Presentation: Does How You Feel Inside, Reflect Your Outward Appearance? 3 Easy Tips to Ensure That You Look as Good as You Feel

Are you pleased with the way you present yourself?? Well, I guess this was a conversation to be had before CoVid because let’s be honest, who really cares now?? No, but seriously, as of late I have heard tons of women talking about being bored with their overall look and wardrobe. Thus, leaving them with the desire to improve upon their appearance when they actually get the opportunity to leave their homes. When asked me for advice on the matter, initially I simply wanted to know if my friends put enough time and effort into getting ready each day. Most were honest in saying that they didn’t put much thought into what they were wearing. Others admitted to not giving themselves enough time to actually get fully dressed. While some felt that they did take the time each day to plan outfits but just weren’t satisfied with the outcome. These were the women I could help, and if you have fallen into this category maybe I can help you too. I have 3 very easy tips that don’t require spending money on a stylist or shopping for an entirely new wardrobe.

I. Wear Colors Complementary to Your Skin Tone

So for starters, I think a good rule of thumb is knowing what colors actually complement your skin tone. Wearing hues and shades that actually flatter your complexion is an instant boost to your look. And if you don’t know, always go for universally flattering shades such as teal, cobalt blue, deep purple, and a true red. Stay away from loads of black because black tends to pick up on any dark spots or shadows in our skin emphasizing them.

II. Make Sure Your Clothing Fit Properly

I also think well-fitting clothing has a great deal to do with someone’s overall appearance. Wearing your correct size is vital. Not only can wearing clothing that fit your body boost your confidence but it will enhance your comfortability as well. Invest in having your clothing tailored to fit your body, it will make a great deal of difference. Because tailoring is such a specialized practice, I can guarantee that having your clothes fit your specific body like second skin will make you feel amazing.

III. Take the time for Skin and Haircare

I am no esthetician by a long shot, but there are a few proven things you can do that will drastically improve the look and feel of your skin and hair. For starters, invest in a gentle yet effective cleanser and use it daily. It’s also important to incorporate sunscreen SPF 30 into any skincare routine. As far as hair goes, using a good moisturizing conditioner after shampooing helps protects the hair shaft and add shine. Beautiful hair and a healthy glow will certainly improve any look, so make the minimal effort and watch just how far it will take you.

Hopefully these tips will help with putting your best self forward. However, I will say it starts within. If you take the time to put thought into what you are wearing and are confident in what you are wearing, that confidence will ooze out of your pores. It won’t be about what you are wearing at all. People will just see a beautiful, confident woman, and that’s what’s most important. It’s really all that matters in the end.

How understanding your personal style help you become more sustainable

For those of you who have been long time readers here; you guys know that this blog started as a photo journal. I would post my outfits daily and give details about where I made my purchases. There wasn’t much commentary at first but eventually, we began to engage, and build our little community over our shared affinity for vintage, vintage-inspired, and thrifted clothing. I’ve later become more and more conscious of my own personal style, as well as developing a greater appreciation of the look and quality of pre-loved clothing over the years. Fast forward nearly 10 years and a lot of us are advocating for “global sustainability”.

So how did we get here?? To many of us, sustainability is this buzzword of sorts. It’s oftentimes used in conversations about saving our planet and/or avoiding “fast fashion”. Let’s put that into context. What is sustainability and how does it relate to fashion you might ask? Well, sustainability in fashion is all about looking at the entire life cycle of a garment. Stopping to consider how our clothing is made, the condition of the factories and the well being of the workers making our clothing, the dyes used, and how and where the fabric is sourced; as well as it’s biodegradation once we discard it. It stems down to CONSCIOUSNESS. Consciousness when we get dress every day.

When getting dressed daily having a grasp on your own personal style definitely has its benefits. Aside from saving time, knowing your style can save loads of money which is sustainable. Personal style isn’t necessarily about wearing the latest trends or what’s popular. Great personal style is all about trusting your instincts and wearing only pieces that are quintessentially you. These items in your wardrobe will be the pieces that you feel your absolute best while wearing.

It is so very important to hone in the pieces in your wardrobe that you love. The faster you identify iterative patterns in how you naturally dress; next, reflect on how those clothes make you feel. I’m 100% positive that you feel confident and beautiful in those pieces. Let these items become the staples in your wardrobe. Build your everyday outfits around the pieces in your closet that bring you joy, so that you can ignite those happy feelings daily.

Secondly, lean into the classics. Buying and wearing majority classics is a great way to guarantee sustainability. Classics are those key pieces that should be in everyone’s wardrobe regardless of personal style. They are considered timeless, and most importantly when you invest in buying classics you don’t have to waste money purchasing several pairs of particular items. There is always an occasion for a crisp white shirt, dark rinse jeans (that fits the booty good), a black shift dress, and a comfortable pair of neutral pumps.

An additional way that understanding your personal style can help you be more sustainable is simply by shopping vintage. I can confidently proclaim that vintage clothing is well very constructed and long-lasting. No matter the decade, rather a 1990s color-blocked silk blouse or 1950s day dress, the material is sturdier and made to withstand the times. Thus, if your wardrobe is compiled of things you love which so happens to be vintage, you won’t have to worry about wasting money purchasing and repurchasing clothing.

SOSNU Collecting and Care for Vintage and Pre-Loved

Since announcing our relaunch and expansion in the SOSNU Co. (include link to sign up) monthly newsletter, I’ve received several questions regarding our transition into retail along with balancing the blog content and my freelance fashion work. So I figured it would be a nice idea to come here, and share one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned thus far.

Initially, we shared our idea to start an online sales portion of the company with a few family and friends.. Without question, they all began to shower us with overwhelming amounts of inventory. Some good, and some not so good. Clothes, shoes, and accessories had amassed in every corner of the studio, and we had to do major streamlining, pulling only the best quality pieces. So my first priority quickly to determine if the pieces were in tip-top shape, and could actually be resold. My job became ensuring that we had the best and most unique vintage and thrifted secondhand merchandise available.

So the process started with restoring, repairing and learning to maintain the essence and beauty of these vintage and pre-loved clothing. I forced myself to learn several tips and tricks about caring for the one of a kind pieces.

Washing

After purchasing or acquiring a vintage or thrifted piece, I would recommend some method of cleaning, either washing or dry clean. However, I would never wash embroidered silks or satins. If you opt to machine wash a piece, do so at a lower temp to prolong the life of the garment, and do so less often. Vigorous washing can damage the fibers of the clothes. If the fabric is very old, delicate or pre-1960s vintage, consider hand washing or not washing the garment at all. Most times a good airing out will remove odors.

After washing, hang wet garments to prevent stretching it out of shape. If possible dry your vintage flat on a towel. If you want to dry clean specialty vintage items that are durable enough for it, then use a reputable dry cleaner.

Storage

Try to keep your vintage and thrifted clothes in a dry, dust-free, fur-free place away from direct sunlight. Humidity and dampness tend to damage delicate fibers, and sunlight can fade vintage prints and colors. Store clothing in breathable, cloth garment bags. Hang your vintage clothes on wooden hangers, or for best protection, cloth-covered padded hangers.

Maintaining - Preventative maintenance

Don’t wear vintage consecutively. Allow the pieces to breathe, air out and restore itself. Repair small rips and tears immediately. They will definitely get bigger and pose a larger problem.

information source: beyond retro