return to Better You > Fashion & Style

May 2010  |  By Ann Marie Scheidler  |  Comments (0)

From Frumpy to Fresh in 5 Minutes Flat

TAGS: Spring 2010 fashion, fashion tips, scarf, lipstick, pearls, shoes

Like most gals, I have my “drop off the kids at school” uniform—typically a white tee and jeans. But there are those days when I like to look a little more put-together.

Here are some tricks I’ve learned to polish up my look and still get the kids to school on time.

Add a pop of color. You can take your look from eh to a-mazing by framing your face with a beautiful color. Try a fringey scarf (such as the one pictured here) in one of this spring’s favorite colors—coral, pink or yellow. And literally, just throw on the scarf. The bit of messiness actually makes it look sophisticated.

Grab those pearls. Nothing takes an outfit to the next level better than a strand of over-sized cultured pearls. A simple pearl strand or two worn with your watch will leave your friends wondering how you do it! (If pearls aren’t your thing, go for a vintage-looking necklace that you wouldn’t typically see during the day or layer a number of chains of different colors, widths and lengths.)

Top it off with a jacket. The ultimate trick in polish comes down to the jacket or trench coat you throw on top. With the rainy days of spring, a black or white three-quarter trench coat is my favorite. But as the days get warmer, a sleeveless cardigan or cotton twill blazer will do the trick.

Finish with a little edge. The classic black on black Reva flat from Tory Burch is typically my shoe of choice, but something happens to me mentally when I choose a heel instead. These strappy, grommet sandals from Jessica Simpson are show-stoppers as is this fabulous vachetta satchel from Tory Burch.

Don’t forget your lipstick. Lipstick lights up your face more than any other product but is the one we often forget to apply. Try a lovely nude pink like “Deelight” from MAC Cosmetics.

If you have a fashion tip you’d like to share, email annmarie@makeitbetter.net.