I’ve been joking that I’m “basically 30” since I turned 22. At this point, at 28, I AM. And while I still hit up the juniors’, or even kids’ section for shopping, I’m self-aware enough to understand that there are some things that every woman should know before she hits the age of 30. Things like how to correctly tip at a restaurant; how not to go into your overdraft each month; and how to drive a car. As well as these basic life lessons, there are also some basic styling tips that you should really have got to grips with before you hit the big three-zero. But just because you should doesn’t mean that you necessarily will. Here are some of the most important style tips that you need to know before you reach thirty!
30th birthday decor
Resole Rather Than Rebuy
Let me tell you a story- one of my friends had a great bachelorette party in Ocean City, Maryland. Because it was super casual (we BARELY wore anything over over bathing suites all weekend) I was content to wear my beloved Jacks for the one night we did go “out”. Welp, my graceful self fell down the stairs of the townhouse we were renting and my sole came clean off my pretty expensive sandal. Did I have to replace it? Nah fam. My mom took them to her shoe guy and he fixed it up both shoes for less than half the price of what a new pair would cost. Same guy also resole-d my two-tone boots this year and fixed the zipper. Not to mention everything he’s done for Mama D over the years. Make sure you get to know your cobbler, as you can develop a long-lasting relationship with them that will save you lots of your hard-earned cash in the long-run! Plus- you may have a perfectly broken in and out of stock shoe that can’t be replaced. Cobblers can give them the extra love they need to be as good as new.
Dress For You, Not For Men
Luckily, my man likes is when I dress like me. He loves me particularly in grey t shirt dresses and actually did a great job of Christmas shopping for clothes for me. But he wasn’t dressing me in the way he wanted to see me- he wants to see me in the way I dress! Not only that, but he says I’m the prettiest when I’m comfy. I think this lesson applies to all people: dress for yourself and not to impress anyone else, because when you are dressed like yourself, and feeling confident, you will be impressive!
Always Use Heat Protection
I’m not particularly kind to my hair (it’s currently partially lavender and vey wave-y because I slept on it wet), but I do use leave-in conditioner every time I shower. I use Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Conditioning Cream for air dry, and Kérastase Ciment Thermique when I blow-dry. The latter is actually what makes my hair feel the nicest, but it can get a little pricey.
Of course, it is also necessary to use good-quality heating equipment on your hair, as this can also reduce the risk of burning your hair. The best way to find out which equipment is best for your hair, you should read some reviews online to learn about this flat iron and similar products. But, even if you buy the best flat iron or hairdryer on the market, you will still need to use heat-protection spray as this ensure that no strand of hair singes at all. It will also help your hair to stay healthy and shiny, without drying it out.
Know Your Skin’s Undertone
Have you ever bought a lipstick that looks brilliant on your friend, but it doesn’t look so great on you? That’s all because we have different skin tones. I’m rather fair myself, but I do have a tinge of olive from my mom’s side. You and your friend probably have very different undertones, and the color of the lipstick could have suited her undertone a lot better than yours. Not sure what your undertone is? It’s easy to find out! Firstly, take a look at the insides of your wrists – they should look either blue or green. If you think your veins look slightly green, this means you have a warm undertone. If they appear more blue, then your undertone is cool. Hard to tell? You probably have a neutral undertone. You should also think about the jewelry that you prefer to wear too. If silver jewelry looks best on you, you have a cool undertone. If you always pick up gold rings and necklaces, then your skin’s undertone will be warm. Now that you know your undertone, you will be able to find the best makeup that suits you!
Be Wary Of Leather
When it comes to fashion trends, leather always seems to come and go. You might be tempted to buy a leather item of clothing next time this style comes back in fashion, but it is something you should be very wary about indeed! Firstly, it is very expensive to buy, and if this trend falls out of favor soon, you might not get your money’s worth. Not only that, though, but it is very difficult to maintain. You won’t be able to wash the item of clothing in your washing machine and will have to take it to specialist cleaners, which can be expensive. There is so much lovely faux leather right now, my advice is to not discount that as an option, espeically if you want to try a particularly trendy look. I actually have two faux leather jackets- one in blush, one in a dark green. I’m also a huge fan of Urban Expressions– super luxe vegan leather handbags and accessories. Plus, you can get 25% off with them using my code CLOVE25.
Don’t Buy Something That Doesn’t Fit
This is very important – don’t pretend a piece of clothing fits when it very clearly doesn’t. You shouldn’t buy something that you think you will grow into or lose weight to fit into, either. Our bodies very rarely work in that way! Sure, you may be on a diet right now, but are you sure you will be able to keep up your healthy lifestyle until you reach your target weight goal? It is always a good idea to buy clothes for the body that you currently have. This way, you will be able to feel comfortable when you wear them right now. Plus, you will be able to feel a whole lot more confident in clothes that fit you rather than some clothes that you have to squeeze into. So, always remember, when you are in shops looking for new clothes, try everything on. Does it fit? If not, go back and get a different size! There’s no shame in that- and numbers don’t mean anything at this point anyway. I’ll let you in on a secret: I’m a 6-8 at Loft, for example, and was 16 for my wedding dress!
What are some style lessons you feel are important for women?
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