LIKE MANY SHOEPERWOMEN OUT THERE, I LIKE TO LOOK A LITTLE BIT GLAMOROUS FROM TIME TO TIME… BUT I DON’T WANT TO HAVE TO PUT A WHOLE LOT OF EFFORT INTO IT.
Luckily for us, though, I think the idea that you have to spend hours in the salon, or have immaculate hair and nails, if you want to look “glamorous” is a little out-dated: and it’s a good thing, too, because modern shoeperwomen just don’t have the time for that kind of thing, do we? Nope, modern shoeperwomen require modern glamour: and I’ve discovered a few easy shortcuts that will help you achieve that look, without much in the way of effort.
HOW TO LOOK GLAMOROUS : A GUIDE FOR MODERN SHOEPERWOMEN
01. WEAR A BOLD COLOUR ON YOUR LIPS
My favoured lip colour is bright red, but while there’s something about a bold red lip that just screams “old-fashioned glamour!” to me, this is modern glamour we’re talking about, and that means going for whatever colour you like, as long as it works for you. The only “rule” here (and I’m putting that word in inverted commas, because I hate the idea of style “rules” as much as I’m sure you do) is that it has to be bold – oh, and it has to be perfectly applied. Unfortunately that bit WILL require a little bit of effort, but we’re talking a couple of minutes rather than a couple of hours, and the good news is that once you’re done applying your lipstick, you don’t need any other makeup at all – unless you want some, obviously. Bold lips have a way of convincing anyone who looks at you that you’ve made an effort with your appearance, even when you haven’t: and they’ll make you look instantly more glamorous, even if you’re wearing your oldest jeans and t-shirt.
02. INVEST IN A GREAT PAIR OF DARK SUNGLASSES
As the not-so-proud owner of the palest eyelashes in all the land, the idea of wearing nothing but lipstick on my face is one that strikes fear into my beating heart. I do it fairly often, though, and I do it using the simple trick of adding a pair of dark glasses to cover my eyes. In my case, this is normally a necessity: my eyes are super-sensitive to sunlight, so I’m rarely seen without my sunglasses. What people don’t always realise, though, is that underneath those glasses, I’m not wearing a scrap of makeup: they still tell me I look “glamorous”, because, like red lipstick, dark glasses do that for you. Pick a pair you love, and carry them with you at all times: I promise you won’t regret it…
03. LEARN AN EASY UP-DO
No time to wash or style your hair? No worries: as I said, you don’t have to spend hours in the salon to look like a shoeperwoman. I have the kind of poker-straight hair that has to be washed every day, and which still looks flat, limp and greasy by the end of the day, no matter what kind of products I use, or how much effort I put in. (And yes, I HAVE tried reducing the amount of washes I give it: it just makes me feel gross, and kinda itchy. What can I say, I like my shampoo?) Fortunately for me, I’ve learned a couple of easy up-dos which take me a couple of minutes to create (see one tutorial here), but add instant glamour to my look. Some of the outfit shots people have described as most glamorous when they see them on my blog are the ones that took the least amount of effort – because they’re the ones where I literally just rolled out of bed, threw my hair up in a bun, slicked on some red lipstick, then covered my eyes with dark glassed: done. A simple chignon or messy bun can look super-glamorous with very little effort involved: or even a slicked-back ponytail, depending on your style.
04. WEAR SOMETHING SIMPLE
A lot of people associate glamour with very elaborate, or “fancy” outfits, but actually, some of the most glamorous looks out there are also some of the simplest: the little black dress, the boat-neck and capris, the jeans and Breton…. the list goes on. If you’re aiming for glamour in a hurry, my best advice is to keep your outfit simple. Outfits consisting of just one colour also have a way of looking glamorous and expensive – so don’t be afraid to pick a colour and stick to it!
05. WEAR AMAZING SHOES
Well, I WOULD say that, wouldn’t I? Even if you’re NOT a big shoe lover, though, there’s no denying that a great pair of shoes can make all the difference to your outfit. They also make you walk taller and feel more confident: both of which will make you FEEL glamorous, too. And isn’t that half the battle?
