For several years, I was required to wear a uniform to work that consisted of black slacks, a polo shirt with company logo and my hair pulled back into a bun. The uniform code also warranted minimal jewelry and clear, unpainted nails. For years I dreaded looking like everyone else in the organization. I hated the lack of individual freedom of expression.
But, now that I look back, I can appreciate the advantages of having a signature look and how amazing it would be to create, and master, a flawless everyday look. What I speak of is a go-to look, which you've already perfected, that can be replicated as often as necessary without a lot of guess work. You can choose to make your look as glammed up or as simple as you want. What's most important is that you don't allow your every day look to happen by chance.
Now that I no longer have to wear a uniform, I'm beginning the work of creating my signature look. Actually, I plan on creating a few go-to looks depending on the occasion, starting with a casual look first. I'm starting with casual is because that's where I currently put the least effort. If I'm going out for the evening, I can transform. But, I put way less thought than I should with my daily look. But that's all about to change.
the SIGNATURE FACE //The goal is to create a simple face in less than 15 minutes to highlight my features while looking polished. It's too easy for me to go all day without wearing a stitch of make up. There are advantages to going bare faced but, on the other hand, I also tend to avoid other essential activities like applying my lash growth serum, and wearing sunscreen when I'm going au natural. I've come to the conclusion that it makes sense to create a basic routine consisting of filling in brows, wearing
Iman's BB Creme (with sunscreen) to even my skin tone, moisturizing my lashes and/or wearing mascara, and
penciling in my lip. When I wear a little makeup, I'm more likely to put in a little more time doing prep work on my skin (like exfoliating with
Dennis Gross's Alpha Beta Peels). Versus the days when I'm bare faced. In the long run, I suspect my skin will benefit from the extra 15 minutes I'll dedicate to it daily.
the SIGNATURE HAIR //Believe it or not, this is my biggest challenge. After years of wearing a daily bun years, I no longer have the same level of excitement around styling my hair every day. I need a solution that's easy to do and still look polished an put together. Typically, I go for the top knot but, in all honesty, wearing my hair this way on the regular is not conducive to my hair goals. A better option for me is a braided style like this. Simple, and yet it provides direct access to my hair for moisturizing and sealing. As an added bonus, this style transitions easily to a wavy braid out with practically no effort.
the SIGNATURE OUTFIT // (Brilliant @ the Basics)
Here's where it gets interesting. I want to put together a series of outfit looks that can be worn pretty much on a daily basis. I'm inspired by a young lady online who shared that she preferred wearing dresses every day because it takes away all of the guesswork of having to put together complete outfits. I fully agree with her philosophy. But, at the same time, I don't yet own enough dresses to pull that off and, in all honesty, I'm more of a jeans type girl. What's missing from my daily uniform are QUALITY basic tops to pair with my favorite jeans. I've never been one to splurge on basics, but after picking up a fairly expensive white top at Zara, I was reminded of the obvious differences between buying basics for under $10.00 and investing in quality pieces. Coats + Jackets make all the difference in the world when your outfits mainly consists of basics. And I've already made lots of headway in upgrading my outwear collection this winter.
Another area to focus on if you're wearing basic essentials are the shoes.
These zippered heels from Aldo were a great start. For more casual look, I'll break out my all time favorite sandals, the
Dolce Vita DV Archer sandals. As of now I have a total of 3 pair. This spring, I hope to pick up a few more cute sandals to ensure I'm not wearing them to the point they look worn out.
MISCELLANEOUS //Lastly, I plan on focusing on maintaining a certain weight which will allow me to look great in anything I wear. Nothing kills more time than having to try on multiple pieces in search of clothing to mask my added weight gain. If my fitness levels are right, pretty much anything will look flattering. That's why I've decided to work with personal trainer. So far we've had one session and he's awakened muscles in my body that I never knew I had.
One last thing I plan to perfect in my signature look is
maintaining my nails at all times. Sometimes I do really well with this, then things get busy and I'm back to square one. That's why I'm pairing my nail care with my face routine to make sure it all gets done. Next I will pick out a few scents that will become part of my daily rotation and, voila! My every day signature look is complete. No more guess work and I'm ready for anything at all times. Best of all, I can replicate this process to create a few alternative looks to keep things interesting.
Have you nailed your signature look?
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Required Reading //
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Dressing Well+
Becoming an International Woman of Mystery........................................
