How to Dress Feminine

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Hello again lovely friends! Instead of writing a Friday Five post this week, I was busy catching up on all of the missed blog articles for corresponding videos. This post is a summary of one of my most viewed videos on how to dress feminine. I recently posted an updated fall style video on this topic, and I would love for you to view that one as well!

The 80/20 principle
I began the video by essentially explaining the differences between classic and romantic style - the two most dominant types of feminine fashion. Classic style follows that Jackie Kennedy and Grace Kelly type of look; clean lines, solid colors, and sturdy fabrics. Romantic fashion on the other hand, adheres to rather flow-y and unstructured garments - think, the Victorian Era. My personal belief is that a mix of 80/20 between these two types of dress, will provide you with the best balance in your wardrobe. It is also more practical to put the most weight on the classic portion of your wardrobe, due to the simple fact that we can find more of these types of garments in stores.

Color
I accented the importance of seeking to pair colors that are close together on the color-wheel, if you are seeking to mix-and-match colors. I also stated that any color can be paired with neutrals - white or black, for example. You can create complete outfits with blue and pink for example, by pairing different shades.  You will still look "put-together", since you are remaining close on the colour wheel. 

Waist to hip ratio
This is one of the easiest ways to accent a feminine body shape. Opt for tie-waisted dresses and high-waisted skirts. If you do not have that natural hourglass body type, you can create a waist by wearing skirts and dresses with ruffles at the bottom and/or a slip with fabric at the bottom of the trim (think of creating a triangle shape from your waist down). You can also similarly add details such as ruffles to your top, to highlight a smaller waist. It is essentially a game of balance.

Details
This adheres to the 20% of your style, which will be romantic. You can include subtle bows, flutters and ruffles. You can also include floral patterns, however try to keep these as as small as possible. I like to this of this technique, as adding elements of girlishness. 

Textures
Remember, living in your feminine means embracing the experience of getting dressed. Try to opt for luxurious fabrics. I also encourage you to vary your wardrobe, with a range of textures and try not to repeat similar textures (with the exclusion of sleepwear and exercise clothing, which can be of the same fabric). An easy way to do this is to "shop with your hands" - touch clothing items as you move through the racks of clothing. The goal is to get your closet to a state of variability and truly embrace the experience of putting on each garment of a different material.

Shoes
The rule of quite simple: the shorter the dress/skirt, the shorter the heel. I encourage you to buy mid-length heels, as they are the classiest. I also encourage a solid color heel, as it is easiest to match to your outfit and your bag, for a more "pulled together" look. I also mentioned that my recommended casual shoe is the ballet flat.

Accessories
I love scarves and I recommend adding them to any outfit, to add a pop of color, or to accent the color in focus. The material of the scarf is also important in giving you that luxurious feminine feel.I mentioned my love of hats. You can easily incorporate romantic style by opting for a sunhat with a bow.I encourage you to always opt for balance in your accessories - for example, a big bracelet would necessitate a small necklace (or none) and earrings. 

Personal grooming
This is the basis of all feminine style. You can dress impeccably, but fail to exude femininity if you are not well-groomed. I encourage you to choose one makeup item that you can commit to everyday. I also encourage you to try to wear your hair down, if you find that this style is most flattering for your facial features. 

How to sit like a Lady

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Happy Thursday everyone! I am trying to become more effective in writing the corresponding blog posts as I release my videos. I realize that I have so many to catch up on and I plan on actually sitting down an entire day and getting that work done! In the meantime, I hope you enjoy today's video and post on how to sit like a lady.

This video is a part of my femininity series, but also a subset of videos I began on carrying ourselves in a graceful and elegant way. If you have not yet watched my video on posture (blog post) and feminine walking, I would encourage you to explore those topics first. 

Welcome to my new readers and viewers! It would mean so much to me if you would share my content with a friend who might enjoy it. Being a small influencer, the initial stretch is always the most challenging. My goal with this platform is not personal fame, but to reach as many women as possible with the messages that have indeed changed my life. The bigger we grow, the more I can give back to you! P.S Once we reach 1k on Youtube I have a giveaway planned and I would love to do that at every milestone.

Clothing
Ensure that you are wearing appropriate clothing. A simple trick would be to actually sit in the dressing room when purchasing clothing. You can also actually place your hands down the garment as a way to ensure that there is enough "wiggle-room". Always keep in mind the context of where you are going and how you will have to sit.

Descending
Keep your chest elevated and do not look or veer your torso toward the floor. You want to exude confidence in descending into your chair. A trick instead of looking behind you would be to ensure that you calves are touching the chair and gently reach back to grab the chair before you place your bottom.

Knees
Ensure that your knees are always together when sitting. You do not want to expose your private parts (which is why you do not want to keep your legs open). This ranges back to the point I made about vulnerability and the fact that accentuating these regions exudes insecurity. 

