Do: Dress By Fit, Not By Size

Today's do is a tough one to do. We get so caught up with the number on the piece of clothing that we lose sight of what matters - getting the right fit.

A major offender in this area is Jessica Simpson. By refusing to wear anything but a certain number size, she looks like a gross sausage in this dress. She looks bigger by wearing a too small dress. She would actually look smaller if she had just gone up a size (or two). The sheath dress is a great idea for a curvy figure like hers, but only if it fits.

Sizing is so different by store (and even within the same store!) that you can't get hung up on it. Look beyond the number and see how the item looks. Sometimes you just have to go up to make sure all your curves fit in right. And if the number is so terrible to look upon, then just cut it out! With a little snip you never have to look at the offending size again, but you will continue to look fabulous by wearing clothing that actually fits you well.

Don't: Sneakers With Work Clothes

There is NO excuse, none none, for wearing tennis shoes with your work clothes. You're trying to look professional, and then, BAM, glaring white tennies staring at you, cutting you off at the ankle and making you look so sad and dumpy.

Instead, try a nice sandal, flat, or boot. You'll be comfy on your commute without sacrificing style.

Do: Tailoring

Sorry for the delay in your do's and dont's. I know you've probably been very sad about it. You can blame Comcast. Our internet has been out for a week. BOOOO Comcast! But after a visit from Miguel, the Comcast tech who frankly creeped me out, we are back online. Yay!

Today's do: getting to be buddies with your tailor! Look at him, he's so sweet. Why wouldn't you want to be friends with him?

I don't know why people are so anti-tailoring. Fear? Price? Laziness? But I'm telling you, simple and very inexpensive tailoring fixes can make a huge impact on your wardrobe.

No one, I repeat: no one, is exactly a perfect fit for off the rack. These fit issues can be glaring at times and make a nice outfit look shabby, and make you look a mess who is drowning in her clothes or whatever fit issue it is. But there are such EASY fixes. Short on top? Get the straps of a dress taken up for about $8. Short legs? Get your pants hemmed or your dress/skirt shortened for about $10. You can even keep your original hem on your jeans for just $5. There is NO excuse for frayed, dragged-on-the-floor hems on your jeans. Get those jeans hemmed, girls!


And since we're already on the subject of helpful clothing fixers, let's talk about my other friend: the cobbler.

I have discovered the wonderful cobbler Brooks Shoe Service, and by discovered I mean that both Barney's and Neiman's told me to use them and I obeyed. And I'm so glad I did.

A trip to the cobbler to fix the shoes you love will give you many more years with them. Get the tips fixed, get the soles reinforced, get them cleaned. Take care of those shoes!

Don't: Fakes

One of my major pet peeves is people buying fakes. You've seen them: the Fraudas, the "Channel"s, the "Goocci"s.

If you have a fake, this is you:
But way less cute.

Seriously, fake bags/jewelry are copyright/trademark violations and their manufacture and possession is against the law. Not to mention the people selling them are linked to terrorism, trafficking, and sweat shops. Is that really who you want to be supporting?

And legal/moral stuff aside, why bother with a knockoff? You are not fooling anyone. There is NO shame in not having the budget for designer brands. But you are painting a giant banner on yourself when you carry a fake that says "I wish I had money, but I don't, so I'd rather have this tacky fake than buy something nice within my means." Also, forget fooling others, you're obviously not fooling yourself. Does it feel nice to have that fake bag? What are you getting out of it? Wouldn't it feel nicer to have something real?

Fashion is not just labels, it's a look. Sticking a label across a bag, fake or real, doesn't make it look good. It's about style and construction. And that does not have to be about price. I've rocked a Forever 21 clutch and gotten as many compliments on that as the Diane von Furstenberg dress I wore with it.

So save your $20 for that knockoff, and go buy something cute that makes you happy. Something that isn't trying to fool anyone. Something you can be proud of.

Do: Try New Colors

People really do get themselves into color funks. Some can't stop wearing black, they're all LBDs all the time. Others are a sad rainbow of brown cardigans. And then there are those who are all animal prints. And even a print can be boring and monotonous if done too much.

So I'm giving y'all the homework this month for September dos and don'ts month to try a new color you normally wouldn't. Grab that mustard skirt. Try out that green handbag. New colors abound for you and I assure you that you will be pleasantly surprised by trying out something new.

And lest you think I don't practice what I preach, I already did my September new color homework. I've very much been a clear/light pinky nail polish on my fingers rut. You didn't notice as quickly when they chip, and I found them more appropriate for the workplace. But my workplace now is wherever I'm taking BabyWP and she really doesn't find color on my nails inappropriate. She just finds them super interesting. So on Friday I got on the browns for nails parade and tried out Essie's new color "very structured"

[Those are not my feet in the background, they're Mr. EWP's]

If you're looking for a changeup for your nail color, try out what's the latest trend: taupe! Or, as my friend Carina says, "mannequin hands." As in your nails and skin blend into each other and give a mannequin look. I couldn't pull the trigger on full on mannequin, but going with the brown I did was a big leap from clear if I do say so myself.

If you want to try out a taupe, try Chanel's Inattendu or Essie's Case Study.

Don't: Flip Flops

There is no greater evil in the world than wearing flip flops around. Okay, maybe there are worse evils, but flip flops are still pretty bad. And wedge flip flops are THE WORST. OMG OMG Can we discuss how awful wedge flip flops are? People wear them thinking they look great and tall or something, but they look like New Jersey hooker moms or something. For serious.

If just aesthetic reasons aren't enough, how about some medical ones.

Flip flops are bad for your feet because they "offer little cushioning and no arch support, and they force their wearers into an unnatural, toe-gripping, foot-slapping gait." Wearing flip flops regularly can lead to chronic foot pain, heel calluses, and hammer toes. Gross! Gross! Gross! [Info from USA Today]

Now back to how they look, because, let's be honest, that's all that matters to me.

After racking and racking my brain, I have come up with the following list of occasions where flip flops may be worn:
1) To the pool/beach
2) In a public shower (e.g. at the gym)
3) To a pedicure
4) If you have somehow injured yourself and cannot bend over to put on shoes. Though I will say that as someone who recently threw out her back, I still didn't succumb to the flips, and instead had Mr. EWP put my shoes on and take them off for me. But if you do not have a Mr. EWP to do that for you, you can do flip flops.

Note that nowhere on the list does it say "to work" or "at a wedding." If you cannot handle wearing heels all night at a wedding, change into pretty flats, not flip flops. Nothing looks worse than a cocktail dress with rubber flip flops. And a beach wedding does not call for flip flops, but pretty sandals. Lastly, wearing flip flops with your work clothes is simply unacceptable. NO ONE will take you seriously in the workplace if you are wandering in and out with rubber flapping on your feet. (See: prior do post). Instead for your commuting needs, try a nice pair of sandals, ballet flats, or boots.

Don't: French Manicures & Pedicures

There's something about September that always makes me feel like we're starting new and starting fresh. I guess my brain never got off the school calendar. So September is time to get your new outfits and start a new image.



And there's no better way to start off the "new year" without a list of dos and don'ts, EWP style.



Today is my biggest biggest hated make me cry pet peeve. French manicures and pedicures.



Nothing says "trashy" to me like a french mani/pedi. French manis are bad enough, but a french pedi? ACK! Why anyone would want to accentuate the length of their toenails is just beyond me.



Say it with me: Just say no to french mani/pedis. Just say oui to regular mani/pedis.