Styling not Drying Winter Skin

Winter is one of the harshest seasons your skin has to face. Cold weather steals moisture from the air and in return your skin becomes dry, your lips can crack and even bleed.  Staying inside isn’t the answer either.  Heat inside robs you of moisture.    How can we still have kissable lips in the winter?  Supple softness all over our body?

Well here are some pointers to get through this season of dryness!

When you wash your face and hands use lukewarm water and then moisturize right after. It will seal in moisture.  Go for an oil-based moisturizer over a water-based one. 

At night moisturize your hands, feet, elbows and knees because the skin is thinner in these areas. Just slather on moisturizer.

Exfoliate the skin to get rid of those dead cells. Use an exfoliating mask and use it on your hands and face.  When showering or bathing use an exfoliating body wash.

Use natural ingredients like honey, avocado, yogurt, olive and jojoba oils, almond oil and bananas and aloe. Mix what you like and create your own mask living it on for 10-30 minutes to help hydrate your skin.    Check out these recipes.  http://www.rd.com/slideshows/homemade-facial-masks-recipes/

Drink lots of water, your body needs to hydrate inside and out.  Eat foods high in water content to hydrate your body .Try watermelon, cantaloupe, apples, oranges, kiwi, and watery veggies like celery, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, and carrots. Get enough vitamin C and zinc to support the healthy production of collagen and elastin. Consider an omega-3 supplement, or consume more fatty fish and flax seed to give your skin the building blocks it needs to stay supple.

Avoid toxins and irritants that can be found in chemical laden detergents. If you have allergies avoid those things that make you itch and can lead to damaging the skin like wool sweaters.  If you have wool gloves – sooo sooo warm, line them with cotton gloves.

Wear sunscreen winter sun is just as dangerous as summer sun and still can damage your skin. And always wear gloves and scarves to protect your skin from the cold and snow.  Inside use a humidifier especially in your bedroom.   

So  now you have the secret to supple skin in the winter.  Off you go out in the winter sun to build a snowman and your skin is amazingly kissable.

Keep Styling in Delco

* Images from Bing Free Images. 

Styling in the Winter

Ahh baby its cold outside! Well you could wear P.J.s and stay inside all winter but that’s no fun. So how do you look good and enjoy those brisk colder days that challenge you even when you are just getting into your car.

First you have to find a coat you love. One that looks fabulous on you.  Nothing,  too bulky that will add pounds. 

When you find that perfect coat, the one that will you will feel toasty in as you move from day to night, pick a neutral in gray, black and brown.  White can look stunning but it isn't practical and really hard to keep clean.  Beige or Tweed would be better if you want to go light.

The real fun begins with hats and scarves.

  Pick a neutral toned hat, one that compliments your coat. But you can still vary it up adding color to that black hat and matching it with a scarf that picks up the color. 

  A light gray, burgundy or a mixed pattern or print works.   Browns look good with burgundy, a lighter shade of brown, cream, purple or a non-flashy orange or print

When evening comes, glitz it up with a bit of glamour.  

Go a little wild breaking free from your everyday look.  Different fabrics like velvet or brocade will spice your look up.

A nice pair of warm stream-lined gloves will give you the right look.  Gloves can match your scarf or hat. Leather gloves never go out of style and always look amazing.

Layering inside and out is essential as we all know.

 A pretty camisole under a t-shirt or a tank top under a long sleeved shirt is the way to go.  Avoid those granny bulky sweaters.  If you are in the cold for a while   you can wear thin thermal leggings or heavy tights

 and leggings under a skirt.

 There is no need to abandon all dresses.  For an all outside excursion wear some fleece- lined jeans.

Boots will keep your feet warm especially leather boots.   You can find all kinds of deals in all kinds of styles and colors.   Add a pair of socks to keep those tootsies extra warm.

So finish that hot cocoa and with these tips you are ready to go out.

 Keep Styling in Delco!

Check out some Fall looks with Philly South Street Flair

A fashion show  at Headhouse Shambles  structure

featured a great night of South Street's looks that me. From vintage to today's look. The colors popped as bright as the flashes going on trying to capture the Fall looks. 

Here's a peek at some great styling looks for autumn. Some you can wear anytime.
Some of the boutiques featured included Urban Princess Boutique, PASSIONAL Boutique, Philly AIDS Thrift, Mckinzie Chic, Crash Bang Boom, Helena Boutique, ARMOUR Philadelphia and Hats in the Belfry, Dude's Boutique PNK Elephant, Nostaglia and shoes from Bus Stop.

So you don't have to go to New York City for some styling looks Delco. Check out some of my favorites. Remember Keep Styling in Delco.  Master of Ceremonies Cory Wade agrees. Dressed head to toe in South Streets great looks from America's Top Model. So take a trip to South Street.  

