Womens Business Casual Clothing & Attire that is Proper for Your Office's Dress Code

Business casual attire ranges from coat and tie to well-pressed jeans, with the moderate range being chinos and Oxford shirts. But those conventional dress codes are for men: women usually look too casual in chinos, and in trying to find a semi-professional look, the proper business casual office wardrobe can become a confusing quagmire of bad fashion choices.

If you want to stay on the upper end of business casual, your best bet is to wear skirts more often than pants to work. As sexist as it is, people of both genders and all ages still perceive women to be better-dressed (and thus, more professional-looking) when wearing skirts. Business casual means you don't have to shell out the big bucks for a suit-skirt: you can go with slightly tailored chino, cotton, linen or wool skirts. Like professional skirts, business casual skirts should fall slightly below or above the knee, with occasional forays into long skirts being acceptable in autumn and winter. Mini-skirts should not be part of the business casual wardrobe; nor should midriff-baring tops, running shoes, or anklets.

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Colorful accessories can define your personal business casual style

In business casual dress codes, you can play around more with color, but if you want to build a look that's polished, save the ultra-trendy clothes for the weekend. Bring bright colors into your wardrobe by way of scarves, but keep your clothes in the neutral range for maximum professionalism with minimal economic investment.

Womens business casual looks don't have to mimic men's fashions

The recent trend in fitted cotton-spandex blend tops (cuffs, lapels and nipped-in waist), provides today's working woman with a blouse that doesn't have to be tucked in, that fits nicely and that looks tailored as well. They're available in a range of colors, and can be worn with skirts or pants. The most common mistake with these tops is to wear them too tight, which can look pretty tacky. If they fit well, they create a put-together look without much work or expense on your part.

Business casual shoes appropriate for the workplace

Loafers, low-heeled pumps, and strappy sandals can all work in the business-casual environment. (Don't pay attention to websites that list flip-flops as summertime career shoes: they are not.) Match your shoes to your overall look, and if you wear sandals, make sure your feet and toenails look neat. Boots are fine in cool weather, and you may choose a style that comes an inch or two below the knee, or shorter, ankle-top boots.

Some colorful jewelry and makeup is okay for a business casual outfit

Jewelry and makeup can be a bit brighter and more playful than it is in professional dress, but try to keep your style consistent across each outfit. I have a friend who spent some time at school in the Midwest, and one of her overriding memories was of university secretaries who wore business casual skirts with holiday-themed earrings, red plastic Santa's dangling from their earlobes, or jack-o'-lantern pins stapled across fuzzy, orange sweaters. It's easy to go wrong with jewelry, but if you keep it simple and only wear a couple of pieces at a time, you'll be safe. (I said "no anklets, under any circumstances," already, didn't I?")

Key to Dressing in Business Casual at the Office

The key to a successful working wardrobe is to dress better than your co-workers (and your boss) without anyone really being able to say how you do it. It's more about style than expense, and if you start with a couple of skirts, a couple of tailored-looking pairs of pants and a half-dozen tops to match, you're on your way. Avoiding trendy looks (boat-necks, three-quarter sleeves, anything slinky or glittery) means you'll have an easier time matching pieces, and the stuff you acquire won't go out of season as easily. For major wardrobe staples, staying with neutral colors (off-white, chino, taupe, gray, brown, dark blue) will help you create and add to your cache of separates.

Business Professional Dress Code for Women in the Office

Your work wardrobe depends largely on what you do for a living, and if you aren't a natural-born fashion hound, it can be difficult to put together work ensembles that are practical, comfortable and affordable. Besides the obligatory chinos and polo shirt-uniforms of many retail establishments, there are three types of working wardrobes: professional, business casual and casual. In this column, we're going to cover the basics of dressing for the professional office.

Women's Business Professional Workplace Dress Code Described

Probably the easiest wardrobe to assemble is the professional one that most large corporate firms expect from women. Most corporations and firms whose employees affect professional dress have strict if unwritten dress codes: observing what other people wear is the best way to decide on your own wardrobe basics. Even now, many firms expect women to dress in skirts rather than pants to work, which raises complications in terms of choosing comfortable shoes that look good. If you are applying for a position with a company where professional dress is the norm, do as much reconnaissance work as you can to determine what designers are favored, whether suit blouses are strictly white and tailored or more feminine and colorful, and what makeup styles are in fashion. Wear the best shoes you can afford to your interview, spend more money on hose that won't snag and run before you even get to the interview, and wear a skirt, even if women also wear pants in that culture..

