Southern Belle Beauty Tips

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lilly is BEAUTIFUL on olive skin because the bright colors really pop. I stay away from pastel Lilly because it can get a little precious but their brightly colored patterns are beautiful and would look great on someone with your coloring.

I don't think shifts are flattering on most people. You need to be really petite to pull them off. However, there's lots of cuts that are not shifts that can be really flattering. I don't know your body type, just cautioning that the traditional shifts are not good for busty or curvy women really.

This is OP. I own a few Lilly strapless sundresses that I wear in the summer with wedges or my Jack Rogers. When I tan a bit they look very good on me. I'm petite but I have wide hips and c cup boobs.

How do you recommend I dress for work? I work in a "business casual environment" and would love to incorporate some color.

[Anonymous]

My in-laws have lived in Charleston forever, niece goes to Ashley Hall, etc. I'd say the general look is like what you see on Draper James. The key is to look feminine and put-together, like you'll be off to lunch with the ladies at a cafe with cocktails, and then spend the afternoon volunteering/at a fundraiser, etc.

[Anonymous]

I have dark hair and fairly tan skin and wear Lilly. I think some of the prints with many colors can be a little too much (except for a party or wedding, etc.) so for day to day dress I try to stick to her solids or prints that are only two colors (I have the Captain Popover in the navy and white elephant print and it's my new favorite clothing item!). I agree that dark hair and olive skin looks just as good in Lilly because olive skinned gals look naturally great in bright colors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm Southern and this thread cracks me up. You either have it or you don't.

So illuminate us. It's a compliment. Ronda Rich has built a career out of teaching women to be belles!

The other thread is full of "tips" that everyone derided as being old-fashioned, too time consuming, juvenile or ugly, and something that would cause them to not be taken seriously at work.

For me personally, I do not leave the house without makeup. This doesn't mean I'm wearing fake eyelashes and self tanner and piles of foundation. But it means I am wearing makeup because I don't believe in going out and not looking presentable. To which respondents on these forums always say "I'm not trying to impress anyone, I wear yoga pants and flip flops to the grocery store because I don't care what people think." The difference between southern women and everyone else: we aren't doing it because we care what you think. We do it because we care about our appearance for ourselves.

I wear bright colors. Yes, a lot of Lilly. And I get compliments all the time because nobody else is wearing it and it's bright and cheerful looking. Admittedly, it's not everyone's aesthetic, not even all the prints are for me, and you do need a certain body type to pull it off.

I have naturally wavy/curly hair but I still make sure it looks nice. I don't spend an hour a day straightening it, but I get it colored and maintain it so it looks good.

The biggest thing that I don't get about this area is this: it takes the EXACT SAME AMOUNT OF TIME to put on a cute outfit as it does a frumpy one. But so many people will choose the frumpy one and then cite time as the reason why. It does not take any longer to slip on cute shoes than it does a pair of fugly brown Mary Jane flats made of some strange breathable material. It takes no more time to put on a pretty shirt than it does a drab shapeless one. Slipping on a bracelet or a necklace- maybe 2 seconds. But there you go.

Superficial stuff aside, there is a warmth and friendliness that Southern girls have which is what people are referring to when they say you can't "fake" Southern girl. With respect to the fact that these are generalizations and of course there are frumpy dumpy crabby Southern women, the look that people are talking about in this thread is at least 50% attributed to the fact that Southern girls are bubbly, warm, will talk to anyone, can joke and make small talk with a stranger, smile at people as they walk past, and generally carry themselves with confidence and a very sweet, demure air. They're not stomping around scowling at people. They're going to politely say "Excuse me" as they brush past you, maybe even put a hand on your arm as they get by you, not just shove their way through.

Is there a happy medium between "very sweet, demure girls" and "women who stomp around scowling at people"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at some of the southern beauty blogs:
http://www.southerncurlsandpearls.com/
http://www.southernliving.com/general/southern-fashion
http://blushingblack.com/
http://www.sweetsouthernprep.com/

I just want to note that when I clicked on the southern living link the first picture was BIRKENSTOCKS. Can't imagine Scarlett O'Hara wearing those

Conclusion: there is no sothern "style", fashion is basically the same everywhere

Wrong. She is a fashion blogger so of course she is going to be aware of trends and wear them. But that is not indicative of southern "style." Nor is Scarlett O'Hara since 2016 Georgia is not antebellum Georgia. You seem generally clueless.

Please explain the difference between southern style and new england preppy style and what rich people wear in the hamptons or malibu or wherever. Seems to me like it's all basically the same stuff, that's why everyone shops at the same chain stores and wears all the same trends.

If you are a grown adult who can't tell the difference between the way people in Malibu, Charleston and Bar Harbor dress, I am not explaining it to you.

Sweet and demure. NOT. I guess you are not a Belle?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My in-laws have lived in Charleston forever, niece goes to Ashley Hall, etc. I'd say the general look is like what you see on Draper James. The key is to look feminine and put-together, like you'll be off to lunch with the ladies at a cafe with cocktails, and then spend the afternoon volunteering/at a fundraiser, etc.

+1!

[Anonymous]

What the hell are tanning towels?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at some of the southern beauty blogs:
http://www.southerncurlsandpearls.com/
http://www.southernliving.com/general/southern-fashion
http://blushingblack.com/
http://www.sweetsouthernprep.com/

I just want to note that when I clicked on the southern living link the first picture was BIRKENSTOCKS. Can't imagine Scarlett O'Hara wearing those

Conclusion: there is no sothern "style", fashion is basically the same everywhere

Wrong. She is a fashion blogger so of course she is going to be aware of trends and wear them. But that is not indicative of southern "style." Nor is Scarlett O'Hara since 2016 Georgia is not antebellum Georgia. You seem generally clueless.

