Happy birthday to She's Come Unheeled! Today, to celebrate two years' of fabulous fashion adventures, I have undertaken perhaps one of the most ambitious tasks ever. I wasn't sure if it could be done, but thanks to your help, the convictions of a few well-known designers, and a few of my own opinions, I now present to you:
one very, very long list of 100 fashion DOs and 100 fashion DON'Ts. Because it's my birthday--and I'll make lists if I want to!
100 Fashion DON'Ts...
1.) Show your underwear. Lines or straps or whales tails...yucky.
2.) Long French nails. Sorry, you look like a stripper.
3.) Long nails. Period.
4.) Roots. Get real--and get your hair did!
5.) Sandals and socks. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.
6.) Wear something you don't love because it is in. You should dress to feel your best, regardless of what the magazines say.
7.) Exactly match the color of every article of clothing that you're wearing.
8.) Wear a very casual jacket over a very dressy dress.
9.) Wear white after Labor Day. Etiquette is not dead!
10.) Wear your Uggs with your bikini. If it's warm enough to swim, it's not cold enough for Uggs. You look stupid.
11.) Starve yourself
12.) Be a label whore. Everyone who's anyone started out as no one.
13.) Wear rings on every finger.
14.) Be afraid of color.
15.) Over-do your foundation
16.) Too-short skirts
17.) Show too much skin. Leave a little something to the imagination!
18.) Exposed bra
19.) Tights as pants.
20.) Buy something with hopes it will look good later. Some things really do look better on a hanger, or on someone else.
21.) Dress too much of your age; trendiness does not stand the test of time.
22.) White stockings with black shoes
23.) Chipped nails. Keep it fresh or take it off!
24.) Sunglasses indoors or at night.
25.) Wear something you feel insecure in; if you're going to be pulling down your skirt, or continuously adjusting a strapless dress, it's best if you just wear something else.
26.) Too much bling during the day. Not even Serena van der Woodsen, a fictional character, can pull it off. Save your sequins for the club.
27.) Buy something if you cannot wear it with at least three items currently in your closet.
28.) Buy something you can’t figure out how to put on in the dressing room in less than 1 minute. Fashion shouldn't be that complicated.
29.) Buy single-use items (wedding dresses are an exception).
30.) Excessive animal print. It's not Halloween.
31.) Not dressing your age.
32.) Acid wash jeans
33.) Fanny packs
34.) Pants with elastic waists (with the exception of leggings--but be mindful of no. 19)
35.) White men's dress shirts with no undershirt
36.) Gold chains on men
37.) Feathered bangs
38.) Sweatpants that gather at the bottom
39.) Wear shoes that are exactly the same color as your pants. Yawn.
40.) Buy something on sale you wouldn't buy at full price.
41.) Over-do your perfume.
42.) Take style tips from the cast of Jersey Shore
43.) Wear it if you can't breathe in it--and dance in it!
44.) Don't get a high-maintenance haircut. Who has time?
45.) Wear shoes that you can't walk properly in--no matter how fabulous they are.
46.) Disguise your figure with loose, oversized clothing. According to Tim Gunn, The more volume your clothing has, the more volume you appear to have.
47.) Orange-y pantyhose. The point is to match your skin tone, people!
48.) Nude hosiery with open-toed shoes.
49.) Denim on denim
50.) Overaccessorizing. Take one thing off before you leave the house.
51.) The golfing look, worn off the course
52.) Worn-out flip flops.
53.) The school girl look, if you're not a school girl.
54.) Shoulder pads
55.) Stay with one hairstyle for too long. Give yourself the decade test.
56.) Take your hairstyle to the extreme: too long, too short, too light, too dark...
57.) Be afraid to experiment with fun, playful colors when you get your mani/pedi
58.) Over-tweezed eyebrows
59.) Cat-eye make-up, circa Amy Winehouse
60.) Charge something you really can't afford to your credit card and tell yourself, "I'll pay it off later."
62.) Smoking. Not only is it gross, but in all seriousness, lung cancer destroys families.
63.) At-home dye jobs
64.) Visible Peds
65.) Unopened vents. Don't forget to snip that pesky string on jackets, blazers, and skirts! Embarrassing--and you run the risk of ripping your garment when you take a large step or reach for something on the top pantry shelf.
66.) A gaping blouse. A button popping off onto the conference table? So not professional.
67.) Low ankle boots with cropped pants.
68.) Having a fashion muse like Lindsay Lohan or J-Woww.
69.) Baring your midriff. You are not a teen pop sensation. Sorry.
