Best products from r/fashion

That sounds less like greed and more like laziness/thoughtlessness + filling-up-the-empty-spaces-inside [some people do it with drugs or sports or sex, some with shopping & clothes].

It sounds like you're starting to be a bit more conscientious, so good for you. Maybe you'll find something that satisfies you & helps the world more than buying clothes you don't even wear. Those clothes can still go to a good cause, though--consider looking for a women's shelter in your area to donate to.

This book isn't as philosophical as all that, but it might give you a different perspective on your wardrobe, what to include or exclude & how to maintain it, at least: Style Clinic.

I also enjoyed doing a clothing exchange with friends after my giant What-Not-To-Wear style wardrobe purge a few years back. It feels great to be free of all that clutter and to see your friends getting something they need & love that no longer suits you.

What color do you dye your hair? If you don't bleach but go for reds, browns or blacks, I suggest using henna. It is really really good for your hair and the result is very natural. I can give you some tips regarding using henna if you're interested.

Other than that, shampoos and conditioners for curly hair are usually very moisturizing as curly hair tends to be very dry. I have mixed texture hair that is past bra length and even dryer than curly hair - I have to use curly hair products as they're the most moisturizing ones I've found. Just don't take the ones that define curl :)

You'll want to look into salon hair care brands. Buy the products on sale. Don't use too much of them - salon products have better ingredients and are more concentrated. They'll turn out to be better for your hair AND cheaper than retail products. I use a non-salon shampoo (LUSH's Curly Wurly, it's absolutely fabulous) but my conditioner and leave in conditioner + split ends mender are from TIGI.

I also came in here to mention shoes. As tehchieftain says, the specific shoe is not important but you do want it to be comfortable. I also feel like if they are too shiny, like a tux shoe, you can't really dress them down. I've been rocking these Florsheim shoes lately. You wear these with some jeans that fit (skinnier in the leg, not baggy cargo style) and you instantly up the classy factor. I wear them with jeans, a plain black t-shirt and a nice sweater, but I also wear them with a suit.

Here is a pretty cool article about why women notice our shoes..

Aside from getting new things, a big thing you should remember is to eliminate the old in your closet, if you haven't done so already.

Tim Gunn actually wrote a few chapters on how to clean out your closet and solidify your style in this book, A Guide to Taste, Quality, and Style that you may want to check out. It's really great and gives some practical steps on how to do it. You might even need a friend to help you clean out your closet and chuck/donate clothes that no longer fit the new style you're going for, so that you don't run the risk of keeping it and wearing it again. I myself know how hard it is to get rid of something that is actually hideous and I never wear, for sentimental reasons. So it's good to have a friend to help do what you can't, haha.

I'd like to start by saying you don't have to be aware of all the technical aspects of fashion design to show her you're supportive and interested in what she's going to do with her life. Listening to her when she tells you about a project, commenting insightfully on her work when she shares it with you, and being there for her when the work load is particularly overwhelming (because, trust me, it will be at some point or another) are the most important things you could ever do to show you care.

As for technical terms, pick up a beginner's sewing book, like Singer's The New Sewing Essentials. Since fashion design has been getting more attention as a glamorous career, there are a wealth of small "crash course" type books that can teach you the basics about textiles, fashion history, marketing, creative direction, etc.

Making Faces is a pretty fantastic book about all the makeup basics! Best of luck, of course.

I've been pining over some Kamik rain boots that I'll also be using as snow boots with some boot liners. That being said, try looking on Amazon, as they have boots all year round and I love the quality of Kamiks. :)

Good luck!