Please explain the difference between southern style and new england preppy style and what rich people wear in the hamptons or malibu or wherever. Seems to me like it's all basically the same stuff, that's why everyone shops at the same chain stores and wears all the same trends.

If you are a grown adult who can't tell the difference between the way people in Malibu, Charleston and Bar Harbor dress, I am not explaining it to you.

Sweet and demure. NOT. I guess you are not a Belle?

Sweet and demure doesn't mean a total wuss. I wasn't mean to her but my purpose in life is not to give her a clue at her demand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

so pretty!

It looks like she's playing in her great gramma's boudoir.

honestly, I think if you're thin and have good hair, anything looks good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm Southern and this thread cracks me up. You either have it or you don't.

So illuminate us. It's a compliment. Ronda Rich has built a career out of teaching women to be belles!

The other thread is full of "tips" that everyone derided as being old-fashioned, too time consuming, juvenile or ugly, and something that would cause them to not be taken seriously at work.

For me personally, I do not leave the house without makeup. This doesn't mean I'm wearing fake eyelashes and self tanner and piles of foundation. But it means I am wearing makeup because I don't believe in going out and not looking presentable. To which respondents on these forums always say "I'm not trying to impress anyone, I wear yoga pants and flip flops to the grocery store because I don't care what people think." The difference between southern women and everyone else: we aren't doing it because we care what you think. We do it because we care about our appearance for ourselves.

I wear bright colors. Yes, a lot of Lilly. And I get compliments all the time because nobody else is wearing it and it's bright and cheerful looking. Admittedly, it's not everyone's aesthetic, not even all the prints are for me, and you do need a certain body type to pull it off.

I have naturally wavy/curly hair but I still make sure it looks nice. I don't spend an hour a day straightening it, but I get it colored and maintain it so it looks good.

The biggest thing that I don't get about this area is this: it takes the EXACT SAME AMOUNT OF TIME to put on a cute outfit as it does a frumpy one. But so many people will choose the frumpy one and then cite time as the reason why. It does not take any longer to slip on cute shoes than it does a pair of fugly brown Mary Jane flats made of some strange breathable material. It takes no more time to put on a pretty shirt than it does a drab shapeless one. Slipping on a bracelet or a necklace- maybe 2 seconds. But there you go.

Superficial stuff aside, there is a warmth and friendliness that Southern girls have which is what people are referring to when they say you can't "fake" Southern girl. With respect to the fact that these are generalizations and of course there are frumpy dumpy crabby Southern women, the look that people are talking about in this thread is at least 50% attributed to the fact that Southern girls are bubbly, warm, will talk to anyone, can joke and make small talk with a stranger, smile at people as they walk past, and generally carry themselves with confidence and a very sweet, demure air. They're not stomping around scowling at people. They're going to politely say "Excuse me" as they brush past you, maybe even put a hand on your arm as they get by you, not just shove their way through.

Not in my experience. They are the most evil b*tches and take everything the wrong way. At least the ones here in DC.
I've known some amazing, truly good people from the South in other places- warm, genuinely caring, wonderful.
But NOT here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH is southern, I'm not. Here are somethings I've noticed from being in the south and my very southern sil:

- always styled hair
- always wearing makeup.amount differs based on the person but it's always pretty significant
- have a tan or at least some color. Some northerners seem to have pride in pasty white skin, but it's rare among southern women. Fwiw I ghostly pale
- wear color, partially from embracing prep styles
- avoid styles that are not feminine
- avoid wearing a lot of dark colors. I see a lot less black navy and dark brown in the south
- always wear some jewelry
- workout clothes are the cute kind, not an old tee shirt

I think part of it is that the sun is so bright, it looks appropriate in the south. bright colors look like a crazy person in ny and boston.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The irony is that Lily is a northern style.

Nope. Originally sold in FL.

correct. it is DEFINITELY not northern.
northern colors: black, camel, beige, navy, white, red, some browns, some olives, any "greyed" color

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lilly is BEAUTIFUL on olive skin because the bright colors really pop. I stay away from pastel Lilly because it can get a little precious but their brightly colored patterns are beautiful and would look great on someone with your coloring.

I don't think shifts are flattering on most people. You need to be really petite to pull them off. However, there's lots of cuts that are not shifts that can be really flattering. I don't know your body type, just cautioning that the traditional shifts are not good for busty or curvy women really.

This is OP. I own a few Lilly strapless sundresses that I wear in the summer with wedges or my Jack Rogers. When I tan a bit they look very good on me. I'm petite but I have wide hips and c cup boobs.

How do you recommend I dress for work? I work in a "business casual environment" and would love to incorporate some color.

c cup is probably the upper limit. lily is hard with bigger boobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The irony is that Lily is a northern style.

Nope. Originally sold in FL.

correct. it is DEFINITELY not northern.
northern colors: black, camel, beige, navy, white, red, some browns, some olives, any "greyed" color

Designed by a northerner who wintered in Palm Beach. Lilly's headquarters are outside Philly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The irony is that Lily is a northern style.

Nope. Originally sold in FL.

correct. it is DEFINITELY not northern.
northern colors: black, camel, beige, navy, white, red, some browns, some olives, any "greyed" color

Designed by a northerner who wintered in Palm Beach. Lilly's headquarters are outside Philly.

Oh yeah? Well I stand corrected.