look chic, classy and elegant

have you ever wondered how to look chic, classy, and elegant? maybe you’ve just retired, moved to a new city, or maybe you just need a change to represent who you are but still want to look like you have your act together. if you are struggling with life transitions, then this post is for you. how to look chic, classy, and elegant doesn’t have to be complicated. many times it doesn’t have to cost a penny or reinvent the wheel. sometimes we just need to go back to the basics.

today, i’m sharing seven tips to look stylish every day. it’s easier than you might think. and it isn’t dependent on your budget, lifestyle, or body type. it just takes a little discipline to look your best, whether you are running errands in yoga pants or putting together a nine-to-five outfit for the office.

how to look chic, classy, and elegant

be mindful of your outfit

before you head out the door, glance in the mirror. is your outfit wrinkled? shoes scuffed? or your sweater has pills? there’s an easy remedy for each. i have a steamer in my closet that removes wrinkles in a jiff. Downey Wrinkle remover works! and i concocted a mixture of vinegar and water that i mist on clothes to remove wrinkles too. there’s a handy-dandy machine that removes pills from sweaters. and my shoes? either i take them to a shoe cobbler for a professional polish, or i’ll give them a buff at home.

Rowenta Steamer

Fabric Shaver

complexion

yes, looking our best starts with skincare. after all, beauty is skin-deep. there’s an array of skincare products from drugstores to luxury brands and everything in between. but it’s important to create a morning and evening skincare routine. it doesn’t matter if you’re in your forties, fifties, sixties, or beyond; it’s never too late or early to start a skincare journey. great looking skin isn’t a matter of DNA; it starts with skincare. the goal is to tune up your complexion, so it looks vibrant and healthy. results are reliant on consistent use. here’s my three-step program for morning and evening:

morning – cleanser, vitamin C, moisturizer. evening- makeup remover, cleanser, retinol serum, or moisturizer.

Makeup Remover | Cleanser

Advanced Night Repair

Colleen Rothschild Skincare

Vitamin C

manicure & pedicure

hands are a reflection of the care you take with your appearance. if you love to wear a statement bracelet or ring that will bring extra attention to your fingers. 

indulge in regular manicures, either at home or in a salon. when i head to the nail salon, it’s a little me time to be primped and pampered to relax and unwind. but i have a manicure set at home for daily upkeep. did you know that regular manicures can help increase circulation? keep nails short to medium in length, opting for a nice round or oval shape, with clear or nude polish or a French manicure. if you want to look effortlessly chic, classy, and elegant, stay away from stiletto nails, neon colors, or nail art and jewels. deborah lippman, zoya, O.P.I. are all good choices for nail polish.

Manicure Set | Deborah Lippmann | Zoya | O.P.I.

closet cleanse

it’s important to keep your closet in working order. clothes don’t need to give you a lifetime’s worth of wear. yes, classic style clothes can last for years and years. but clothes. wear. out. even the most basic garment will become dated with time. this is simply because lines, cuts, and silhouettes change and will date your look. staying aware of trends will  train your eye to notice when a piece isn’t up to date anymore. 

twice a year, i cleanse my closet to get rid of the clutter. yes, it can be time-consuming and emotional to purge your closet, but a curated closet will save you time. if you’re looking for tips and tricks on how to organize your closet read this post.

good posture

standing tall with confidence is the easiest way to look chic, classy, and elegant. good posture is standing straight, shoulders back, and head held high. there are even exercises designed to help improve our posture. here’s YouTube video that gives a visual of a simple set of exercises. in today’s tech world, we’re all hunched over our computers and phones for countless hours, so it’s important to counterbalance all of that stooping. i try to stand up several times each day to improve my posture with these simple exercises on the video.

style uniform 

this is a subject i’ve written extensively about. but if you want to look chic, classy, and elegant, develop a style uniform.  a realistic way to translate a uniform would be to create different versions of your favorite, stylish outfits that you wear every day. my style uniform consists of the 4-B’s – blazer, blue jeans, button-down, and ballet flats. but I don’t wear the same jeans and blazer every day, or i’ll exchange the button-down for a silk blouse or sweater. and it’s easy to swap ballet flats for heels, sneakers, or sandals. by duplicating looks, i can keep my style harmonious and “feel” like me without being overly repetitive. 

monochromatic outfit

some of the chicest women in history made head-to-toe black a classic. if you like black, wear it, it’s always in style, it’s simple, and it helps you look stylish on days you don’t want to think about what to wear. but if black isn’t your thing, then what about navy? or white? or fill in the blank with your favorite color. monochromatic outfits are visually appealing to the eyes and translate across so many styles. it can be artsy, euro, classic, city chic, anything! wear it unadorned or use it as a canvas to showcase statement jewelry. a monochromatic outfit is always effortless and chic.

signature fragrance

no outfit is complete without a luxe fragrance to match especially if you want to look chic, classy, and elegant. find a scent you love and apply it to your skin. never to your clothing or hair. don’t forget to apply at all the major pulse points.

Chance

Beth Djalali

is the Founder and CEO of Style at a Certain Age. She writes Sundays-Fridays on all topics ranging from fashion, health, wellness, home design and more.

She’s 65, 5’8, and size 8.

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