Transitions: How to Winterize Your Look Wednesday, 08 December 2010 08:43 Written by Andrea Burzynski

When it comes to weather, Shanghai is like a woman with severe PMS.  One season, she’s having hot flashes, then she cries for days, punctuating her humid tears with claps of thunderous rage.  Just when she seems sunny and inviting again, she glares at you with bleak gray skies and blows icy winds at your back as you walk to the metro.

Shanghai’s current climatic mood swing – commonly known as “winter” -  causes many of us to reluctantly push our summer dresses to the backs of our closets, and trade in breezy hair and make-up styles for more serious, effort-intensive looks.

Don’t put away those dresses so fast!   With these tips, you can inject some variety into your endless rotation of sweaters without freezing your MMA-sculpted booty off.

Dresses and Skirts

After the Dolls Fitness Challenge, you may have acquired a few miniskirts and shorter dresses to show off your newly glamorous gams.  And what about those graceful maxi dresses that spotlight your toned upper arms?  Unfortunately, if you wear them in December, people may think you’re trying to show off your goosebumps instead. Although bare arms and legs may have to wait for spring, you can still incorporate these items into your winter wardrobe.

• Try belting a short dress at your natural waist, and wearing it with slim dark jeans or pants.  This works especially well with sweater dresses, as well as those made from soft, floaty fabric like silk.  The belt will draw attention to the narrowest part of your physique, and its placement will elongate your legs.  Finish with heels, and add shimmery makeup and jewelry for a night out.
• For a downtown-chic vibe, pair your mini dress with a jacket, tights, and knee-high boots.  Look for relaxed-fit jackets in velvet, leather, and denim.  The substantial fabric lends cold weather cred to lighter dresses, and gives feminine pieces some edge.  Tights, high socks, or leggings will keep you warm, and can be used to introduce a different textural element.  The lines created by the jacket, hemline, and boots add interest without chopping up your proportions.
• A spontaneous, unique look can start with a short skirt and some shopping in your own closet.  Choose a skirt, and try out different combinations of tanks, long-sleeve shirts, sweaters, blazers, scarves, jewelry, and hats to create a custom layered look.  This is your chance to mix and match colors, textures, and price points.  Boots or booties with solid tights or stockings on your bottom half keep things from becoming too chaotic – you don’t want to look you were attacked by your closet.
• The same maxi dress that kept you feeling goddess-like during Shanghai’s sweltering summer can also serve as a stylish cover for your winter layers.   Steel yourself against the winter chill with long underwear, leggings, tights, leg warmers, socks, or even skinny jeans – add as many of these as you want, because your flowing maxi dress won’t give away your secret!   Top it off with a cardigan, blazer, or wrap; this time, keep it fitted to avoid obscuring your shape with head-to-toe fabric.

Hair

Magazines traditionally use the pages of their winter issues to espouse flat-ironed tresses and twisted updos, both of which can be time-consuming.  Your Hainan holiday may not be for another month, but that doesn’t mean your hair can’t get a jump on things with some beach-inspired waves.  The key to winterizing this look is making it glossy, which can be done with silicon-based shine spray (try Got2b Dazzling Shine Spray, available at Watson’s).  Spritz damp hair with a bit of salt water or curl-enhancing styling product and the shine spray, and twist strands with your fingers as it dries naturally.  Finish dry hair with a bit more shine spray to seal out frizz and flyaways.

Make-up

Shanghai is in a dreary mood at this time of year, but you don’t have to follow suit with dark, heavy make-up.

• Since the sky refuses to light up your face with sunlight, use a large brush to sweep on pink-tinged blush with a hint of shimmer.  Many mineral blushes contain flecks of shimmer that will help you look radiant.  Just remember to lay off the bronzer unless you want to show up at your next holiday bash looking like Snooki.
• You can also make the popsicle-stained lip look winter-friendly with lip stain.  This look is natural and doesn’t require much effort, thanks to lip stains that go on like markers (check out these ones from MAC and CoverGirl).  Get your color inspiration from winter food and drinks like plums, cherries, and wine.
• Alternately, summery lip shades can work well with wintery looks like smoky or sparkly eyes.  Try pairing a glossy shade of peach, nude, or mauve with smoky eyes.  This will keep the attention on your eyes without making your lips look boring.

Which summer staples do you incorporate  into your winter fashion and beauty routine?

Comments 

 

#2 re: MAC Long Wear Lip Marker — Andrea 2010-12-20 14:26

Hi Allegra, sorry to hear that you haven't been able to find the MAC lip marker. I thought the MAC store had it, but I guess I was wrong... I've been out of Shanghai for a little while now, and I guess it's starting to show! Not sure besides Strawberry... maybe try MAC in Hong Kong or another country the next time you travel?

If anyone else has found this item in China (or another similar product), please do share!

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#1 Mac, long wear lip Marker — AllegraAllegra 2010-12-11 23:22

I would love to have this marker, but two weeks ago I'ave checked at Mac shanghai, they don't have...... Strawberry seems not. Any help?
thanks for your amazing advices!
allegra allegra

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