Make Me Over Malika

 " Transitioning from Summer to Fall is very exciting but can get very tricky and confusing if you aren't careful," stresses Malika, a personal stylist.  

Asya  and Malika at Family Community Day in Yeadon. Malika collected used and new clothes to help others and demonstrated how to have a stylish  look  at the event.  

The Delaware resident is originally from Delaware County and uses her "Psychology of Styling" to give you a look that says you. 

"The best part about going into a new season is being able to carry over some of last seasons favorites. This fall don't be afraid to keep those distressed shorts out  and pair them with sweaters, socks, leather and boots. Layer your favorite summer tanks, pop on a blazer and go," she said.

"Fall is a fun season The weather gets cooler, colors get darker, and you get a lot more options. If you're on the fence about what colors are fall appropriate look outside your window. The colors on the leaves will tell you all you need to know. Enjoy your greens, browns, and  different hues of burgundy," said Malika. 

Malika grew up in Yeadon, and went to high school at Penn Wood  High in Lansdowne until her senior year. Her  family moved to Delaware  and she graduated from William Penn High School in New Castle.  She went on to earn her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. After she went on to get her Master's in counseling from West Chester University. Hence this is how she came up with the "Psychology of Styling. "
Malika has always had a strong interest in fashion.She held retail positions all throughout her undergraduate career. While earning her degree at Morgan State Malika began styling her friends for events and soon realized she found her calling.  Malika enjoyed styling because it was natural to her. Malika continued styling family and close friends all throughout graduate school ,however, she did not decide to make a career out of wardrobe styling until she completed her graduate degree. 
Malika started her company Make Me Over Malika in March of 2014.  She has already taken the tri-state area by storm. Malika has been featured on numerous fashion blogs,Philly.com and DelwareOnline.com and asked to be a featured stylist for Atlantic City's upcoming Fall Fashion Week. 

How Malika works may be different form other stylists.  Here's what to expect if you decide it's time to make a change and contact her. 

As a personal stylist you are responsible for composing specific looks to help enhance your clients overall appearance. At Make Me Over Malika  things are  somewhat different. Prior to picking out any clothes or getting into event details Malika has each client complete a client intake form. 

With this intake form Malika begins her in depth  session she refers to as “the Psychology of Styling”. With a master’s degree in counseling, Malika uses her skills in observing human behavior to know each h client personally before even servicing them. Once Malika has a feel for who her client is the client then arranges what services she needs.

 At Make Me Over Malika (MMOM) clients have options. Malika  will go out independently to pick out pieces and bring the items to them or . the client has the option of having a one on one shopping session in stores with Malika.

Due to a number of potential clients contacting Malika from out of state she also offers a “Shop at My home store” option; where she contacts the client’s local store to have merchandise held for them. On September 6 Malika will officially launch her company’s website, where clients will be able to book her services directly.

In the meantime if you are looking to for help contact her by e-mail.  MakeMeOverMalika@gmail.com. 

                                   Keep Styling in Delco!

What to Wear to a Wedding!

        Have you been invited to a wedding, but aren't quite sure what to wear?
The rules are different for different times of day, as well as different formalities. In general, you'll want to wear a dress and just about any color goes except for white. Long dresses are reserved for very formal weddings.  Here are some tips from Danielle of  David’s Bridal’s  and some tips on what type of dress to shop for. She’s included some dos and don’ts.   Get ready to look as good as the bride!  Informal Daytime: Short dress or suit (business attire OK for morning weddings)

 Informal Evening: Cocktail dress (which is any dressier dress -- for example, a little black dress not  full length.

Semi-Formal Daytime: Short dress or suit

Semi-formal Evening: Cocktail dress

 

      Formal Daytime: Short dress or suit

       Formal Evening or Black-Tie: Long or dressy short cocktail (beading, glam accessories, wrap    

  Ultra-formal or White Tie: Long gown, extra glitz (Costume Jewelry, faux diamonds, furs, etc.

Dos and Don'ts

If you have to ask if it's appropriate, it probably isn't. Do use good judgment if the invitation doesn't specify the formality of the event.
Don't wear white because it competes with the bride, unless you ask her first, as a courtesy. There are plenty of other colors available. This rule may seem outdated, but it's actually just good etiquette to not contend with the bride on her special day.
Anything too sparkly will make you look overdressed.  Don't wear black or sequins during the daytime.
Don't worry about wearing the same colors as the bridesmaids or mothers. You can't possibly coordinate with everyone in the wedding party.
Club wear: overtly sexy clothing (strapless, see-through, etc.) doesn't belong at a wedding. A pastel suit or soft floral dress for daytime or a little black dress for evening (after 6 p.m.) will take you almost anywhere.
Casual can mean a pretty sundress (like for a coastal or beach wedding) but rarely means something as sloppy as jeans or shorts.
To see more dresses go to http://www.davidsbridal.com

Buying a Bathing Suit- Here's the scoop!