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How to Dress for a Job Interview

When you're interviewing, it's always better to dress a little more on the formal and conservative side. This is relative, of course. If you're going for a job at a funky piercing studio, you shouldn't show up in Donna Karan, but leave the ripped jeans at home until you've gotten the job. For professional work environments, it means opting for tailored over trendy and severe over sexy. Forget the Allie McBeal micro-minis and tights tops: TV fashion does not apply in the real-world professional workplace, and people won't take you seriously if the first thing they recall about you is your astonishing cleavage. If you want to base your wardrobe on a relevant TV show, think West Wing or The Practice.

The Classic Womens Business Suit We Should All Have

Most suit skirts have the same basic shape: either pencil-straight or a slight flare as they fall from the waistband. A kick-pleat can be a nice addition, or a small slit in front or on the side may add interest. Good suits have skirts that are lined, and are usually made in wool gabardine. Skirts should fall a couple of inches below the knee or an inch above the knee (depending on your personal comfort zone). If you have cute knees (and most people do), don't cover them up--the expanse of leg between your shoes and your skirt will be an attractive wardrobe feature.

Hose should be tasteful and unnoticeable. Stay with nude colors, or maybe sheer black hose in winter. You can wear tights to keep your legs warm if you're going to wear boots in the winter, but keep the colors muted.

What to Look for When Choosing a Formal or Career Pant or Skirt Suit

When you're putting together a professional Career wardrobe, plan for the long-term. Good suits with a jacket, pants and a skirt are expensive, but they may last you for ten years, and if you choose a classic look, outdated clothes won't be an issue. Choose conservative, neutral colors, black, gray, navy, white or beige for suits and shoes, and make sure each piece you add can be mixed and matched with pieces you already have. One simple way to achieve a pulled-together look based on separates is to find a designer you like and stick with him or her when purchasing your suits. (Ann Taylor has marvelous working wardrobes.) Three skirts, two jackets, five blouses and two pairs of pumps (one black, one brown) should see you through the first six months or so, at least until your new paycheck has caught up with your standard of living. At that point, you can start adding separates piece by piece, with the eventual goal of being able to take last week's clothes to the dry cleaners and still have plenty to wear until the weekend.

Classic Professional Womens Career Shoes Styles

Shoes are crucial to the excellent wardrobe. First of all, they should fit as perfectly as possible, because they contribute directly to your health and well-being. Bad shoes contribute to bad posture, back, neck and leg pain, and create foot issues like bunions and corns. Especially if you walk from trains, spend a lot of time traveling, or work on your feet, your shoes must provide you with support.

Professional wardrobes require pumps. A moderate heel (around one inch high, up to two inches if you need the extra height), is classy and sensible without being frumpy. Avoid stilettos, wedge heels, trendy colors, odd designs or patterns and open toes. Shoes should be elegant, tasteful, and not the first thing people notice about you. (Some people look at your shoes first; they consider good shoes an indicator of taste and breeding. If you're wearing the right shoes, they'll pass muster, and the rest of you will then be considered.) Shoes should be made of a good quality leather or something so like leather that you can't tell the difference. Ideally, your shoes will also point up the finer aspects of your legs without trying too hard. The toes of your shoes can be slightly rounded for comfort, or if you have narrow feet, slightly triangular toes are all right too. If your feet are wide, you may need to go for a slightly boxy toe, but before getting square-toed shoes, consider checking out shoe designers who provide deeper rather than wider toes-boxes.

Some companies don't consider boots professional dress, no matter how well-made they are, but in other firms, wearing boots in fall and winter is acceptable. The perfect boot for the workplace is sleek and sophisticated, with no trendy additions. It should be brown or black, have a medium heel, a leather or suede finish, and should hit you one to two inches below the knee. (Try boots on with your work skirt before committing to a purchase to make sure the combination works.) A hidden zipper is your best bet: lace-ups look a little too Victoria's Secret to be professional.

