can be applied to any number of garments and styles. Emerald green and flame orange are both huge for the spring and summer seasons. Blouses, skirts, dresses, shoes, scarves, pants, and sweaters can ALL be found in both shades at every price point. You’ll see them in plus, petite, tall, and standard sizes in styles both youthful and conservative. Color trends do not discriminate based on age, weight, or body shape.

You can implement them using accessories

Do pastels wash you out? Go for lilac shoes or a butter yellow handbag. Hate what orange does to your complexion? Opt for a bold belt instead. Even if the colors in question do nasty things to your skin tone, you can hop on the trend train by nabbing a few key accessories.

You can afford them

Trendy garments can cost a fortune. But trendy colors? They’re everywhere from Marshalls to Barneys. Hell, you might even have a few of them lurking in your closet right now. Colors are the cheapest trends around.

You can interpret them in a million different ways

Ruffles are big for spring, and they’ve been shown in a variety of ways. But no matter how they’re presented, ruffles are still stylized, fussy, and a bit challenging to wear. Mint green, on the other hand, can be worn as nail polish, skinny jeans, or sky-high pumps. Mint green can be worn in huge swaths or as tiny accents. Mint green can be worn as an of-the-moment pleated maxi or a classic clutch. Color trends are infinitely interpretable.

You can wear them indefinitely

Trends are sticking around longer, it’s true. But trendy items have shorter cycles than trends in dressing. It may take years, but flatforms and trapeze bags will eventually fall out of favor. That poppy red cardigan you sprung for, however, will just be another color in your palette once the trend has passed.

Trendy garments can be difficult to wear, but trendy colors are a snap. Will you be partaking of this season’s color trends? (If you’re looking for a reference, check out Pantone’s seasonal color report.)

Images courtesy Banana Republic

(This post first appeared on The Huffington Post)

{ 12 comments }

Red Lips and Blue Jeans

by Sally on April 16, 2013 · 24 comments

red power and passion

As I’ve said approximately 90 trillion times, red is my favorite color. I’ve always been told that I look ravishing in red, which is part of its appeal, but I also love its implications of power and passion. And yet, even though I wanted desperately to do bold red lips, every red lipstick I’d ever tried looked positively clownish on me. So for ages, I assumed I just wasn’t a red lips girl. But eventually I realized that there were as many shades of red as there were women in the world and I was never going to pick a good one for myself by guessing. So I swung by my local Sephora. I said, “Red lipstick makes me look awful. But I’d like a shade that actually works for me.” The gal grabbed a tube of Make Up For Ever in Rouge Artist Intense 44, I slapped it on, and nearly fell over.

s1261882-main-Lhero

This shade worked with my coloring, felt amazing on my lips, and looked positively amazing on my surprised little face. But what was most fantastic about it was that it looked red and vibrant and powerful without looking too … makeup-y. I didn’t feel like I was suddenly The Girl With the Bright Red Lips, I felt like myself. Just a bit richer, cooler, more sophisticated. This was MY red.

And I realized later that I’d had a similar experience with blue jeans. I wore them non-stop throughout my youth until I finally realized that they were uncomfortable and unflattering on my body, and just because everyone around me wore them didn’t mean I had to, too. I decided I hated jeans. Pants. Swore them off. For years! Until I found a style that worked for me, my shape, my body, my needs. (High-waisted, typically Karen Kane or Lee Classic Fit.) Finally, I’d found MY jeans.

Which just goes to show that sometimes it takes time and a little bit of digging to unearth the ultimate you-version of things. Emphasis on the “sometimes,” of course. Some body types and sizes have very limited choices from which to pick, and no one has the time, money, or energy to search endlessly for perfect versions of everything. It’s certainly possible, but I doubt I’ll ever find a dropwaist dress or pair of boyfriend jeans that works for me, and I’m not keen to try. But red lips and blue jeans? I’m thrilled to have them in my arsenal in iterations that suit me, just as I am.

Have you ever sworn off a fashion or beauty item, only to discover that there actually was a version of it out there that worked perfectly for you?

**Disclosure: Actions you take from the hyperlinks within this blog post may yield commissions for alreadypretty.com. See Already Pretty’s disclosure statement for more details.

{ 24 comments }

Cornstarch as Dry Shampoo

by Sally on April 15, 2013 · 28 comments

The whole “dry shampoo” phenomenon mystified me until recently. I mean, I only shampoo every other day, but I never felt so unbearably filthy-headed that I wanted some sort of stopgap for my off days. So, to be perfectly honest, I never actually read anything about the real uses of this product. I assumed it wasn’t for me and moved on.

Then a few weeks ago, one of my off days presented me with some DEFCON-1 level greasy bangs. And a lightbulb went on. Just above my greasy bangs. Dry shampoo isn’t really about cleaning your hair, it’s about absorbing excess oils without having to wet, shampoo, and dry your locks. (If I’d only read one of those 657 dry shampoo reviews …) Naturally, I didn’t have any dry shampoo lurking in my bathroom, but I DID have some cornstarch lurking in my pantry. So, three minutes before running out the door, I grabbed it, tried it, and have used it semi-regularly ever since.

As always, my before and after photos are subtle to near pointlessness, but hopefully a few of you will see a difference. Here I am with what I’d say is more of a DEFCON-3 greasy bang situation:

greasybangs_r

A little pointier, darker, and stickier than I’d like. To prove that I am using standard-issue kitchen cornstarch:

cornstarch

Yummy. Since I’m really only applying this stuff to the area around my face, I use an absolutely tiny amount:

onfinger

I pat it onto my bangs, rub it in a bit, and I’m done. If I load on too much it can take a while to fade into my dark brown hair, but so far I’ve managed to escape without any Bonnie Raitt mishaps. Here’s the after shot:

after

Again, I know it’s not drastic. But egad, do I ever FEEL better about how my bangs look. And now I can add cornstarch to my bathroom-pantry along with olive oil for my face and apple cider vinegar for the occasional hair rinse.