Angle
Your vertical side angle should be 90 degrees (thighs down to angle).

Slouching
You want to maintain a fist length between your back and the chair.

Crossing your legs
You can veer your shins to one-side (this is the simplest way). You can choose to cross your legs at your ankles while doing so, or placing your calves one over the other; each movement, always remaining in that side-to-side manner. Please avoid the standard American leg-cross. View the video for more information.

Standing
Ensure that your legs are together in that 90 degree angle when standing. Use your hands to push off the chair, if you need the extra assistance.

The Friday Five (September 6th, 2019)

Friday, September 6, 2019

This post almost did not happen. I am completely behind on my to-do list, and I have not even gone on my daily walk today! I might have to settle for some light stretching and a "power-hour" of cleaning along with my favorite cleaning podcast (Clean With Me).

We are heading into the second week of September in a few days (eek), and I wanted to wish you many blessings in this busy season. 

1. I know many of you are going back to school. Throughout my studies, I found One Class to be particularly helpful for note sharing and searching past resources written by students who have already taken a particular course. I also recommend that you search, Rate My Professors, to know the level of difficulty and testing style of your professor. Do not be afraid to switch class times before the dropout date. Finally, recording lectures on your smartphone can help you study and summarize your notes more effectively (make sure your professor allows it). 

2. I am packing away my summer clothes, and I am feelin' all the feels. Spring and Summer are my favorite seasons. I talked about my issue with fall, in my previous Friday Five post. Speaking of packing, I have found that stuffing scarves into purses helps them keep their shape when putting them into boxes for storage. In addition, the cheapest storage bins are definitely found at Walmart and/or Canadian Tire (I know, I have moved 3 times in 3 years LOL).

3. I have been loving hair bows, and have begun incorporating them into my wardrobe. You can surprisingly find a good variety of them at Dollar Tree (you all know I love this store). I am still on the fence about those trending pearl clips - I will get back to you on that one.

4. It is time to incorporate darker lip colors as we transition into fall. I am planning on wearing the "Stay all day MATTE'ificent Lipstick" from Stila (shade: Framboise). I basically like all my makeup products to be of a matte finish. I find that it gives my face a type of 1950s glamour- matte makeup is so timeless. 

5. I spent about an hour thrifting for Fall clothing today. I have already ranted about the fun and importance of thrifting. I am so grateful that my husband and I have been financially blessed throughout these past few years. We are at a place where we do not have to shop this way, however, I will always continue to thrift regardless of income level. Thrifting is environmentally friendly and a certain percentage of the purchase usually goes toward a good cause. I encourage you to consider thrifting. 


Homemake with me - My Afternoon

Monday, September 2, 2019

If my Youtube video brought you here, welcome! If you are a continuous reader of this blog, I would love it if you would check-out my videos.

Today's post is a summary of Monday's video. If you enjoyed this post or video, I would be so grateful if you would hit the "like" button - it really helps grow the community of women supporting the homemaking and femininity movement. 

Homemake with me
1. I love buying and using more "natural" cleaning products. I used a store-brand all-purpose cleaner today, and my usual Method Daily Granite. 

2. I encourage you to buy flowers while grocery shopping, especially if you find this to be one of your least favorite chores. You can usually revive sale flowers, using your own sugar/water mixture or the one provided in bouquets.

3. I mentioned in a previous post, that I derive my handy-dandy-notebook inspiration from an Instagram homemaker called, "Mrs. Hinch". I like to write all of my tasks for the day, including bills I need to pay in my notebook. 

4. I mentioned how Dyson has an excellent customer service center. They are pretty pricey

5. I bought my olive oil dispenser from the Dollar Tree.

6. I love writing my favorite recipes in my Kate Spade recipe book. 

7. I learned the concept of shining my sink from FlyLady. I do this every evening. 

8. I spoke to you about my minimalism journey, briefly. Adopting a minimalist mindset has helped relieved my anxiety and focus on what truly matters in my life. 

9. I do at least one load of laundry per day. I like to use the baskets from the Dollar Tree - one of these small baskets fits a 

10. I talked about how I love my Airpods. I think they are worth the price. I use them while doing housework; I listen to music and podcasts. 

11. I chatted with you about the importance of being nice to others. 

12. Lasagna recipe: Italian sausage + ground beef, garlic to taste, 1-2 cans of crushed tomatoes, 1-2 cans of tomato paste, chicken broth, 2 tbsp sugar, basil + fennel seed + pepper + salt and oregano to taste, mozzarella, parmesan, lasagna noodles

filling: 1 container of ricotta + 2 eggs, nutmeg, parsley to taste

*you have to adjust most of these measurements depending on the size of your lasagna