Professional Attire on a Budget

The money that you spend on acquiring the perfect shoes can be made up for in your budget when you shop for blouses. If your blouse is usually going to be worn under a jacket, you can skimp on the quality and get away with it as long as the cut and fabric are good. Linen blouses are a nice idea, but all-linen wrinkles right away: go for a blend. Cotton-poly or the more recent stretchy blends of cotton and Lycra will keep their shape better than all-cotton or cotton-linen blends. Some people can wear silk: others find it doesn't breathe well enough to be comfortable. If you do go with silk, you may find some wonderful blouses in the new, washable silks. Avoid anything ruffly, frilly or lacy, and forget about colorful accents on your blouses in the way of buttons or bows. Think Katherine Hepburn: tailored, classy, very understated.

Keep Jewelry and Accessories Simple and Tasteful at the Workplace

Your jewelry and makeup will fit in with the professional look by being understated as well. Keep makeup muted and elegant: use neutral tones and minimal eye makeup. Lipstick can be a bit brighter; after all, that's what it's for, but ignore any trendy statements in the way of metallics, glitters, glosses or hot colors.

Jewelry should be simple, without fuss or glitter. Jewelry should be cleaned on a regular basis to make sure it looks nice and not shabby. Follow the rule of three, wearing a bracelet and earrings, or necklace and bracelet, but not all three at the same time. (Wearing earrings and necklace becomes unbalanced because all your jewelry is clustered around your face. You may be able to get away with it if earrings and the necklace are utterly simple.) For earrings, wear hoops (not too big), or studs, but avoid dangling pieces that will destroy the clean line of a professional suit. If any one piece of jewelry has gems, keep other pieces solid.

If you wear a watch, don't wear a bracelet, not even on the other wrist. Your watch should be elegant, and if you want to make it into a piece of jewelry, splurge on something with diamonds and a sleek style that matches your suits.

Never, ever wear an anklet or armband to work.

The single strand of pearls favored by yesteryear's clothing designers and movie stars is timeless: if you're starting your professional jewelry wardrobe, a medium-length pearl necklace and a really great watch (maybe with an oyster or mother-of-pearl dial) are excellent starter pieces.

Your handbag says a lot about you, and it can be hard to find the right handbag for work. Even if you always carry a briefcase, there will be times when you will to go to a luncheon, and your briefcase will need to stay behind. Like shoes, great handbags can cost a fortune, and the really elegant ones will also be innocuous until closely inspected. If you don't fancy spending a couple of hundred bucks on a purse that you're going to use about once a month, visit consignment shops to look for a classic design with minimal wear. Get crocodile, lizard or leather, or an excellent imitation in an animal-free textile. Don't bring a fabric bag to a professional do: it never looks right. You probably already know whether you prefer a clutch to a strappy purse: clutches have a cleaner look, but some people are more comfortable with a strap. When it comes to purses, smaller is better, although it should be big enough to hold your necessities.

Now you have the basics of your professional wardrobe. Keep in mind that, like a career, your wardrobe can be built over time starting with a few basics and adding gradually over a period of years. Keep it simple and straightforward for a look of timeless, understated elegance.

Tips For Finding Skirt Shapes, Styles, and Fabrics That Flatter

The French have long been known as arbiters of style, in clothing, perfumes and cuisine. Coco Chanel, the epitome of the smart French businesswoman as well as the creator of a multitude of fabulous clothing, fragrance and accessories, created looks for women that set the mode for modes that are still with us today. Today, we call Coco’s great stuff, “classic”: there is no greater acknowledgement of her genius. (And when a reporter once asked Marilyn Monroe, “What do you sleep in ?” She replied, “Chanel No. 5”.)

American style tends to revolve around the “more is more, new is best” idea, which is the absolute opposite of French style. French women know that, when it comes to style, the thing to do is buy one perfect, timeless item that will last truly all your life. In four or five years, buy another item that complements the first one. Perhaps it’s this fashion ethic that enables French women to purchase costly French real estate on middle-class salaries.

