3 Ways To Become A Style Expert
July 17th, 2008 by missbritt
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When I first told my friends that I was going to be the new Fashion & Style contributor here at Blissfully Domestic, they laughed.
"But you're… well… you're just… you," they teased.
And they're right. I am Miss Britt, personal blogger of all things embarrassing and mundane. I'm a working mother of two and wife living in Central Florida. I can't even claim the Glamour Status that comes with living in Miami.
I've never been invited to a fashion show, and if someone asked me who my favorite designer was I'd have to check the labels on my cutest dresses. I buy my shoes on sale and find my accessories in the checkout line at my favorite boutiques.
So what is someone like me doing writing a Fashion & Style column?
I'm a firm believer that all of us have the ability to be stylish. It doesn't matter if you live in the suburbs and are dressing for soccer games instead of cocktail parties. It doesn't matter if you're 5'2 and cherubic as opposed to 5'9 and svelte.
It doesn't even matter if you don't have loads of cash to spend on your wardrobe.
Everyone has a fashionista inside them - you just have to know where to look for her.
3 Places I've Looked For Fashion Expertise
- TLC's What Not To Wear. I'm not kidding even a little bit. This show, which airs new episodes Friday nights at 9 EST, has taught me more than all the Vogue magazines combined. The difference here is that they offer realistic style tips that can be applied to real lives, budgets and body shapes.
And that's really the secret here - find realistic "style gurus" to listen to. Cancel your subscription to high fashion magazines that offer you nothing more than couture trends you'll never see yourself in.
- Find Yourself A Personal Style Icon. Or several. A "personal style icon" is someone who actually looks like you. It may be someone who has the same thick curly hair as you that gives you ideas for how to finally tame that mane. Or maybe it's an actress with a pear shaped body style that can show you how to bring attention to the top of your body rather than the bottom.
My own Fashion Idols have come from movies, TV, soap operas and the booth beside me in my favorite restaurant.
- The Dressing Room. The dressing room is a magical place where you can experiment with new trends and ideas and play dress up, without having to worry about looking like a fool in front of anyone. I usually haul 10 items into the dressing room with me for every 1 purchase I end up making.
It is in The Dressing Room that I developed my love for a well fitted v-neck and my hatred for all things scoop neck. On me. In the same way, this is where you'll learn what fashion tips are style changing epiphanies, and which should be tossed in the "maybe if I was 6 feet tall and 16" pile.
Finding your personal style and the confidence of knowing that you're doing something right starts with finding your inspiration. Don't be afraid to people watch and borrow ideas you like with a heavy hand.
After all, as any good Fashion & Style contributor will tell you, there's really no such thing as a new idea when it comes to fashion trends.
In other words, I am the world's biggest copycat and I cannot wait to share with you all the style tips I've learned from other people.
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July 17th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
I still love that top you have on in that picture—b&w or in color it is trés chic.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Copying is very chic this year. ~snort~
We are truly honored to have you here!
July 17th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Copy is the new Black.
Glad to be here!
July 17th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I love What Not to Wear-they have a nice book with great photos that is a good read too.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Great tips, hon! I've been avoiding that show since it started because what's the point in a SAHM watching that when I never go anywhere? But, I guess I'll suck it up and do as you say! Thanks!
July 17th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
love this intro, Miss Britt!
Can't wait to read your posts.
xo ~K
July 17th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Most awesome! Great ideas too! I like to watch "What Not To Wear" just to try and keep up with what's out. My closet has a lot of the OUT stuff in it, but that's why God invented yard sales!!
July 17th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Ooo, this will be fun. I LOVE What Not to Wear. My teenager girls got me watching that show (wait, do you think it was a setup?) and I learned SO MUCH! Mom jeans are OUT. Plain tee shirts are OUT. Wide bands around my ribcage DRAWS ATTENTION TO THE SMALLEST part of me (guess I should get wide bands around my ankles too, just for good measure!)…yes, I learned a lot. I am so glad you are here, welcome and I will be faithfully reading!
Melissa
July 17th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Great intro post
I think you are going to do beautifully here.
I also love Stacy and Clinton! I shudder to think of what they would say about my closet of ON clothes.
