Warming to the Layered Look
We don’t get the miserable winter weather of our brethren Back East, but we often tend to look like them at this time of year. On those sharp, cold mornings, many women can be seen rushing to work wearing a heavy cotton or wool sweater underneath a fashionable blazer . . . tsk, tsk.
“If you wear a sweater that’s too bulky (underneath a blazer), you’ll end up looking like a stuffed sausage,” says Stephanie Grani of Stephania in San Juan Capistrano. “You’re changing the way the jacket fits, and it’s not complimentary.”
You can stay just as warm with a thinner silk knit or cotton cashmere sweater, and it will be flatter. Bodysuits also work well with blazers, and thicker knits will keep the body heat in. If you need to wear that fisherman’s cable knit to stay cozy, forget the blazer and throw on your ski jacket.
Wool over the eyes: You’ve got that hot ski outfit, new boots, sharp glasses--and an old wool ski cap.
That old, one-size-fits-all cap has been around longer than wood skis and leather boots. Lots of guys have been spotted at local resorts wearing an old, stretched-out cap--possibly for luck. But they should know that there are other options.
“There are some great new hats and headgear that go well with some of the new colors,” says Heather Patterson of Newport Ski Company in Newport Beach. “Of course, the right wool cap can fit in too.”
If you want to stick with tradition and go with the Alpine look, make sure you pick a cap that fits. Try it on in the store, pull it down to cover your ears and be aware of your forehead. If you feel some abnormal tension, try another. It should be snug but not cut off your circulation.
On the nail: Not everyone can have a manicurist do their nails, but that doesn’t mean everyone else has to notice.
Many women are seen around town with great coats of polish on their nails, but brush strokes across the cuticles are the telltale signs of a home (or auto) manicure.
“The mistake many women make is they don’t soak their hands,” says Belva Quigley of Belva’s Nails Naturally in Orange. “Soak them for a while in hot water before you start; the cuticles will be soft, and it will be easier to get polish off them when you make a mistake.”
If you’re saving some cash by not visiting the nail shop, at least splurge a little by using good polish. Cheap paints won’t create a smooth finish.
Also, don’t make the mistake of doing your nails during the lunch hour or during any other time crunch. The more relaxed you are, the steadier your hand will be.