The Well-Dressed Lady
By Rexanne Mancini

Oil Paints - by Suteja

Being well-dressed is another essential aspect of being a lady
 and having the confidence to pull it off.
 

I'm an avid jeans and T shirt kind of gal, however, my jeans fit like a million dollars and my T shirts, while sometimes pretty funky, are always clean and pressed if even the slightest bit wrinkled.

All my clothes make me feel good.

Good quality clothing is another part of looking your best. If you love that raggedy T shirt from the Grateful Dead concert you attended in '74 or the one you found in a thrift shop that screamed "YOU" all over it, fine. Just wear it with a pair of great fitting (not necessarily expensive) jeans, good shoes, boots or sneakers you love, that fit well and look awesome and you'll look great because you'll feel great. I tend to spend more on accessories than clothing which is perfect for the "casual "funky elegant" look I love.

Attitude has a lot to do with it. Confidence really is your best feature so do whatever it is you need to feel confident and look your best.

If Armani and Manalos are your thing, I'm sorry you have such expensive taste but don't let that stop you. Wear what you love and what loves you. In other words, what looks and feels great on you.

Some of us need to spend more on our hair for it to look its best. If you're one of the lucky ones with great hair, put your money where you need it and into what gives you confidence in your appearance. If that's expensive designer clothes, so be it. There are always sales and outlet stores where you can find reduced-priced designer duds if you're big on designers but short on cash and great finds on ebay are one of the perks of knowing how to function on the 'Net. :-)

I regularly match up designer jeans with T shirts from thrift stores if I'm dressing casually. It works for me because that's my "style" and I feel great wearing them. A great purse, fantastic shoes and a few choice pieces of jewelry that blend with the mood and look of the outfit give my style flair and make it work. Most importantly, I feel good dressing and presenting myself this way.

Wearing colors that compliment your skin tone is vital to always looking your best. For more information on finding which colors are best suited to your complexion and how to choose perfect-every-time articles of clothing and accessories, the book Color Me Beautiful offers excellent and easy to understand guidance on choosing your best colors (by season) and how to choose clothing that flatters your body shape. I love this book and highly recommend it!

Another must-have guidance book is What You Wear Can Change Your Life. You'll be 10 steps ahead when you read and refer to these books when shopping for clothes, accessories and makeup.

Knowing which colors are right for you will save you countless hours of frustration and makes it easy to shop for the right articles of clothing. If you are looking for a top to add to your wardrobe, only look at the colors in your "palate." Knowing which colors make you look your best is an invaluable tool.

Wearing the best undergarments for your shape is a must, too. The right bra, fitted properly, will give you the best shape possible and your clothes will fit and look better. For specific advice and information about undergarments and how to find the right bra size, go here: Bras

Know your audience and environment and always dress appropriately. If you're going to a holiday cocktail party with your husband's office co-workers, wear a nice dress or skirt, NOT jeans just because 'you 'always do' and they make you feel comfortable. You will look out of place and believe me, you will feel even more out of place and your husband's career could possibly be in jeopardy.

It's better to under-dress than overdress so if you're unsure what the protocol for a specific event is, ask. If you can't find out, under-dress, but in appropriate clothing. If you show up wearing a lovely skirt and top or dress that make you look and feel great, you will be fine even if others are wearing jeans or evening dresses. A worst scenario would be showing up in an evening gown when everyone else is dressed casually. If you or hubby work in a very casual environment where jeans and T-shirts are the acceptable code of dress, you will most likely be able to get away with wearing jeans with a slightly more elaborate top than a t-shirt to a company social function. Again, know your audience, respect the occasion and dress appropriately at all times.

One way to ensure that you will always be dressed appropriately is to have the right clothes and accessories available in your closet. This is easily accomplished if you can find what looks great on you in most styles and colors you'll need and buy when you have the opportunity. A friend of mine who is always dressed appropriately has a closet filled with "perfect" clothes. She has skirts, pants, shoes, bags and tops in colors and fabrics that not only suit her but that she can mix and match for the occasions that crop up in her busy life. While most of us cannot afford to "fill our closets" with a wardrobe for all occasions, the key is to buy well-made clothing that won't be out of style next year and to buy the best you can afford. If you cannot afford a dozen pair of heels in every color you would like, have 1 or 2 pair of classic neutral color heels that you can wear with a variety of colors and outfits. Again, knowing your best colors will guide you in the choice of shoe colors. For instance, if your color season is "Autumn," a pair of taupe or beige basic pumps will blend with most outfits in your closet. If you wear a lot of black, black pumps are a necessity.

I tend to create my own style and trends. One of these was insisting on sporting bright colored purses that had absolutely nothing to do with neutral. The colors did, however, compliment my color palate and so did not clash with anything I might have worn. It was almost impossible to find bright colored purses 10 years ago. Today, they are the rage and I'm delighted. Purses do not have to match your shoes. Combining colors in your "season" works just fine and gives you more choices. This is not an excuse to match hot pink pants with a  deep purple top and a bright blue purse. The idea is to combine colors that blend naturally and if you stay within your color palate and season, you will have less chance of combining the wrong colors or colors that clash. One brightly colored piece is usually sufficient. For more information on finding which colors are best suited to your complexion and how to choose perfect-every-time articles of clothing and accessories, the books, Color Me Beautiful and What You Wear Can Change Your Life offer excellent and easy to understand guidance. I highly recommend them!

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