MegaStyles

MegaStyles™: The Road to Graceland (05.30.03)

Recently MegaStyles™ has received a number of requests regarding a timeless fashion question: somewhere between my mother/older sister/great aunt and daughter/younger sister/Christina Aguilera is a gracefully chic style that is both professional and flattering. Where is this place and how do I get there? Well wonder no more and hop on board. This week, MegaStyles™ highlights the pitfalls to avoid and paths to take on the way to Graceland.

BettyWhite Ville
To get where you’re going, you also need to know what roads are best left less traveled. Here are some common miscalculations which can lead you straight into Golden Girl territory.

“Fun” Jewelry: Jewelry should be expensive, elegant, and treated as such. It is never “fun.” This means nothing plastic, nothing artsy-looking, nothing you could make from the crafts store. And no big round “button” earrings either.

Sensible Shoes: Comfort is no excuse for this transgression. There are too many cute flat shoes out there to wear anything orthopedic, waffle-soled, or with a square 2-inch heel. Please eliminate all loafers, espadrilles, and Keds from your wardrobe as well.

Set Hair: Why does this hair happen to every woman over 55? Short, permed, sprayed, you’ve seen it: the little old lady helmet head. Even if your hair is not short and permed, stay away from the spray. Keep hair loose and natural. Or get your AARP card early.

Britney City
Though accidents are less common in this part of town, they can and do happen. To avoid getting sidetracked, avoid the following:

Excess Skin: Midriffs, excessive cleavage, tube tops, and miniskirts will never be called graceful. And neither will you.

Cluttered Silhouettes: Keep clothing and accessories streamlined. Big earrings = no necklace, lots of bracelets = few rings, and exercise caution with belts.

Chunky Highlights: High contrast highlights are more American Idol than American icon. Too harsh, too tired, too distracting from expensive jewelry.

The Highway to Graceland
Not frumpy and not flagrant: some directions to keep you from going astray while maintaining maximum velocity.

Luxurious Basics: A great way to look both polished and casual is to buy low-key silhouettes in the nicest fabrics possible. Cashmere T-shirts, silk skirts, soft-colored silk or suede button-down shirts, and fine cotton khakis are all good investments.

Boot Cut Pants: It is unfortunate that boot cut pants have become synonymous with plumber’s-butt, low-riding pop star jeans. Boot cut simply means the bottom of the pants is slightly flared, enough to cover boots should you feel inclined to wear some. Note: they are NOT bell-bottoms. They are, however, immensely more flattering than tapered or straight-legged pants, and they are available in all types of fabrics (not just denim.)

Skinny Highlights: A few, thin highlights around the face in a shade slightly lighter than your natural hair color will brighten up skin immediately. Keep hair simple and natural; wear it down or in a ponytail. Anything else looks contrived.

Pink Makeup: Whatever your skin tone, pink is a universally flattering color. You just have to make sure you get the right shade. Fair hair/complexion = light, cool pinks, olive complexion = deeper beige-pink or rose, dark complexion = either light pink for contrast or plum-pink for subtlety. Reddish-pinks are generally unflattering and harsh. Use pink only on cheeks and lips, and substitute a soft lip gloss for lipstick to give your face more of a glow.

Fun Shoes: You don’t have to wear 5-inch stilettos, but you can be much more experimental with shoes while still staying professional. Try candy colored heels or sandals with a neutral outfit, or experiment with some of the new beaded shoes. Heel or no heel, shoes are a good way to liven up a look without going overboard.

Little Gems: The fourth season of Sex And The City is now available! Remember this season? It’s the one where, like, Carrie and Aiden are back together, and Miranda gets pregnant, and Charlotte and Trey are soooo totally separated. 18 episodes and a whole new collection of outfits to drool over, accessories to covet, and shoes to pine for. www.amazon.com

MegaStyles™ musings: Vogue. Am I the only one disappointed lately? Is there something missing or is it just me? Email musings@megastyles.com to see if you have the right answer.

Has Linda Wells been reading MegaStyles™?

“Sometimes there’s less vanity, and more honesty, in showing a little effort.”

- Linda Wells, Allure Magazine Editor in Chief