Exquisite moderation in fashion is reflected in another French attitude: French cuisine takes the part of the carcass we usually throw away—the marrow, the intestines, the fish heads—and creates magnificent dishes that are then priced at top-dollar in bistros. There is a charming sensibility in which a woman in a three-hundred-dollar dress sits down to a luncheon of delicately prepared tripe. Add wine, Chardonnay, I think, and a cheese plate. After which she returns to her job as a sales woman at the local gift shop. Just another day in Aix…

The classic French hair style comes in two versions: one for short hair, one for long. Short hair is severely bobbed: long hair is worn in a twist. Chignon is for evening, bien sur. What else could you possibly need?

If you are considering embracing French style, your wardrobe will tend towards neutrals, which are all-season and cannot go out of fashion. Black, and white, red or blue accents for scarf, purse and maybe (if you’re the daring type), shoes. Red lipstick, which works on most women. Mascara, but no eye shadow, except maybe for evening.

Don’t be fooled by American television design shows that purport to advance ideas of Parisian or French Country chic. Twelve layers of toile is not chic: painting your living-room red to mimic bistro walls will only give you eyestrain when you try to read your Vogue (which also is not French, unless you happen to buy the French Vogue.) (Also, research shows that people fight more in red rooms.)

I hope this short discourse on French fashion gives you something to muse over when considering ways to simplify your life without sacrificing style or life’s pleasures.

Silk: A Natural Beauty Product Found In Clothing, Cosmetics and More

Natural beauty products have an allure that chemicals can’t reproduce. There’s something exciting about using a moisturizer that has plant extracts and beeswax and things that grew outside in the sun. Maybe it goes along with the romantic ideal of natural beauty—a fresh glow, perfect skin that never needs exfoliating or makeup, wide, bright eyes, soft hair.

When we buy products
that have natural ingredients, we’re also buying the history that goes along with them. For centuries, people have used aloe vera, herbal salves, rosewater and kaolin to beautify themselves. You can still buy kohl and henna, two cosmetics favored by Egyptian royals. There’s a definite emotional appeal to using the same makeup Cleopatra used!

Another ancient ingredient that’s just finding its place in twenty-first century cosmetics is silk. We’re all aware of what silk can do as a clothing fabric, and its history stretches back thousands of years and across continents. Silk was traded on the spice routes, in some cultures its use was limited to the very rich and noble born, not only because of its costliness, but by law. In World Wars One and Two, silk production was relegated to the war effort, and women painted lines up the backs of their legs to mimic the look of the seamed silk stockings they could no longer buy. The silk that had been used for dresses, parasols and unmentionables went to make parachutes.

These days, silk production has modernized to the point that this once dry-clean-only fabric can now be made colorfast and washable. I love silk bedding in the winter, because it’s light, but very warm because of its tight weave. (Silk pillow cases were once prescribed to keep salon-sprayed, sixties hairdos intact. I love my white silk pillowcases because they feel cool on my face, and they make my hair softer and easy to brush.)

But the recent revolution in silk is in cosmetics. Silk proteins are added to shampoos and moisturizers, adding strength and softness to the structure of hair and skin. Filaments that once took soldiers from flaming planes safely to the ground now smooth skin in lotions, powders and foundations. All this from a strange little worm that refuses to eat anything but mulberry leaves...

Choosing a Prom Dress or Formal Gown to Compliment Your Personal Style

They say the high school years are the best years of your life. Football games, time with friends, and formal dances are just a few of the highlights that will make lasting memories. But of course Prom is THE one event you can’t miss. It’s the story from high school that inevitably the grandchildren hear about. But where did it come from? What makes it so special?

The Prom was believed to have originated in the U.S. in the 1920’s in the Deep South. Girls would take short and heavily chaperoned “promenades” around the block with their dates. Of course they were dressed formally and out of respect, the southern gentlemen would give his date a flower (corsage). The details have changed slightly over the years; the attire, the dancing, and certainly the chaperones, but one thing remains the focus. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE DRESS. Every girl wants to dress up from head to toe and feel like royalty on prom night. Even if they aren’t Prom Queen, they can look like one with the right gown, hairstyle and make-up.

