Ring in the New Year with a New Look

You’ve drank the champagne and made the New Year Resolutions, but do you still feel like you’re stuck with the 2008 version of yourself? While New Year’s usually signals in a clean slate and heady optimism, it can also remind you of how much the years haven’t been any different from each other either. If you’re craving for a drastic change, one of the best ways to start off is to revamp your look. The physical change will signal the need to overhaul the rest of your life as well. While the make over sequence in your favorite movies seem to take all of three minutes, you have to understand that a new look might take a lot more than a day to achieve. But take your time, do your research and mentally prepare yourself for the gasps that you will be subject to. Are you ready? Read on for a couple of suggestions on how to launch a more fabulous version 2.0 of you.

1.) Get a Head Start on Spring Cleaning

Before you can rev up your make over, take stock of what’s in your closet and make up drawer. For make-up, toss anything that smells funky, or changed in terms of color or consistency. Anything over two years old has to go too. For your closet, get rid of anything that you haven’t used in more than a year, and clothes so old or ill fitting, no amount of repairs can render it usable. Once you’re cleared out some much-needed space, you can finally get around for shopping for new closet staples.

2.) Take Advantage of End of Season Sales

January is one of the best times to stock up because it marks the end of a season, so a lot of items will be on discount. Don’t be finicky about being caught in last season’s items. It’s 2013 and no one really cares if you’re wearing the “it” coat from two seasons ago. As long as it looks amazing on you, and you got it at a steal, you still win. So be on the lookout for sale signs in the designer stores you used to balk at. Remember well made clothing and accessories never go out of style.

3.) Update the basics

The trick to always looking polished is to invest in quality basics that make you look like a million bucks. For fashion, a great pair of jeans and durable pumps are your best bets to making your chic discount top look like a designer find too. If people (especially your parents!) always nag you on dressing sloppily, take it as a cue to invest in more tailored pieces. If you’re a fan of loose band shirts and skinny jeans, throw on a gorgeous blazer over the ensemble to add a bit of polish without sacrificing your personal style.

When it comes to make up quality always trump quantity. You don’t need five different lip-glosses that look goopy on your lips anyway. Invest in a good concealer and face powder, and don’t scrimp when choosing make up brushes. When it comes to pigments, you don’t have to have the entire color wheel at your disposal, focus on investing in shades that suit your skin tone. If you haven’t yet, its also never to soon to invest in skincare. Have a skincare routine, and add in daily sunblock and anti-aging treatment too, just to be on the safe side.

4.) Don’t be too trend resistant.

Yes, everybody has an inner fear of looking like a fashion victim, but that doesn’t mean that you have to stick to the same monochrome palette everyday. Sure you might have curated a style comfort zone already, but deviate from it every once in a while. Go ahead and invest in a luxurious trench coat, and a cute pair of booties as well. As long as you stick to one outrageous piece per outfit, you are still within the realms of stylish.

5.) Trust the Professionals

DIY may be a big trend when it comes to beauty and fashion, but there are times when you have to turn to the professionals to assure a job well done. Don’t even attempt to perm your own hair or to drastically restyle it without the help of a professional. Pay a visit to your favorite salon and try out a new hairstyle to ring in the New Year. A dye job or reshaping your eyebrows can have drastic effects as well.

Start off 2013 with a bang by ushering in a newer and more stylish version of you. Don’t forget to have fun and to stick to treatments and styles you’re comfortable with. Happy New Year to the new you!