The pools are open. The ocean is calling. It’s time to find the perfect bathing suit.

We all dread this time of baring our clothes especially if we don’t look like a Sport’s Illustrated Bathing Beauty. But here are some tips to help you find your way around the rack and look fabulous.  The first thing is to know your body type.

Are you an apple, a pear, curvy hourglass, rectangle or an  inverted triangle?

Give yourself time to shop?

Try on at least ten bathing suits.  I know how frustrating that can be but just think that tenth bathing suit might be the one.

Suits always run smaller than the size they are so don’t be discouraged. It’s not you, it’s the suit.

Stand tall and love the body you are in. Remember you are beautiful just the way you are.

So check out your shape and go for it.

Pear Shape

Look for tops with extra design elements above the waist. This detailing draws the eyes upward, making your bust look bigger and downplaying the weight of your bottom half. Skimpy tops only end up emphasizing your bottom half, making it look even fuller than it actually is. Find   swimsuits with horizontal stripes across the bust or waist.

 Look for swimsuits with scalloped necklines or V necks. These deep necklines give you the illusion of cleavage, making your small bust look fuller and drawing the attention away from your hips.

Avoid the boy short look or skirted bottoms.  A high cut brief will make your legs look longer.  Tankinis will give your body a longer look, thus giving a slimmer appearance.

Apple Shape

Look for fabrics designed to keep your stomach flat. Thicker materials or swimsuits with built in support at the stomach can keep your middle region looking slim. Try a one-piece suit with shirring down the sides and at the waist. Shirring pulls your waist in, making it look narrower.

 Camouflage your mid-section with creative prints. Bold or creative prints and. color blocking can also be used to create this effect. Stripes or patterns placed along your side draw the eye to the side instead of your stomach. Avoid billowy swimsuits. Extra material only adds bulk

                         Inverted Triangle                                 

 Halter tops provide your large bosom with the support it needs looking attractive and feminine. Avoid swimsuits with high necklines. While these may provide your bust with the support it needs, they may make you look too matronly.

Gravitate toward patterns instead of solids. Look for swimsuits with draping in the middle. This balances out your larger chest with your slim hips. Try a top with a racer-back. Racer-back straps provide more support that many other types, which may prevent your larger bust from bouncing around. Support your busty figure with under wire cups.

 Bathing suits that contain no under wiring may not be enough. Avoid triangle tops. These provide very little support, making you look even bustier as a result. Moreover, you are more likely to experience a wardrobe malfunction with nothing but skimpy string triangle cups to tame your bust.

Rectangle

Avoid bandeau style tops. Bandeau tops emphasize your lack of upper curves, however, making your body look more boyish.

Look for feminine prints and colors, like pink giving you a   softer appearance. . Try a swimsuit with angled stripes. Stripes angled downward toward the center front of your suit create an optical illusion, making it appear as though the suit has a nipped waist. This creates the appearance of curves. Wear a swimsuit with ruffles or fringe.

Ruffles create the illusion of volume, which makes you seem curvier. Ruffled trim works especially well if you have an athletic rectangle shape. Make your bust look curvier with a front tie. A knot that lands in the center of your chest draws the eye to your cleavage, accentuating the shape and creating a voluminous appearance.

Bikinis break up your straight contours by revealing your stomach, which defines your waist. String bikinis work especially well due to the ties. Look for a bottom with ties that cinch at the side thus creating an illusion of curves.

  So darling you found the suit time to make a splash. Just be who you are and enjoy the sun but don’t forget the sunscreen.

                                Keep styling in Delco!!!!

Spring is here!!!

Putting together some of the trends and making it work 

Time to shed those winter coats and hats! It's Spring! It's time to be bold with color and patterns. Stripes are big whether they are diagonal or straight across. White and Black again are huge this year.  Look for a great tailored white shirt. It will carry you through the season. You can layer it over a top underneath.

Skirts are longer.  Long or tea length but that  is not to say that you won't see minis out there or skirts that show a little leg with a slit.

The cropped top is back so start doing that abs work now.  I am going to include the first video to get in shape  today.  Show some skin with a partial mesh look.

Think feminine this season flowered prints, flirty skirts, Pastels and nude colored flowing outfits take center stage but so does the color yellow.  You choose: wear it as an accessory or go full blown with a yellow from head to toe.  

Athletic wear has taken its own life now and you can dress up so you can acceptably wear it beyond the gym doors.  Colored sneaks are all the rage so anything goes and yes they can match anything you wear.

Are you ready for this - culottes are back and so are Bermuda shorts. Wear heels with these so you can elongate your legs.

Silk rules the night with little slinky slip dresses in beige, black, red.or navy.

Check out Holly''s Fitness tips! Time to get in Shape.It's time to embrace Spring!!!