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Sexy, but tastful, formal prom gowns.

Sexy formal wear doesn’t have to mean tiny formal wear. It’s amazing the choices of styles and sizes that are available for teens today. The junior department that once carried a handful of sizes now accommodates a large spectrum of sizes and styles for many young women looking for that perfect prom dress. From discount, to ultra expensive designer, any girl can take the dress that is right for her physique and make it shine. Specifically, Sydney’s Closet carries only plus size formal wear in sizes 14-44. They have an excellent selection of ball gowns, vintage dresses, A-line, halter and sheath designs, as well as dresses with sleeves.

Ball gowns are the most formal and true to the Prom of the 20’s, with a wide skirt and layers of tulle and crinoline over taffeta. It creates a soft feminine, hourglass effect that emulates royalty and grace. For a sleeker, sexier choice, the sheath or mermaid style gown shows off a woman’s curves and gives her that Marilyn Monroe look. (This fashion statement is highlighted even more when she adds long gloves to complete the overall look.)

Halter prom dresses are a flattering style.

A halter neckline deemphasizes a larger bosom while at the same time accentuates the bare shoulders. For a more modest look, finding a dress with either a short or a longer sleeve can be tasteful and elegant. A traditional garment such as this will not only make you feel comfortable, but it is absolutely timeless.

Where to find vintage prom dresses.

The ever increasingly popularity of vintage gowns is uniquely fun and fashionable. The side benefit of a vintage dress is that it is often less expensive than other styles and brand new gowns. This benefit is a real big size plus for the budget conscious. You can find many at dresses and gowns at eBay.com. Matching your unique personality and sense of fashion to finding a dress is the fun part. Plan ahead, and spend lots of time shopping around until you are completely satisfied.

Preparing and planning a fun prom night.

For a little boost, PromGirl.com gives you the latest in dresses, accessories, hairstyle and makeup. You can “ask fashion girl” any questions you have via email and they give great advice on how to find cheap deals for all things prom. They also offer great beauty tips and tricks to help make you look your very best on prom night. They also offer tips and suggestions of fun things to do pre-prom, during the dance, and post-prom to make it memorable! By the way, getting drunk and pregnant are definitely not on the list. Have fun, be smart, and be safe.

What Really Makes Babies so Darn Cute?

Judy’s baby Emily had a birthday recently, and Judy had a One-year party for her, which was a hoot because all the moms from the Mommy and Me playgroup came and brought their own one-year olds. One of the things Judy says is that it gets a lot harder to maintain your personal style when you live with someone who’s constantly emitting various fluids, and the One-year party was a hilarious (for me) combination of drool and cake icing and runny ice cream. Imagine a dozen babies in party clothes, half of them screaming and half mashing cake through their tiny fists, and you have the general idea. Throw in an elegantly-groomed Golden Retriever (who ate a lot of cake off the ground, resulting in a genteel bout of vomiting under the table) and a bunch of Mommies in their own softly-flowered frocks, and you have the whole picture.

Babies in general, are beautiful, and the things we grown-ups often find lovely in each other are the things that are lovely in babies. Big eyes, smooth skin and small features are usually considered beautiful, and the models who hitch themselves weirdly down the runways of New York and Paris are usually absurdly young for the clothes they are sort of wearing. “Feminine” is often paired with “young”, in magazines and television, making women over thirty wonder if life is really nearly over when there’s so much left to do. But beauty isn’t really about youth: the beauty that comes with youth is incidental, superficial. It’s gone before a woman has time to become interesting, and her own person. The Mommies at the party were beautiful, laughing at their babies’ antics, joking with each other and enjoying the sunny day. There are few things more beautiful than people laughing from sheer enjoyment.

If you’re not feeling happy, it’s hard to appear beautiful. (And if you’re feeling unhappy, your looks are the least of your problems). Forget the sullen catwalk waifs, and the scary, long-necked, colt-legged sixteen year olds wearing sable corsets and six inch heels--that’s not real life. Laughing with a baby who just rubbed cake all over her face, that’s life.

(I’m pretty sure there’s nothing I could give Emily that she would appreciate, so I picked out something I loved, an adorable, flowered baggy-pants sunsuit, in pink and yellow, with a matching bonnet. I can’t wait to see Emily in her new beach togs!)