If you're already used to using Got2B products, I've been using Got2B Sculpting Paste for a while and like it a lot. LINK

I typically use Bumble & Bumble sumotech paste, but the got2b stuff is much cheaper and actually really effective. It holds strong and maintains volume, but a girl can still touch your hair without cutting her fingers. Also, it's a matte finish like most pastes, so you won't necessarily LOOK like you have product in.

http://www.zappos.com/product/7860157/color/3 <--- have one sour review, but eh, Zappos has a great return policy if you have poor luck, too

http://www.zappos.com/frye-veronica-lace-tall-black-pebbled-full-grain-suede <--- whoah, expensive, but have some shoe porn anywho

Zappos has a pretty good search filter if you wanna play with 'em a little. I just plugged in black knee high boots with a lowish heel.

http://www.amazon.com/Volatile-Womens-Boot-Combat-Black/dp/B000FS3KFY/ref=sr_1_2?s=shoes&ie=UTF8&qid=1331094798&sr=1-2 <---- dunno if you're into the combat boot style

I know you mentioned wanting replies especially from working designers or fashion majors. I'm frankly neither of those, but in true Reddit fashion wanted to give my opinion anyways since I'm a fan of 2 of the 3.

First, let me describe my style evolution. My mom was a tomboy who wore no makeup and kept her hair short so she wouldn't have to bother with styling it. I grew up without knowing how to apply make-up properly and while I rebelled and had long hair, it was all one length and it went down to my waist. Styling my hair, to me, meant putting it into a pony-tail.

Fashion was a similar issue. My mom was overweight, and wore men's clothing, usually cast offs from my dad or my brothers (who were all pretty big guys.) What did I wear? You guessed it, I wore t-shirts (guys) and jeans, despite being unhealthily thin. I made small attempts at looking girly, but it was either an abysmal failure or created such as stir of shock and surprise that I always immediately regretted wearing anything frilly or cute.

As an adult, I joined the military. This meant my non-make-up wearing was a plus (less time getting ready prior to watch, etc.) and was forced to either keep my hair short or to put it up. I prefer to have long hair, so I mastered a simple, but severe, bun. Also, wearing uniforms 7 days of week while underway meant not having to worry about fashion.

On my days off, I basically had a dress code I had to follow while overseas (button up, collared shirts or blouses that covered shoulders, stomach, and were conservative.) So my style upgraded to polos and jeans. Occasionally I would wear a really nice button up silk blouse. Dresses were rare and of the "clubbing" style that I would wear once, feel awkward in, and then let a friend permanently borrow it.

I've been out of the military for 6 years now and I've had a nightmare time of trying to experiment with business casual, nice dress clothes for after working hours, etc. It also doesn't help that after battling a lifelong eating disorder and a (recently discovered, thanks Reddit!) genetic medical disorder, I've ballooned up in weight, gaining 60 lbs in the last 6 years.

Needless to say, I'm a fashion wreck. I'm a hodgepodge of outdated ideas of what I think is fashionable and how to dress to my body type. Then I started watching "What Not to Wear." While I won't say its the greatest show on earth, it has helped me to start identifying my issues and to try to experiment and try on things I haven't before.

As to "Project Runway", the best thing this show has done for me is to introduce me to Tim Gunn. He has a little book about style that has led to me getting properly fitted for a bra, get my work clothes tailored (I never realized I was actually a petite when it comes to arm length!) and not hate myself for how I look.

So now that I've addressed my issues concerning those 2 shows, I'll go back to your original question. As prior military, I hate, hate, hate when they completely screw up aspects of military life. I know certain details are deliberately misinformed for national security purposes. However, and in particular, showing officers as doing everything in a unit boils my blood. Most shows have 10 officers as characters and 1 enlisted person (maybe.) In reality, in most situations you have 1 officer and 30 enlisted doing the work. Its actually considered the job of a good senior enlisted person to keep the officers OUT of the workplace and as uninvolved as possible. In a well run shop, the officer is there to take care of the command politics and to back-up the senior enlisted.

I think anytime you have a show that portrays a particular industry, you're going to find that the details annoy the heck out of those who are in and actually know about that industry.