70.) Think that just because a high-end designer made it, it's a "DO."
71.) Hammer pants
72.) Wear all black to yoga. Lulu invented purple pants for a reason!*
73.) Heart-shaped sunglasses. Unless you're under the age of 10.
74.) Penciled-in brows
75.) Heavily lined lips. Unless you're a showgirl, your lip liner should blend with your lip color.
76.) Overmoisturize. While some might tell you that you can't have too much of a good thing, that rule of thumb doesn't apply when it comes to a clear complexion. Heavy creams can create a barrier on the surface of your face and keep your skin from absorbing moisture.
77.) Ed Hardy.
78.) Invest too much in trendy pieces. That's what H&M is for.
79.) Wear medicated lip balms. True, the tingle can be intoxicating, but these formulas won’t protect your pout; they’ll only make it drier. Look for lip balms or glosses with ingredients like shea butter and beeswax instead, both of which coat your lips with a layer that helps protect and nourish.
80.) Be a copycat. Instead, take inspiration from others and then make it your own.
81.) Keep your wellies on all day at work. Change into your heels or good flats.
82.) Overly distressed jeans are, well, distressing.
83.) Over-doing the smokey eye
84.) A smokey eye during the day
85.) Baggy jeans
86.) Designer knock-offs
87.) Hairy pits. Sorry, but someone had to say it.
88.) Sleep in your make-up. Let your skin breathe.
89.) Matchy matchy tracksuits. Unless you're Jane Lynch.
90.) Bib necklaces. Statement jewelry is one thing, but if the word "bib" appears anywhere in the name, take a pass.
91.) Visors
92.) Tapered pants
93.) Sleeveless high-necked blouses. If it's warm enough to go sleeveless, what do you need the high neck for?
94.) Scrunchies
95.) Pantyhose with sling-backs or mules.
96.) Too much fringe. When it comes to fringe--whether it be on a dress, a handbag, whatever--less is always more.
97.) Mullets--on guys or girls.
98.) Jumpsuits
99.) Forget to slice and dice the bottoms of your heels. A slippery surface plus sky-high heels spells inevitable disaster--not to mention embarrassment.
100.) Be insecure. Love yourself.
100 Fashion DOs...
1.) Invest in a really good pair of black high-heeled Mary Janes. Fortunately, they are not an urban shoe myth.
2.) Brightly colored rainboots. They will make rainy days--and your wardrobe--so much more interesting.3.) Learn how to walk properly in heels.
4.) Own several LBDs.
5.) Pearls
6.) Wear your husband's t-shirts to bed.
7.) Wear suits without stockings.
8.) Wear navy with black (or brown).
9.) Wear jeans that fit (ie not too tight, not too baggy).
10.) Mix patterns
11.) Find a work-out you love (or don't hate).
12.) A classic trench.
13.) Dress for the weather.
14.) Splurge on a handbag you love
15.) Dress for your body type. Bikinis aren't the only cute bathing suits out there.
16.) Wear sunblock
17.) Red lipstick
18.) Dress up with a cocktail ring.
19.) Own a go-to pair of flats. You never know when you might have to run from the paparazzi--or to catch a bus.
20.) Dress your age. Every year on this earth is a gift.
21.) Patterned tights
22.) V-necks always make you look better, even if you're feeling kind of frumpy.
23.) Color, wherever it feels right.
24.) Spread good clothing karma! Clean out your closet and donate clothes you've outgrown, physically or emotionally, to an appropriate charity or clothing drive.
25.) Elegance and grace, both in what you wear and how you behave.
26.) Pedicures all year round
27.) When it comes to sunglasses, bigger really is better.
28.) Have a fashion failsafe that makes you feel good about your body and yourself for those off days.
29.) Before getting dressed in the morning, visualize your overall look.
30.) Shop a range of price points. There's no better match than a thrift store tee with a pair of designer jeans.
31.) Be brave! The trend has to start somewhere.
32.) Invest in timeless classics.
33.) Buy clothing that fits your lifestyle. If you spend your 9-5 in the office, splurge on a well made suit or an amazing pair of heels instead of blowing your paycheck on another pair of designer jeans.
34.) Animal print--in moderation--can add a fun pop! of pattern to any outfit.
35.) Retro party dresses
36.) Showcase one or two bright colors or one loud piece of jewelry instead of wearing the whole shiny rainbow.
37.) Carefully weigh your options...and then choose what will make you strut into a room like you own it.
38.) Ignore size. Bottom line: clothes that fit properly look better so don't get fixated on the numbers.