Crunchy Betty’s got my back on this one … though I’m yet to find any info about hair types, so I’m not sure if this method will cause problems with fine hair, African-American hair, thinning hair, etc. (Love this post on dry shampoo for African-American women, though I haven’t found anything specific to cornstarch as opposed to store-bought.) Anyone else a dry shampoo fan? Would you rub a bunch of cornstarch into your hair to get rid of excess oil?

{ 28 comments }

Already Prettypoll: Morning and Night

by Sally on March 27, 2013 · 49 comments

Once upon a time, I took pride in my ability to roll out of bed and be ready to leave the house 10 minutes later. Sadly, those days are gone. If I have to wash, dry, and straighten my hair, it takes me about 45 minutes to get ready in the morning. And that’s assuming I don’t hit an outfit wall and spend yet more time refining the day’s ensemble.

But what really drives me nuts? It takes me at least half an hour to get ready for bed now! With the flossing, toothbrushing, face washing, Clairsonic-ing, and applying of various lotions and potions to my face, legs, feet, and hands. I actually dread bedtime a little because I know I’ll be performing my nightly ablutions for so darned long.

How about you? How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? How long does it take you to get ready for bed?

{ 49 comments }

Insomniac Sale Picks: Tall Plus-sized Ponte Pants

by Sally on February 14, 2013 · 3 comments

*In this late-night feature – which will run Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of each week – I’ll gather up three fun items that are currently on sale online and share them with you! I would LOVE suggestions: Stylish wide-width pumps? Classic v-necked sweaters? Chandelier earrings? Petite dress slacks? What would you like to see featured?*

Chris requested a few picks for tall inseam plus-sized ponte pants, so here we go:

roamans plus size tall ponte pants

Roamans Plus Size Tall Ponte Bootcut Knit Pants – was $44.99, now $26.99 – $31.99

These machine washable ponte pants feature pull-on styling, a high waistline, classic bootcut styling, and 33″ inseam. Available in black, brown, and navy in sizes 12 – 32 long. Size availability and price vary by color.

71tuYxFAJXL._SL1100_

Woman Within Plus Size Tall Pants in Ponte Knit – was $29.99, now $26.99

Reviewers say this wide-leg pair holds its shape and resists wrinkles. With a wide, elastic waistband and slim fit through hips wide leg from knee to ankle, they’ll be equal parts comfy and dramatic. 34″ inseam. Available in charcoal gray (shown), black, brown, and navy, black tweed, and black pinstripe in sizes 12 – 34 long. Size availability and price vary by color.

lands_end_tall_plus_ponte

Land’s End Ponté Demi-Boot Pants – was $79, now $34.99

This pair has a 34″ inseam and is definitely the most trouser-like, if that’s what you’re seeking. Design features include two offset front pockets, back welt pockets, and demi-boot cut leg that tapers to the knee then flares slightly. Available in sizes 16 – 26 in black, charcoal heather, and navy. Size availability varies by color.

Other not-currently-on-sale resources for tall inseam plus-sized ponte pants:

  1. Amazon – Nothing thrilling, but several basic pairs from vendors like Roaman’s and Woman Within.
  2. Talbots – Only two ponte styles just now, both with 35″ inseams.
  3. Long Tall Sally – Nothing is labeled as ponte, but there are plenty of knit pants in the mix including these straight legs. Sizes only go up to 18, but since there are so few resources I wanted to include it anyway.

**Disclosure: Actions you take from the hyperlinks within this blog post may yield commissions for alreadypretty.com. See Already Pretty’s disclosure statement for more details.

{ 3 comments }

This Week I Love …

by Sally on February 6, 2013 · 43 comments

moroccan_oil

… Moroccan Oil.

Here’s the lastest installment of the “My Hair is Weird” saga: For the past year or so, I have had flaking. Lots of it. My stylist and I have discussed countless possible causes: Dandruff, dry scalp, product buildup, product getting clumpy because of flat-ironing. I have changed products, tried clarifying treatments, changed styling tools, changed just about everything and kept on flaking.

Then I got fantastically sick and didn’t wash my hair for a week. I also didn’t put any product in it. And I still flaked, so I finally realized it wasn’t a reaction to product or product buildup. Then when I did my little redhead experiment, the flakes vanished. For two full weeks. Then, as suddenly as they were gone, they were back in full force. But this time they were kinda … tan. Brown. A little red. I mean, it wasn’t like I had red pepper flakes falling off my head, but they weren’t white anymore. So I knew it was scalp-related.

My stylist pointed out that it was winter and the air was dry and now was an ideal time to try some serious moisturizing. I’d been using Moroccan Oil a bit in my styling routine, but my stylist suggested I load it on and work it into my scalp the night before I was planning to wash my hair. I also work in some Kevin Murphy Easy Rider, which is super moisturizing, and do a deep conditioning treatment a couple of times each week. But the Moroccan Oil is the bulk of it. And now? Flakes GONE. Like maybe six little specks per week. I am still ecstatic with this discovery.

Many folks have pointed out that this branded product nabbed the name Moroccan Oil first, but that plenty of other brands offer similar blends of argan oil and other moisturizing oils. I must admit that I am weary of tinkering and am yet to swap out this relatively expensive but reliable brand for something cheaper and potentially just as effective. But I’m curious about YOUR experiences: Anyone else use Moroccan Oil or another argan oil blend? How and why does it work for you?

**Disclosure: Actions you take from the hyperlinks within this blog post may yield commissions for alreadypretty.com. See Already Pretty’s disclosure statement for more details.

{ 43 comments }

← Previous Entries