east coast style: favorite tips and tricks
22. Sep, 2009 by Jill 
1 Comment
People often ask for my best beauty tips as a personal stylist. There are so many fun things you can do to look and feel great, but I’ve narrowed this list down to my top 5 beauty “musts”:
- Learn basic makeup application. It’s not easy to weed through all the products in Sephora and know what will work best on you. A lesson with a professional makeup artist is invaluable. Not only will you receive help figuring out which products work best for you, you will learn correct makeup application. This is huge. Proper application of concealer, for example, can make or break a face! Share the cost of a makeup lesson with a friend and make it a ladies night. It’s fun, and you will be amazed at the difference some techniques can make. In Providence, RI, I use Kirsten Brusse.
- Invest in a great haircut. Your hair is an accessory you wear everyday! My go-to person in Providence is Lori Johnson. Over the years she has gotten to know my hair, for better or worse. She knows what will work and what won’t. It is so much easier to style hair that has been cut to support the style. If you can’t afford a great cut every time, get one twice a year and in between have other stylists follow the lines your fave has created.
- Know your undergarment needs. You’ve heard of Spanx, now get some! Shapers can make you look a size smaller and smooth away your lumps and bumps. The right foundation garments can make all your clothes look better and more expensive. Get a bra that fits and does the girls justice. Nordstrom is known for their great bra fitters. Getting measured is free and well worth your time.
- Own a great pair of jeans. This requires a bit of work on your part. You will probably need to try on lots of jeans in order to get a sense of which brand will be YOUR best fit. My advice is to start at a department store like Barney’s or Bloomingdales – both have a dazzling array of denim and good customer service to help you make a choice. Don’t feel pressured to buy right away though. A little recessionista trick: shop around for the brand, fit, and wash of jeans you want, then search ebay for the same pair. If you don’t mind “pre-owned” denim, you can pay less than half of retail price. A word to the wise: ALWAYS check inseam length in ebay listings. Most used jeans have been hemmed already and you will want to make sure they are not too short!
- Make your clothes work better for you with double sided tape. This is a great, inexpensive way to temporarily alter your clothing. I use Hollywood Fashion Tape for falling hemlines, plunging necklines, broken jewelry clasps – you name it. Recently, I used it for a television shoot to do a faux hem on jeans one of the models was wearing. Do the same when you want to pair jeans with ballet flats – iron the hem for the smoothest finish. Let the hem back down when you’re ready to wear your highest of heels!
I was reading your section on makeup application and you said to split the cost of a makeup lesson with a friend. I totally agree that makeup application is vital part of an overall look. That being said, a Mary Kay consultant who is highly successful is most likely trained on a weekly basis in makeup application. You can contact a consultant and they will actually come to your house to give you a free lesson. I just want to add that I realize my user name is hyperlinked to my MK website. I am in no way trying to promote my own business. Just thought I would share some useful money saving tips.