TL;DR: Team Mondo because I think purple stripes and green plaid can work together in amazing ways and Kenley can go suck on a polka dot

This is a quick read and an excellent account of the rise of fashion in France. It was published in 2007, but the history is timeless. It's a great perspective into how high society influenced the masses, as well as a glimpse into the beginnings of counterfeiting.

https://www.amazon.com/Essence-Style-Invented-Fashion-Sophistication-ebook/dp/B001CQCAR2/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1479745170&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=french+fashion+history+couture+louis+xiv

For some of the origins of the infantilism of Japanese culture, I'd recommend you read Dogs and Demons: The Dark Side of Japan. It's not just in fashion and body image that infantilism rules in Japanese culture - a very large chunk of their popular culture and cultural exports are infantalized (e.g. hello kitty, pokemon, and so forth). The author, Kerr, asserts that the Japanese are obsessed with pre-K and Kindergarten because the discipline and pressures that are relentlessly brought against Japanese make them look back at this time of life as the only time they were happy. Of course, US culture similarly tends to glorify High-School level adolescence, perhaps for some of the same reasons.

I was in the same boat. My mom is clueless when it comes to femininity, so I ended up learning about it myself over the years. You have light hair, which makes your eyelashes and eyebrows light. Personally, those are the only two things I usually do anything about. Putting stuff all over your face is time consuming, expensive, and ends up looking messy, especially if you don't need it.

So, mascara. Find one that doesn't clump OR flake off at the end of the day. Maybelline xxl is the best I've come by. It even has different types if you want to elongate or thicken your eyelashes.

Since your eyelashes are so light, you'll find that using mascara makes you look like a completely different person.

Next, fill in the eyebrows. I just use a dark brown eye shadow. Try to keep the color matching with your actual eyebrow color (slightly darker than your hair). There are other ways to go about it (eye brow pencils) but I don't have an interest in spending all kinds of money for things like that, so eye shadow works fine for me.

Eyebrows are one of the most important aspects of your face since they frame everything. You don't want super skinny, sharp eyebrows. Just make them look natural.

That's interesting, thanks for sharing! I was just quoting what I read in one of my textbooks [The Business of Fashion] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Business-Fashion-Designing-Manufacturing/dp/1609011104/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367974205&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Business+of+Fashion)

Have you tried using Milbon Straight Liscio crystal Hair Treatment?
I know this product from a hair stylist. You can find it on Amazon.
It's used right after washing your hair while the hair is still wet. I find it making my hair more smooth afterwards.
I also always blow dry my hair usually at medium heat so the heat doesnt damage too much but still drives most of the moisture out.

I hope this helps.

This one:
http://www.amazon.com/Milbon-Straight-Lisciocrystal-Treatment-4-1oz/dp/B000SE7VSW/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1320607860&sr=1-1

i LOVE spanx. i bought two pairs of these last year and they lasted me all winter - and they smooth out lumpy bits : )

Here are some books I'd highly recommend. I'm a "style conscious" 23 year old who happens to work in a public library. And while I'm a lit snob and a nerd for politics these are the books I take a gander at when I need to take a break. If you were to purchase two I would recommend the Trinny and Susannah one along with the Bobbi Brown one. They're wonderful and address different shapes.

http://www.amazon.com/One-Hundred-Guide-Pieces-Stylish/dp/0061664634/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302754075&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Nina-Garcias-Look-Book-Occasion/dp/1401341470/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1302754075&sr=8-3

http://www.amazon.com/Little-Black-Book-Style/dp/0061237213/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1302754075&sr=8-4

http://www.amazon.com/Style-Strategy-Less---More-Approach/dp/0061834033/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1302754075&sr=8-5

http://www.amazon.com/What-Wear-Change-Your-Life/dp/B000F5FR3A/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302754154&sr=1-3-spell

http://www.amazon.com/Bobbi-Brown-Makeup-Manual-Everyone/dp/0446581348/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302754180&sr=1-1