Feeling Stylish

As most of you who follow me on Twitter know, I’m a bit obsessed with social media. I’ve been thinking about turning my skill set into a business for quite a while now and I’ve finally made that leap. I’ve set up a digital agency in Norwich called Jet Social. I’ll be working on blogs, writing articles, managing social media campaigns and doing a little bit of PR.

It’s an exciting step and not something I would’ve been able to do without Feeling Stylish. Of course, I will continue to blog across my five blogs along with my new and shiny SEO blog.

Wish me luck folks. I’m in control of my own destiny.

Unless you are a seasoned make up user, choosing products to match your skin tone and style can be difficult. Everyday there are new products being launched, with new colours and ingredients. The media is telling us what’s good for our skin and on top of all that we have to contend with so-called natural brands that aren’t natural at all!

Being a beauty fan can be difficult sometimes (although usually it’s glittery and wonderful). With so much choice how do you know what will suit you?

Experiment

If you can get your hands on samples or testers of foundations then this is a great start. Test them on your jaw line to see which is the best fit. If you are after a cheaper variety that can be picked up in a store such as boots then have a go with all the testers.

Most people test foundations on the back of their hand. You shouldn’t do this, your skin tone and texture is different on your hand than on your face!

Look at the colour, coverage, texture and application method. If you find a good colour match but don’t like the idea of using a liquid foundation then you probably won’t find yourself applying it properly.

Department stores

Most of the make up counters in department stores have consultants standing by ready to try every shade in their collection on you. I’d thoroughly recommend taking a look at the Bare Minerals range. The mineral foundations are easy to apply and the staff are so knowledgeable.

If you take a liking a certain brand or product then visit the counter. Staff are always happy to advise and try out different shades on you. Most will also provide samples so you can try wearing the product for a day to see how it feels.

Style

Foundation usually doesn’t change depending on your style (unless you like the deathly pale or orange look) but blusher, eye shadow and lipstick does. I’m a big advocate of trawling beauty blogs and YouTube channels for inspiration when it comes to make up. If you’re doing this then you probably have quite a range of colours and brands in your make up collection. If you don’t, though, you can buy some great eye shadow palettes from brands like Urban Decay. They contain lots of bright colours and are a great start if you want to try something new.

Experiment with colours, contouring, false eyelashes, bright lipsticks, eyeliner and everything else you have in your makeup collection. It also helps to document it all, take photos because you can use them to help replicate the look at a later date!

I got a fair bit of feedback on my post asking what sort of thing I should wear to Bo Nanafana in Norwich last weekend. Here’s the results.

Full review over at Love Norfolk.

Some people think that shoes are just something you wear to protect your feet and stop them getting wet. But shoes are so much more than that. A good pair of shoes can be so many things.

They can be comfortable, stylish, sexy, exciting and empowering, to name just a few. A good pair of shoes can fill you with confidence, just as a bad pair can make you shrink away with embarrassment. These aren’t imagined or created feelings – this is the power of shoes, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

A great shoe should be there when you need it and unnoticeable when you don’t. The last thing you want from a pair of shoes is irritating rubbing and blisters, although you should give them a chance to wear in and settle down when they’re new. But if a pair of shoes refuses to behave and keeps causing your feet problems, it’s to the charity shop they must go, no matter how nice they look.

Walk tall

The right pair of shoes can really make you stand out, acting as the difference between looking good and looking great. But your mum’s right, it’s not always about looks. It’s about how they make you feel. A pair of shoes might look beautiful in the shop window but if they make you feel self-conscious when you are wearing them, then they’re not for you. When they’re the right fit, you’ll know instantly.

Wearing a pair of beautiful Dune shoes, for example, is going to make you feel confident and important, no matter where you are. From popping into town to partying at the palace – or local nightclub – knowing you’ve got the right shoes on is a step in the right direction.

If the shoe fits, wear it

In life, we can be many things to many people – daughter, sister, friend, girlfriend, team-mate, and colleague all rolled into one. Each role we play in life can be distinguished by the shoes we’re wearing at the time: hardwearing, sensible shoes for work; trainers for the gym; something a little bit more glamorous for a date. It’s like an indicator of where we are and who we’re with.

So, the next time somebody tells you that it’s just a pair of shoes, explain to them that it’s much more important than that.