How to Tie and Wear a Womans Scarf Many Fashionable Ways

When it comes to accessorizing that special outfit, the scarf is the one item you want to have in your wardrobe. The scarf is the perfect accessory as it can add pizzaz to any outfit from the perfect little black dress to a business suit or your favorite T-shirt and jeans outfit. The scarf can add a sensational look making even the plainest outfit into a fabulous fashion hit. You should try to have a variety of scarves such as the pashmina, cashmere, fleece, silk and the scarf belt, then you will be ready for any occasion.

Scarves Can be Worn Many Places on the Body Besides Your Neck

There are numerous ways to wear a scarf, making it a very versatile accessory. Wear it around your neck, tied, knotted or draped. Wear a scarf around head to keep your hair in place or around your waist as a belt. Wear a large scarf around your shoulders as a shawl.If you really feel like “tying one on” try tying a silk scarf around your hips. Just by tying a scarf around your hips, like a scarf belt, you can make your waist look smaller. You can achieve this look very easily by folding a long oblong scarf into the desired width, draping it around your hips and positioning it as a sash. Adjust it as you like. Let it hang down asymmetrically drawing the eye downward to produce a smaller looking waist.

How to Tie a Silk Scarf Around Your Neck

Of course, the traditional way to wear a scarf is around the neck. A fashion statement can be made by tying your scarf in creative ways. Try tying a small square scarf around your neck as a choker or a longer oblong scarf can be knotted in front and hang straight down. The smaller silk (many times can be found in washable silk) scarves look great with a scarf pin to secure them in place. Use a crystal brooch, ring or scarf pin that is all the rage now to hold your scarf in the front. The scarf clips are great to use. Shell scarf holders that you can find at your beach resort gift shops are great options as well. These are just a few ways to hold that perfect designer silk scarf in place. If you don’t have a scarf pin or brooch, try wearing that long oblong scarf in the Grace Kelly style by holding it across the front of our neck and then bringing one end around to fall done your right front side and then bring other end around your neck to fall down your left front side. This is a great way to wear those designer silk scarves that are so light and airy now days. They are great for summer and spring. Another way to wear the long oblong scarf is just drape it around your neck and shoulders and then let it hang down dramatically in front.

Video Showing Unique Way to Tie a Scarf

Video Provided by YouTube

How to Wear a Winter Cashmere Scarf and Keep Warm

For winter wear your wool or cashmere scarf and get extra warmth around your neck , by folding the long oblong scarf in half and positioning around your neck with the two ends on one side and the fold of scarf on your other side. Next take the two ends and slip thru the fold of the scarf. By pulling on the two ends you can tighten the scarf as you like around your neck. If it is really cold out you can tuck these ends into your coat for added warmth or if you want a fashionable look then fan the two ends out as desired. This looks great for the thinner summer scarves for a more fashionable look. The knitted scarf is great to wear this way too and often comes with matching gloves to complete your outfit. Usually the knitted scarf is just worn by looping it around your neck.

Tying a Scarf to Make a Hair Accessory and Keep Your Hair Style in Place

A large square scarf can be folded in half forming a triangle that can then be tied around your neck loosely to hang dramatically off one shoulder. Then of course there is always the head that can be covered with the larger square scarf. Hold your hair in place while riding in your convertible this summer by using a light weight chiffon or silk scarf. You can either tie the scarf in front under your chin or try tying it in the back of your head. A smaller scarf can also be folded to a create an hair ban. Another way to wear the square scarf is as a Turban. Fold the square into a triangle and fold edge under over the forehead. Take the two ends to the back and cross them over each other bringing them again to the front to tie on top of the head. You can then tuck in the ends or any loose fabric and adjust as you desire. Be creative with your scarf tying and have fun trying out the many different ways to wear your fashion scarves.

How to Prevent Stretch Marks From Pregnancy

When women are going through pregnancy, they often experience stretch marks on their stomachs and hip areas. However, being pregnant is not the only way you can get stretch marks. In addition to pregnancy, rapid weight loss or gain can cause the skin to go into a state of shock. Both men and women can suffer with stretch marks, as a result. Many times as the breast area expands during puberty, teen girls will get stretch marks on their breasts. While working out throughout each trimester and controlling overall weight gain even when un-pregnant can help prevent stretch marks, puberty related stretch marks are difficult to control.

