So, so lovely to see you here!
But oh babes, I know!
Some days, it’s just simply too much! It’s too much effort to put on a bra, too much effort to choose an outfit, let alone the shoes, the makeup, the earrings! And on those days when it’s all just Too Much, you don’t feel very fabulous at all…
That’s where I come in! Me, Annie Valentine, helping you get your sparkle back quickly. Leaving you feeling ready for those days when you need to somehow get it all together and meet the world head-on, even though you would much rather hide under the duvet. So this is How To Be Fabulous… in three minutes flat!
1. In colder weather, put on a nice, ideally longish coat over whatever you are wearing, and boom! Instant outfit! Accessorise with a scarf that suits you and even a hat – bobble, baseball, wide-brimmed. That way, there’s a layer between you and the world. Even if you’re wearing pyjamas under the coat (spoiler alert point number eight!), you will look totally put together on the outside.
2. Jackets will always give you structure when you’re unravelling at the seams. A soft navy blazer over a t-shirt, a white lineny thing over a summer dress. Jackets are usually better than a cardy, which can go a bit blah and shapeless. So, have a couple of options right at the door, not tucked away in the back of your wardrobe! A grab-and-go jacket to help you face the world.
3. Sometimes you need to take some more special things out of the wardrobe and wear the heck out of them. There will be a grey Tuesday in the middle of February, so maybe you need to use that handbag that you’ve been saving for best, or the red boots that you adore, or that green sweater that lights up your eyes. The perfect accessory for looking fabulous in three minutes is FEELING fabulous, so break out your good stuff, don’t hide it away!
4. Slapping on the bronzer, lippy and a pair of glinting, classy earrings is a good way to liven up the old visage at any time. If you’re a bit of a makeup-phobe and think it’s going to take hours, don’t worry! It’s really not too hard. You can go to the Boots counter and ask for a little demo or go on YouTube (and find someone your kind of age who is giving little tutorials), and learn a few simple, joyful tricks. Practice makes perfect, get it down to a few quick swipes so easy that you can’t not do it before heading out!
5. Let’s not fret too much about wrinkles and saggy bits and greying hair. Honestly, it’s coming to us all. No point wasting money on it. Let’s think about being moisturised, enjoying rubbing gorgeous, scented cream all over, deep conditioning the hair when we have a chance and doing some squats and sit-ups and lifting a weight or two when we can be bothered. Doing the moisturising before bed will leave you feeling soft and silky the next morning, ready to slip out of the house.
6. Have a selection of things that smell delicious in your bathroom, even if just to lift the spirits. A spritz of these before you head out to face the day, or when you’re feeling shattered, or sad, can make an incredible difference. Buy little sample sizes, get freebies, ask for the good stuff on your birthday. If you can, carry a travel sized back-up bottle in your purse, so when you’ve been rushed out the door, you’ve still got a little lift to hand.
7. Everyone needs a favourite pull-me-together outfit. The dress or jumpsuit that makes you feel good, the trouser and blouse combo you can put on every time and feel set up. Having this locked and loaded is a gamechanger for when you just need to get out of the door and don’t have the capacity to think about what to wear. Hey, I even have multiple versions of it! Don’t forget the shoes or boots that work with it, plus the earrings and necklace to complete it. When you’re flat on your face with work stress, divorce stress, kid stress, who-knows-what stress and you have to go somewhere, turn up and be on show, you immediately know you can put on your ‘go to’ outfit… and just go!
8. Accessorising your pajamas. I get it. I’ve been there. Sometimes, you are just going to have to go to the school gates, the shops, even the PTA in your jammies. So… accessorise. Coat or jacket, scarf, necklace, ballet flats or trainers, baseball hat. Don’t explain or apologise, just put your shoulders back and wear the jimjams with confidence – it’s just a matching coord. My top tip here is to make sure your PJs are nice ones. It always makes this much easier… and, frankly, a little tempting. Final tip, please train your children to NOT say, ‘Mummy, why are you still in your pajamas?’ You don’t need any friendly fire.
Fabulous doesn’t mean flawless – it just means doing what you can, when you can. So, grab your lippy and your confidence and remind the world (and yourself) just how fabulous you really are!
Love Annie xx