39.) Try it on. It's all about the mirror, not the hanger. Hello, that's what the dressing rooms are there for!
40.) Opt for pearls and a ponytail if you simply don't have time for a shower.
41.) Keep emergency bobby pins, mascara, and lip gloss in your purse.
44.) Dress your best. In the words of Coco Chanel, I don't understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little--if only out of politeness. And then, you never know, maybe that's the day she has a date with destiny. And it's best to be as pretty as possible for destiny.
45.) Ask yourself, "What would Jackie do?"
46.) Buy quality, not quantity.
47.) Wear head-to-toe black if you don't have a lot of time to get ready. It is universally chic.
48.) Always wear a good bra. It will make any top fit better.
49.) Make your belt mean something to your outfit. It's not there just to hold your pants up.
50.) Smile
51.) Always check your backside in the mirror before you head out. Everything that you care about showing or not showing from the front deserves the same amount of attention from the back.
52.) Define your waistline.
53.) Think about proportion.
54.) Fishnets, in neutrals and a fine weave. They are sexy without looking sleazy.
55.) Bright, gauzy scarves
56.) Balance your accessories. For example, if you have a scarf tied to one side, wear your bracelets on the opposite arm.
57.) White denim
58.) Opt for brightly colored or patterned flats. If they match nothing, it means they match everything.
59.) Invest in a high-quality flat iron.
60.) The perfect hem hits the top of the knee or an inch above—no higher.
61.) T-shirts: a soft, fitted cotton tee always works.
62.) Nude heels
63.) Understated cat-eye make-up
64.) Save your hard-earned cash to buy a really special splurge item
65.) Having a fashion muse like Jackie Onassis or Marilyn Monroe.
66.) Locate a really good tailor. Your hems--and your wardrobe in general--will thank you.
67.) Buying a shoe you love in every color.
68.) Keep it classy. You never want to try to ‘get away’ with anything, says Lizzie Post of the Emily Post Institute.
69.) Trust in the opinions of a few good friends. If your friends are telling you that those pants aren't "so flattering," they're just trying to be nice.
70.) Dress for the part.
71.) Unruly curls. Embrace what your mama gave you!
72.) Get your H2O! Drinking 64 ounces of water daily is essential for a healthy complexion because it flushes out toxins and keeps your insides running efficiently.
73.) Moisturize in the PM. There’s evidence that skin-cell regeneration is slightly faster at night than during the day, so take advantage of your skin’s receptiveness and don’t skimp on overnight hydration.
74.) Kate Spade
75.) Treat yourself to a facial once per season.
76.) Opt for SPF.
77.) Layer
78.) Maxi dresses
79.) Plaid
80.) Take inspiration from vintage trends.
81.) Opt for a subtle smokey eye to add instant glamour to any evening outfit.
82.) Military inspired fashion
83.) Steal your husband's watch
84.) Pea coats
85.) Shirtdresses
86.) Opt for leggings if you're questioning the appropriateness of your hemline
87.) Faux fur
88.) Get your beauty sleep. No girl wants/needs to hear "You look tired" from well-meaning--albeit entirely clueless--coworkers first thing in the morning.
89.) Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.
90.) Side-swept bangs
91.) Glasses. Geek is chic!
92.) Have a signature scent.
93.) Rose-gold jewelry. It looks amazing on bold necklaces and oversize watches, and it's also flattering to every skin tone.
94.) Wear camo. In moderation.
95.) Nautical-inspired fashion
96.) Own multiple pairs of boots. The possibilities are endless--riding boots, ankle boots, heeled, flat--and each style lends itself to a different look.
97.) Diamonds. Haven't you heard?--They're a girl's best friend.
98.) Leather bomber jackets
99.) Second-day hair
100.) Be confident. There is absolutely no substitute for knowing you look amazing.
So there you have it--all the DOs and DON'Ts a fashionista could ever ask for! Thanks to all of you who contributed your style savvy--and a special thank you for reading and supporting She's Come Unheeled over the past two years. Cheers to another two years of fashion adventures!
XOXO
Lolly
*My beloved Johanna shared this "don't" with me, and I confess that I have worn black to yoga many times... Apparently even fashionistas make style blunders from time to time. Looks like it's time to add some color to my workout!
Images, in order of appearance: (1) Marilyn Monroe with cake, photo thanks to The Fashion Partizan (thefashionpartizan.blogspot.com); (2) fashion photo, thanks to Kristin Rogers Photography (kristinrogersphotography.typepad.com); (3) Juicy Couture ad campaign (http://www.juicycouture.com/).