July 17th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Sweet, I love anything fashion and "What Not to Wear" tops the list. They stress learning what you body shape is and I think it's so important when selecting clothing. Just because it's cute on the rack…doesn't mean that it will be cute on your particular shape/body. What a concept. Looking forward to more of your articles.
July 17th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Great tips! I especially love the idea of seeing what works - or doesn't work - on other people. I love to read through all the various blogs and fashion sites where people submit photos of what they wore today. I get tons of ideas from seeing how other people pulled together their outfits. Like you said, seeing things on different, real-life body types can really help!
July 17th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Great article, Britt. You write very well.
I can't wait to see what you do next.
J.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Great article, fashionista!
But I also have a love for v necks on me, unless the scoopneck is more like a bateau top, that is. Also? Cap sleeves. Very flattering for most women.
What Not to Wear is a great show! I've learned a lot, there, too - I just don't always apply it.
July 17th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Great first post!
I love me some What Not To Wear… uh, before we downgraded our cable I did, at least. Seriously though? That's where I learned how to play down the thick middle and lengthen the club-like legs. Heh.
July 17th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
I don't like crew necks on me either. Scoop necks work much better for me.
Great start; can't wait to see what you do here.
P.S. - You didn't name your personal style icon! Inquiring minds and all…
July 17th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Great post Miss Britt! Personally I love some of things I've seen you in in your pictures.
But then my entire wardrobe comes from The Gap (the employee discounts are just so darn good to pass up) so I tend to just look like a walking ad for them.
July 18th, 2008 at 5:44 am
Style, flair, panache, you've got it all down, hon. This is the perfect role for you. Looking forward to reading more.
July 18th, 2008 at 7:20 am
Awesome Britt!!!!
July 18th, 2008 at 10:34 am
I like the copying idea.
Why not?
Probably should stick with the present instead of 1983, though, right?
July 18th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Yay, Britt rocks my socks! Something I do is take a pic of myself in an outfit I feel really good in. I get to see what it REALLY looks like on me and it gives me some idea of the silhouettes that flatter my fertility goddess body shape when I am shopping, ha! In fact, I keep meaning to try on all my favorite stuff and force my guy into photographing each outfit so I can just ditch everything that looks like poo. But you know, life gets in the way. Plus, trying on clothes forces me into early menopause or something-the hot flashes are horrible.
July 18th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Yay, Britt rocks my socks! Something I do is take a pic of myself in an outfit I feel really good in. I get to see what it REALLY looks like on me and it gives me some idea of the silhouettes that flatter my fertility goddess body shape when I am shopping, ha! In fact, I keep meaning to try on all my favorite stuff and force my guy into photographing each outfit so I can just ditch everything that looks like poo. But you know, life gets in the way. Plus, trying on clothes forces me into early menopause or something-the hot flashes are horrible.
July 18th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Yay, Britt rocks my socks! Something I do is take a pic of myself in an outfit I feel really good in. I get to see what it REALLY looks like on me and it gives me some idea of the silhouettes that flatter my fertility goddess body shape when I am shopping, ha! In fact, I keep meaning to try on all my favorite stuff and force my guy into photographing each outfit so I can just ditch everything that looks like poo. But you know, life gets in the way. Plus, trying on clothes forces me into early menopause or something-the hot flashes are horrible.
July 18th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Oops, repeat myself much? Sorry! Must have been that hot flash, ha!
July 19th, 2008 at 12:51 am
well written article, britt. seeing as how i am a walking fashion disaster, i am looking forward to reading more on the fashion subject!
(or perhaps next time i have the pleasure of your company i will bring the plastic and give you full purchasing power for my wardrobe!)
July 19th, 2008 at 12:52 am
well written article, britt. seeing as how i am a walking fashion disaster, i am looking forward to reading more on the fashion subject!
(or perhaps next time i have the pleasure of your company i will bring the plastic and give you full purchasing power for my wardrobe!)
July 19th, 2008 at 12:53 am
hmmmm, me thinks this site is not a fan of me…major hiccup and then it posted my comment twice. this should be interesting going forward (because you know i so blame you!).