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A couple weeks ago I was asked to give a presentation on fashion survival essentials. That topic is pretty vague, and I was able to put my own spin on it which lead to a bag filled with 15 items that I consider essential for every woman to have in her repertoire. Afterwards someone asked me if I’ve ever written a blog post about these things - and a new post was born.
14 Fashion Survival Essentials:
1: Signature Scent - I am one of those girls who has a handful of different perfumes I switch between daily, but at the same time I have two that are my constant go-to (one for the warm months and one for the cold ones.) I highly recommend getting samples or small rollerball perfumes in order to try out a variety and find a scent that you love.
2: Hem Tape - We’ve all had it happen - a perfect outfit planned and then one mis-step and we rip the hem out. No need to rummage through the closet for something else to wear. Instead, I use the Scotch™ Essentials Permanent Hem Bonding Strips or the Scotch™ Essentials Adjustable Hem Tape. Both are little miracle workers. You can also use the adjustable tape to try out a shorter hem line, to see if you want to make it a permanent change. And I use mine to hold a folded-hem in place - that way there is no need to be adjusting a great denim cuff throughout the day. These can be found easily in the sewing section of Target. (Now if I could make my students use this instead of staples to hold up the hem of their uniform skirts.) Yay for the Cartwheel app which will give you a coupon for 30% off these Scotch Essential items.
3: Shapewear - This one is a funny item. Some women swear by their shapewear, others cringe at the very thought. I don’t think this is a daily essential, although I do think it is an essential to have on hand for the outfits that need it. These are things that show off panty lines, or cling in such a way that a smooth silhouette is needed. This is also going to vary based on each woman’s own body. (I always grab Assets from Target since they are made by the makers of Spanx but are half the price.)
4: Red Lipstick - Every woman needs at least one stick of vibrant red lipstick that makes her feel like a million bucks. It’s not an everyday item for most of us, but a fun little thing to slick on for a special event or night out. Honestly it took me years to get to the point I could wear lipstick and to find a great red shade. The struggle is real.
5: Full-Length Mirror - This goes along with one of my great fashion pet-peeves - women seem to forget to check the way the back of their outfit looks. We spend a lot of time making sure the front is just perfect, but forget a lot of people are going to see us from the backside too. A full length mirror gives a great chance to see our look from all sides and perspectives to make sure we’re spot-on in all ways.
6: Tape Strips - I know there are a lot of different fashion options out there for double-sided tapes, but really like the Scotch™ Essentials Wardrobe Tape Strips. It’s another item from the Scotch™ Essentials line, and really does the job of holding clothing in place when needed. I often apply a strip with I don’t want my shirt to slide around too much, when it has an open neck.
7: Black Eye-Popping Mascara - I switch between a couple different types of mascara, but my major criterion is that the mascara has to be jet black and really make my long lashes pop. The eyes are the windows to the soul, so eyes framed with great lashes are that much more attractive.
8: Safety Pins - These have come in handy so many times in my life that I keep a couple always floating around in the bottom of my purse. Earlier this summer, for example, someone asked me if I had a pin to help with a little wardrobe malfunction at a formal dinner event. Crisis averted when I produced a safety pin. These can help hold things in place so they don’t shift of move too much - I use them for holding bra strap in place, to even keeping a scarf right where I want it for the day.
9: Bobby Pins - Just like the safety pins, these are essential for anyone with hair that is a little longer than a pixie cut. I’m one of those people who can suddenly get tired of her hair down and flowing all around. A couple carefully placed bobby pins and I’ve got an updo for the rest of the day. Plus, this is another one of those items that is an easy thing to share when others are in a bind.
10: Nail File - This is a new essential to me. Since I’ve been working really hard at growing my nails out, I’ve realized how essential it is to have a file on hand at all times. Without the ability to smooth out a nail when it breaks a little, I would have picked and picked, resulting in a shorter nail than needed. Now I don’t leave home without a nail file in tow.
11: Pill Remover - Another pet peeve of mine - when sweaters and shirts begin to pill. This usually happens under the arms or in places that have been rubbed by maybe a bag or purse. These little pills make a shirt look old and worn, long before its time. The Scotch™ Essentials Sweater Pill Remover takes care of the problem allowing sweaters and shirts to look newer longer. Personally, I love how easy it is to use - no need to deal with a razor or anything like that. (You can get $1 off with this coupon - you’re welcome!)
12: Great Facial Moisturizer - As we age, our face, which is always exposed to the elements, takes a beating. As with everything, the more moisturized we keep it, the younger it will look for a longer period of time. Finding a facial moisturizer that works well for you and the type of skin you have can be a real challenge, but it’s worth conquering. I’m still in pursuit of the BEST moisturizer. Suggestions welcome.
13: Lint Roller - I never realized how crucial this little item was until I went home to visit my family and was lovingly attacked by their yellow lab while wearing my favorite little black dress. A couple minutes of petting her left me covered in little white hairs - EVERYWHERE. Scotch-Brite™ Lint Roller to the rescue. Now I keep one in my desk at school as well as one in my room. A quick roll over at the start of the day as I’m getting ready to go and then as needed throughout the day as well.
14: Dry Shampoo - Let’s be honest, for a lot of us this was a game changer when we first discovered it. Even with my usually curly hair this helps me go even longer between hair washings. Finding a brand that works for you and your hair type takes a little trial and error, but so worth it when you don’t have to take the time every morning to wash and style your hair.
A little sidenote: Did you know that if you are looking for something in your local Target and can’t find it that you can look it up on the Target website, enter in the store you are located in, and it will tell you exactly what aisle it is located in?? Awesome right? I walked all over the store in search of the adjustable hem tape, finally looking it up on the site and then walked right to aisle D4.
What do you consider fashion survival essentials? Learn more about all the Scotch™ Essentials line here.
