Fashion Rules

These are some rules that are essential to fashion.

HAIR
1. Beachy waves are always sexy.
2. Your hair will be shinier if your final rinse is with cold water.
3.  Blow-dry side to side rather than (or in addition to) upside down for volume.
4. The biggest mistake people make in the shower is not getting their hair we enough - without a ton of water, shampoo neither gets in or out of hair well, leaving it duller than dull.
5. Braids are sexy, cute, and the only acceptable form of pigtail.

MAKEUP & BEAUTY
6. Beauty products make the best presents: they seem incredibly personal, but they're not.
7. An ultra-pale pedicure makes your feet look tanner. Same with silver.
8. A bit of face oil patted on over makeup really revives your whole look.
9. Any two shades of lipstick, mixed, are almost always super-flattering.
10. Your favorite highly pigmented lipstick also makes a great sheer cheek stain: blot on with your fingers, blot again with a tissue, et voila!
11. Self-tanner makes you look instantly thinner and well-rested.
12. Melted candle wax makes a very fine cuticle cream.
13. Sunscreen doubters should consider the amazing linelessness of their body parts that never see the sun.
14. No beauty product can do for you what eight hours of sleep can.
15. Pale nail polish lasts much longer.
16. If you use face powder, apply it sparingly to your T-zone only.
17. If you're out of scrub (face or body), remember that ancient implement, the washcloth.
18. Always apply powder with a brush. Even compact powder. If you use your fingers or hands it pushes the powder around and gives an unnatural look.

NEW CLOTHES
19. Shop for boots in August before they sell out.
20. Always have at least one black-tie dress in your closet in case of last minute celebrating.
21. Don't shop for clothes when you're tan, thin, or in the Bahamas because everything looks good when you're tan, thin, and in the Bahamas.
22. Looking for a dress when you actually need one will rarely lead to a successful find.
23. Buy clothes that you'll wear on a Tuesday afternoon, not a Saturday night - few people lead Saturday night lives.
24. Don't wear new shoes to a wedding or your first day of work. You'll regret it.
25. Black opaque tights make everyone's legs look good.
26. Black tights can look great through open-toe shoes (as long as the tights aren't sheer).

SALESPEOPLE & SHOPPING
27. Most useless advice from a salesperson: "you can wear it with jeans."
28. Things that look crappy on a hanger could look gorgeous once you put them on.
29. If something is expensive, leave it behind for 24 hours. If you're still obsessed with it the next day, buy it!
30. Biggest turn off from a salesperson: "this is our bestselling _________."
31. In-store lighting is not to be trusted. Stand by a window.

COLOR
32. Black will always be the new black. Anyone who says otherwise is selling something.
33. No more than three colors in one outfit.

PACKING
34. Roll. Never fold.
35. Always check the weather before traveling.
36. Always pack a change of clothes and toiletries in your carry-on. You'll never know when your check-on will get lost.

TAILORING & FITTING
37. Fitted jackets and coats always make you feel skinny, even when you're pregnant.
38. If you have curves and want to wear voluminous clothes, get to know your belts. It's the only way you won't look like a dump truck.
39. Your waist isn't where you think it is. It's about three inches higher. Put another way: the most flattering spot for a waisted dress to hit is just under the rib cage.
40. The stitching at the top of the jeans will never stretch, so size up if it leaves a red mark.
41. An off-the-shoulder top should skim your shoulder.

SHOES, BAGS, & LITTLE LEATHER THINGS
42. If shoes are only marginally comfortable when you try them on in the store you can be sure they'll be excruciating on the street.
43. Always have two pairs of boots in your closet that aren't scuffed up.
44. The best and most comfortable flats are usually the cheapest.
45. In life you will need four bags: a big, slouchy weekend one; two good looking but practical work ones; and a sleek evening one. Minimum.