How to Be Like Gwyneth Paltrow

With her patrician good looks and elegant style, Gwyneth Paltrow is a woman to be admired. If you'd like to find out how to be like her and also learn a little bit about her in the process, please read on.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Great, healthy-looking hair
• Natural looking makeup
• Simple, yet chic outfits
• Minimal jewelry
• Poise
• Charm

1. 
   Gwyneth's hair

   Hair
   
   To get your version of Gwyneth's great looking hair, make sure yours is always clean and well-conditioned, with the ends finely-trimmed and the color always maintained.
   
   As for hair styles, be like Gwyneth and try different looks for different occasions. On the red carpet, she'll have her hair loose and free, parted in the middle, parted on the side, bangs, ponytails, buns and even French braids. In everyday life you'll usually see Gwyneth in a ponytail or her hair hanging free. On must-be-seen occasions, she has a more elegant do, usually upswept or in a French braid. In-between occasions you'll usually see her in an easy style like simply pulled back into a clip.

2. 
   Gwyneth's makeup

   Makeup
   
   Gwyneth's makeup is never overdone. She chooses light-colored foundations that conceal flaws but don't go on thickly or heavily.
   
   Choose blush colors in light to medium pink shades or light plum. Avoid bronze or brownish shades. Apply blush very lightly and only to the apples of the cheeks.
   
   Choose dark brown mascara, but don't overdo it. Apply sparingly to the top and bottom lashes. For special occasions, Gwyneth may also be seen wearing blue mascara.
   
   Gwyneth often wears eyeshadow in shades of pink, blue or purple. The application is subdued and mostly along the lash base. Fill in the rest of the eyelid with a barely pink or barely beige color.
   
   As for her mouth, Gwyneth isn't known for her full, thick lips so if you have thin lips like hers, use a lip liner only a shade darker than the lipstick you choose. Gwyneth selects lip colors in dark pink, coral, light plum and similar shades.

3. 
   Gwyneth all dolled up

   Clothes
   
   As an unabashed lover of fashion, Gwyneth has worn everyone from Calvin Klein to Donatella Versace. Because of her lean, lithe 5-foot-10-inch frame, she looks good in just about anything.
   
   To copy Gwyneth's elegant style, wear slim cut jeans and a simple yet elegant blouse or a modest dress with boots for during the day. Avoid wearing low-cut necklines unless you're attending a formal affair. For evening, go all out feminine with a mini dress with opaque stockings and funky shoes or a chic pantsuit with sexy sandals. Always wear clothes that are well fitted but never too tight.
   
   As for colors, white tends to be one of Gwyneth's favorite colors; but she's also been seen in black, pink and blue.

4. 
   Gwyneth's simple yet elegant jewelry

   Jewelry and Accessories
   
   Gwyneth's taste in jewelry is fairly simple and never overdone. She's usually seen wearing one of each piece: a necklace and/or a bracelet and/or earrings. On special occasions, though, she's known to wear some fabulous pieces worth thousands but again, never overdone.
   
   As for perfume, it wouldn't hurt to splash on some Estée Lauder Pleasures perfume. (Gwyneth just happens to be the spokesperson!)

5. 
   Poised Gwyneth

   Poise
   
   Once of the first things you notice about Gwyneth is how poised she always is. Gwyneth's poise comes naturally; but for the rest of us, it can be learned.
   
   Part of having poise is believing in yourself and having self confidence. This means learning to believe that you are a positive, worthwhile, wonderful person who has interesting things to share. You may also want to consider attending a "finishing school" where social skills are taught and reading self help books that will guide you on how to improve your self confidence.

6. 
   Gwyneth's great form

   Great Form!
   
   Wanna know how Gwyneth keeps her lean look? Most days, Gwyneth practices yoga or pilates. She gets in some cardio by running after her 2 kids, Apple and Moses.
   
   As for diet, Gwyneth used to be well-known for keeping to a super-strict macrobiotic diet, which involved eating low-fat, high fiber foods and a lot of vegetables. Since becoming a mom, however, Gwyneth has chilled out her diet a bit. She now avoids excess sugar and dairy and eats organic veggies with plenty of whole grains and legumes.

7. 
   Gwyneth and Apple

   Down to Earth
   
   With all the money and fame Gwyneth has, everyone in Hollywood knows her to be extremely likable and down to earth. From driving herself to the set everyday, to maintaining her self-deprecating humor, to asking for books instead of baubles for her birthday, to foregoing the help of a nanny when her children were born, Gwyneth never takes herself too seriously.
   
   In your own life, take a page from Gwyneth's; treat everyone with equal respect, from the guy who picks up your garbage to the vice president of your company. They all deserve to be treated kindly and respectfully.
   
   Also, never, ever take yourself too seriously. Life is much too short. It's always meant to be enjoyed!

8. 
   Gwyneth's philanthropy

   Philanthropy
   
   Along with her busy work schedule, Gwyneth is also a dedicated philanthropist.
   
   As the face of Estée Lauder's Pleasures perfume, Gwyneth arranged for a minimum of $500,000 of sales from the "Pleasures Gwyneth Paltrow" collection to go to breast cancer research. Gwyneth also serves on the board of the Robin Hood Foundation, a charitable organization which attempts to alleviate problems caused by poverty in New York City.
   
   You don't need to donate thousands of dollars or serve on boards to be philanthropic. Merely working in a soup kitchen, donating to your favorite charity or simply giving a homeless person a dollar is enough to do some good for others.

Tips & Warnings

• When copying Gwyneth's style, remember never overdo it. Less is always more!
• Gwyneth's look is all about elegance and style but never overly trendy. So when dressing like her, look for clothes that are chic yet simple and then incorporate 1 or 2 trendy pieces.
• Take a lesson from Gwyneth's life. When following the macrobiotic diet, don't overdo it. Gwyneth was said to be extremely weak and undernourished when following this diet.
• Gwyneth doesn't have very many bad habits but one habit that she has quit off and on over the years is smoking. So take another lesson from Gwyneth's life and if you don't smoke, don't start. If you are smoker, then quit.

Resources

• Gwyneth Paltrow