Click to View Latest IssueClick to View Latest Issue

HERLIFE’s Fashion Blog

By  0 Comments

Dressing for success and always looking your best

Written and photographed by Abby Wood

I was born with style in my blood…or so I like to think. My grandmother, Elizabeth, was an icon in her town. She ran her own beauty salon and worked with women to help them choose hairstyles to complement their faces. Elizabeth made beautiful clothes for herself and her children, with incredible tailoring and attention to detail. My stunning mother, Cheryl, supported and always encouraged my interest in fashion and style. Without these two women, my life would have gone down a very different path and I am so lucky to have them to help educate me on style.

From these women, I learned the concept of being refined – dressing for success and always looking your best, feeling polished, complete and confident. To me, being refined means:

Picking clothing that fits properly. The retail world has a little secret called vanity sizing. One brand’s size 8 may fit differently than another’s. If something fits correctly, the number on the tag shouldn’t make a difference.

Wearing appropriate undergarments. Everyone should own a perfect nude bra and nude underwear for white T-shirts and pants. White undergarments will only look more prominent under these basics.

NEVER wearing wrinkled clothing. If you need to give clothes a little refresh, spritz wrinkles with some water and pop in a dryer with a dryer sheet for a few minutes; it will be just like new.

As my style has evolved, I have added my own little bit of wisdom by teaching the significance of “The 3rd Piece,” the icing on the cake of pulling an outfit together and creating a confident look.

The leather jacket

Spring trends call for lighter colors in leather. It’s the perfect time to play with color in the leather department. Designers are showing greys, blues and blush pink for spring. Look for jackets that hit right below your true waist and have some added hardware.

The long-line cardigan or duster

These were popular in the 90s and they’re back, some with sleeves, some without, but all with length to cover your rear-view and elongate your front-view. Look for lightweight fabrics to wear with sleeveless tops instead of a coat or jacket.

Scarves, hats and the perfect sunglasses

Accessories can be powerful, easy pieces. A basic T-shirt with a gorgeous scarf transforms your look. Pinterest is a great resource to find new and fun ways to tie your scarf. For a casual outing, add the perfect Panama hat or a locally made baseball cap. For a dressier look, pick a wide-brimmed felt hat to rock a Hollywood movie-star vibe. Finally, sunglasses have the power to make any boring outfit fabulous. For everyday wear, I love classic Ray-Ban aviators in gold. For a more feminine look, I love a black Cat Eye style. HLM