Dealing with stretch marks is not physically painful or bothersome however it can be emotionally trying. As summer arrives, many women might be wondering how they can prevent more stretch marks from appearing. If you’re pregnant, chances are you are watching for a stretch mark to appear, doing everything you can in the meantime to prevent them.

Lotions, Creams & Oil Preventions For Stretch Marks

One of the oldest prevention solutions women use for stretch marks is cocoa butter. Many women start using cocoa butter lotion on their stomach areas the day they find out they’re pregnant. By massaging cocoa butter into the abdomen area before stretch marks appear or even after they are present, the appearance of stretch marks may be diminished. Other skin experts ask their patients to rub Vitamin E oil on the areas most prone to stretch marks after showering. Treatments from companies like La Roche are also quite popular with expecting mothers and those who are prone to stretch marks.

Look At Your Diet When Preventing Stretch Marks

To prevent stretch marks in a natural way, patients may want to look at their diet. Foods high in Vitamina A, E and C can be very beneficial to preventing stretch marks. These important vitamins can be taken from the food you eat or via a supplement. Be warned: if you’re pregnant be sure to avoid too much Vitamin A. Foods high in Zinc and Silica can also be great for the skin and include beets, brown rice, bell peppers, soybeans, leafy green vegetables and whole grains.

Foods rich with essential fatty acids (vegetables, vegetable oils and fish oils) are also helpful with the task of preventing the appearance of stretch marks. These foods help with skin elasticity and collagen growth when paired with a diet where the patient tries to avoid high sugary foods. Losing weight slowly while also participating in weight or strength training can be helpful when avoiding stretch marks as well.

Pants Shapes and Styles to Flatter Any Woman’s Figure or Body Type

Get The Right Slacks Cut and Style

When it comes to finding the most flattering styles of pants, the cut of the fabric is an important area to focus on. Although each body type should focus on a specific cut of jeans or pants, there are a few cuts that will work for almost anyone. The “boot cut” trousers are ideal for many women and can be worn nicely by people with most body shapes. Boot cut pants flare slightly at the ankle, helping to create a more proportionate body visual line. Things to stay away from if you want your pants to flatter your lower half are pleats and high waist bottoms because they don’t work well on many body types. Look for mid-rise or even low rise pants (not ultra-low rise) for the best look.

Get The Right Pant Fabrics and Materials

When choosing pants, do you most often go by touch alone? Many women choose their clothing by texture and only purchase things that appeal to their senses when they touch them. While you should always stay comfortable, fashion is not all about soft fabrics. For example, no one would likely wear denim if they went on touch alone! Modern designers understand the importance of bringing comfort into fashion and are now creating adorable pants in knit blends. Most often these comfortable options are best worn in casual environments, but some of the more expensive blends (or often higher-end discount brands like Target or JJill) can be appropriately worn to work as well.

Choose Pants Length Carefully

When you think of your pants, you don’t have to be trapped in thinking all pants must skim the middle area of your shoe. Not all pants must be long! Short pants are quite popular and are being made in more feminine styles than ever before. Women are wearing them on casually and even choosing elegant styles for more formal events. Unless you are stuck with a specific uniform at work, you can even get away with wearing dressy capris or cargos!

Size Matters

While we all get excited when we can button the pants we wore in high school, wearing pants that barely button is never a good idea! When you’re shopping, be honest with yourself. Even though you may be able to squeeze yourself into that smaller size, finding a good fit is much more important than the number on the pant label. Women know their pants are the right size when the clothing item doesn’t cling to their body, but instead skims it. When you sit, your pants should not bunch up tightly. When you’re standing, they should not pucker around your thighs or buttocks area. Finding the right size is probably the most important aspect of scoring the most flattering pants on the shelf!

970s Style Disco Makeup and Era Fashions that have a Vintage Flair.

