How to Avoid Looking Frumpy

It’s easy to do, especially after kids. Make-up is generally the first fatality followed shortly by hair, clothes and shoes. No woman wants to look frumpy, but it is a lot of work keeping up appearances and once kids hit the scene everything else seems a little less important. Before you know it the no make-up, hair in a bun and sweat suit becomes your signature look. This doesn’t have to be the case and with very little time you look pulled together every day. No matter what your age remember that you are a vibrant woman and that should be reflected in your style.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mascara, lip gloss, blush
• One pair of jeans or pants that make you feel good
• Shoes (other than tennis shoes)
• Hair accessories
• House rule of 15 minutes to yourself every morning

1. You don’t have to wear make up every day, but if you plan on leaving the house at all a little bit will probably make you feel better about yourself, especially once you are out among the living. Keep it simple, wash your face use an SPF lotion and then apply a little bit of blush, mascara and lip-gloss.

2. Along with your sweats, save the comfy, fluffy, big clothes for home. To go out put on a nice pair of pants or jeans, preferably a pair that make you feel good about yourself. Your shirt or sweater should reflect your true size, not a size or two larger. Wearing larger clothes will only make you look larger and frumpy too.

3. Find a pair of shoes that are comfortable but nice looking. Steer clear of shoes that look orthopedic (although tempting) and include the words tennis or sneaker in them.

4. Keep your nails well manicured and your hair free of grey streaks. Ask your stylist for a low maintenance hair color and cut. This is also a great excuse for some much needed alone time.

5. Although putting your hair up is easy it really just takes little fuss to make it look “done”. Buy some cute barrettes or decorative hair ties (this does not include hair scrunchies). If you have longer hair put a dollop of conditioning hair cream in, to calm frizz, and sweep it to one side at the nape of your neck. Let it drape over your shoulder for effect. Straight hair and short hair can look pulled together with two simple barrettes pulling the sides back above the ears. Find a simple hairstyle with some experimentation and go with it.

6. Find a tiny pair of stud earrings that you like and leave them in all the time. Simple, even inexpensive, jewelry pieces are an easy way to look “done” without the fuss.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep clothing simple but comfortable. Jackets, blazers and tie sweaters are great for jazzing up a plain T-shirt.