Copyright (c) 2008 ExpressionEngine tag:thebudgetfashionista.com,2008:08:07 tag:thebudgetfashionista.com,2008:fashion-forum/viewthread/.1182 2008-08-06T09:25:20Z Angela tag:thebudgetfashionista.com,2008:fashion-forum/viewthread/.1097 2008-07-27T15:49:20Z overtaken by a nap budget fashionista being one of course) that have helped.

In keeping with the Mature Fashionista thought here are some I have that have been extremely helpful.

How Not to Look Old: Fast and Effortless Ways to Look 10 Years Younger, 10 Pounds Lighter, 10 Times Better by Charla Krupp This is EXCELLENT! I would advise getting this first and working thru it. From makeup and skin care to dental work, and clothing tips this is the best of the first 3 that I mention.

The Grown-Up Girl's Guide to Style: A Maintenance Bible for Fashion, Beauty, and More . . . by Christine Schwab is a tough love approach to some good tips and pointers, some of which I take leave to ignore, like the don't wear sleeveless tops anymore rule. I don't have good upper arms, but I don't care, my batwings fly free! However I like the no holds barred tough love straight talking style, and I prefer to know the rules first, then feel free to break them.

Staging Your Comeback: A Complete Beauty Revival for Women Over 45 by Christopher Hopkins This one is a combination of wardrobe, makeup and hair advice, which I liked but it's one that most should get out of the library first to see if it is for them. Not one for the permanent keepers bookshelf.

40 Over 40: 40 Things Every Women over 40 Needs to Know About Getting Dressed by Brenda Kinsel is a real confidence builder. Brenda introduces the important concept of clothing as armour, something that gives us confidence, projects who we wish to be seen as at any given moment and helps us choose well. I love this book.

Danica Lo's How Not to Look Fat is a good guide to picking clothes and learning posture and walking tips to help me feel my best in the clothes I have.

Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, 7th Edition by Paula Begoun has saved me a bundle of money in the anti aging skin care section of my drugstore as well as at the cosmetic counter. I've owned various previous editions of this classic and it's ALWAYS saved me more, way more than it cost to buy the book.

The Skin Type Solution by Leslie Baumann is a no nonsense guide to skin care, by a premier dermatologist in Miami. She dishes on which products for which skin type, but the greatest value comes in her quiz at the beginning to determine skin type. I've used it successfully on myself, my daughter and daughter in law. Useful and a real keeper.

Bobbi Brown Beauty Evolution: A Guide to a Lifetime of Beauty by Bobbi Brown. I love her natural looking style of makeup. She shows how to do a good application at different ages, but also how to care for skin. A keeper.

The 5-Minute Face: The Quick & Easy Makeup Guide for Every Woman by Carmindy is another great makeup tips book. Mostly I love this for the ultra simplified application tips.

Fit and Fabulous After 40: A 5-Part Program for Turning Back the Clock by Denise Austin is my new favourite exercise book. Simple routines combining stretching, Yoga and Pilates, nothing jarring or too hard. No expensive equipment. ]]> tag:thebudgetfashionista.com,2008:fashion-forum/viewthread/.1095 2008-07-26T23:37:52Z Angela tag:thebudgetfashionista.com,2008:fashion-forum/viewthread/.1099 2008-07-27T20:59:26Z overtaken by a nap
Perfume is actually more of an addiction or collection. Applied with a light hand it is far nicer then the chemical scents in detergents, fabric softeners and air fresheners. Those are headachey along with cheap perfumes but some of the expensive ones that I like don't trigger my migraines (yay!) or asthma (double yay)

Whether it is because the good stuff uses good stuff and the cheap stuff causes trouble I don't know for sure but I found I can tolerate some good perfumes (not all by any means, some good perfumes cause a resounding headache, and others just trigger asthma)

When I stopped trying to make one perfume fit me, and started collecting then I found I wore it without getting tired of one scent in particular.

I have a stable of them now, not budget but a lot of fun and makes me feel really good. A little goes a long way.

I keep them dark and cool but not in the fridge. One perfume expert I talked to advised against that. Several have told me to keep them either in a dark drawer like lingerie drawers or else inside the box to extend their life.

My top favourite is Bvlgari Pour Femme and I layer others on top depending on my mood.

Joy and Chanel #5 and also Blue Grass are good with that one. All sort of light and floral.

by themselves I use Coco and Coco Mademoiselle, and Shalimar. They are better not being layered. Coco and Shalimar are heavier for winter and more oriental.

Another 2 that I prefer to wear by themselves are Mitsouko and L'Heure Bleu.

Finally Eau d'Hadrien is a superb lemony summer fragrance but I've only been able to use testers, it's next on my "treat to buy when I can afford to" list along with Aeryn Lauders Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia. ]]> tag:thebudgetfashionista.com,2008:fashion-forum/viewthread/.842 2008-05-13T11:22:17Z Angela tag:thebudgetfashionista.com,2008:fashion-forum/viewthread/.1058 2008-07-14T09:52:43Z Angela tag:thebudgetfashionista.com,2008:fashion-forum/viewthread/.884 2008-05-24T12:09:28Z Classique 1. clothes for the gym. I want knee-length gym shorts that are NOT like spandex...loose-fitting but not baggy (not butt-hugging, panty-line-showing), made out of quick-dry fabric (I actually sweat at the gym), have pockets, and hey, how about reversible? My current favorite gym shorts came from the boys' department...but they do sort of look like it!
2. fun summer shoes that are not sandals (so I can wear them to church with pantyhose...I feel uncomfortable with bare legs in church, not to mention that my legs look better!) and, if they are flat, with some support in the arch (those shoe inserts for plantar fasciitis don't fit in every shoe).
3. skirts with lining (try to find a good half-slip lately?)
4. lightweight white pants (e.g., not denim) that you can't see through (really, a thong only works for someone who has a perfectly firm rear...and can stand to wear one!)

and that's just off the top of my head.
What about you? ]]> tag:thebudgetfashionista.com,2008:fashion-forum/viewthread/.1100 2008-07-28T01:09:38Z 2008-07-28T01:10:10Z Classique tag:thebudgetfashionista.com,2008:fashion-forum/viewthread/.977 2008-06-22T21:12:08Z Classique tag:thebudgetfashionista.com,2008:fashion-forum/viewthread/.1021 2008-07-03T10:19:06Z Angela
Do you agree that you should change your makeup routine as you mature, and if so, any tips on how you think mature fashionistas can adjust their makeup routine to their best advantage? ]]>