The Sixties left the coming decade with an taste for the natural, and the Seventies era particularized the “Natural Look” to makeup and hair. Hair was long, smooth, often very straight, but ideally with a flip on the ends. Think the Mary Tyler Moore show, and you've got the early to middle '70s in a nutshell. The longer hairstyles still required the large curlers (which could really damage your hair with daily use) used in the '60s to create big waves, but electric curling irons were added to the mix when Farrah Fawcett Majors became on of the decade's "It" girls. The flicked up hair cuts worn to some extent by all of Charlie's Angels was applied to bangs or wings on the sides of the head. Farrah combined flicks on both sides with a high lofted center and amazing, wavy curls in streaky golden hair. Never mind that the fabulous Angel had stylists galore to keep her look fresh and "natural"; everybody wanted to look like that. And 'that' entailed more than a superb and constantly-renewed layered haircut: it meant hours with the curling iron, plenty of hair spray or mousse and strict avoidance of anything athletic, outdoorsy or the least bit—well, you know—natural.

1970s make-up styles had a natural, surfer appeal

Along with the "natural" hair of the '70s came a natural look in skin and cosmetics. Earlier decades had made fashionable the dead white complexion, the flawless matte of a movie star skin, and the rosy blush of innocence through the magic of foundation. In the Seventies, it was cool to resemble to surfers at Venice Beach: an all over tan, a golden glow around the face, and minimal looking make up were the things to strive for. Bronzers made an appearance, fake tanning fluids turned thousands of young women bright orange, and women who today look with alarm at the spots appearing on middle aged skin laid out all summer covered all too lightly in a bikini and a slick coat of baby oil.

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Vintage Accessories Never Go Out of Style

Some of today’s hottest looks and fashions can claim influences from several past decades and trends. The long, flowing hairstyles and natural makeup looks of the 1970s have returned with an updated flair. You’ll frequently see retro-styled clothing, with either hippie or disco flair, constantly popping up on the biggest celebrities in Hollywood. Keep in mind that there are, however, certain retro looks that have seen better days and make a better costume than outfit. So, whether you’re in need of some unique vintage accessories, like hats, glasses, or jewelry, or you’ve got a costume party and need a killer disguise, there are tons of choices from the 60s and 70s to get you the exact look you’re hoping for. Don’t believe everything you hear: disco is not dead—you’ll see when you check out the many costume selections and extras available!

Get yourself a costume or some vintage accessories to flaunt!

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1970s makeup mavens lightened up on the eye makeup, with mascara nearly disappearing for daywear except for something to lengthen, not necessarily thicken the eyelashes. White or pale blue eyeliner was sometimes used on the inside lid to make the eyes appear larger, but dark eyeliners were out of fashion. Pearlescent colors were popular for eye shadow, nail polish and lipstick, and liquid eye shadows became the rage. When foundation was worn at all, it was not matted down with powder, but left alone to shine a bit.

Updated skin care and skin appearances in the 70’s

Skin care became more of a concept in the Seventies. In earlier decades, women were concerned about keeping their skin clean and moisturized: most women's skin care arsenal consisted of a bar of soap and a big jar of vintage Ponds cold cream. In the Seventies, products that had been available in spas were being sold to the general public; face masks, toners, astringents and a thousand other cosmetic skin care preparations found their way onto women's shelves—and into their faces. Natural products like oatmeal, avocado and milk were popularized as the public was made more aware of how what they put on their skin might affect their overall health.

Disco Fashions, Hair and Cosmetics that Danced the Night Away

Just a wee bit off the mainstream, ethnic inspired fashions were making statements on the street, at school and even at work. Afros were popular for African Americans, showing a new pride in natural hair that had often been suppressed by ironing or chemical straighteners. In solidarity, some Caucasian men wore Afros, too. Clothing fashions for women included turbans, tunics worn over lounge pants, chunky beaded jewelry and woven handbags.

Disco was big in the '70s, and the film Saturday Night Live helped create a subculture that sent some young people to discos in micro-minis, heels too clunky to dance in and blinding white disco costumes. Makeup was essentially the same, as was women's hair; it was the disco clothing styles that made it all happen, man. The classic retro '70's outfit for men is still the white disco suit, open-necked, with gold chains.