Just as dressing a celebrity for the red carpet requires an element of smoke and mirrors, achieving the perfect look for a wedding, high school reunion or family celebration is a bit of an art. Slimming, smoothing, bronzing and blotting are de rigeur for anyone posing for paparazzi, and the industry tricks used by these stars aren't as hush-hush as you might think. In fact, it's about time that we all picked up a few. Before you head to that next big event, check out this tell-all guide to dressing to impress.
Underneath It All
Bronzer is a makeup artist's secret weapon; only a swipe here or there creates visual contours and curves. But bronzing plays an even bigger part in the beauty game: it delivers flawless-looking skin. A day or two before your big event, smooth on self-tanner, taking care to distribute evenly, to mask superficial skin imperfections and come away with slimmer-looking arms and legs. A subtle shade of self-tanner is fine, just be sure to test any new product on a hidden spot of skin before you go head-to-toe. And for an entirely slimmer, smoother silhouette, you'll find that shaping undergarments like Spanx and My New Secrets are worth their weight in gold. Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Marcia Cross (and all new moms) swear by them. Wear them under your dress and you'll lose a half size and avoid lumps and bumps instantly. For a new twist on shapewear, Smartslips are full and half-length slips made from stretchy fabric that provides extra resistance while you walk. Wearing one to your next event could slim you down in more ways than one!
While You Dress
With a slim, shapely canvas you're now prepared to slip into your stunning ensemble. Of course, you'll want to be ready for anything by picking up a few of the essentials that stock any professional stylist's prop kit. Fabric-friendly double-sided tape strips, like Hollywood Fashion Tape, secure every drape and fold into place. And if you are prone to bra strap slippage, Strap Tamers provide invisible hooks that keeps your straps in place so you can forget about them. If you plan to be dancing the night away in strappy heels, look for adhesive strips that cushion the inside of your strap to protect heels from rubbing, like Strappy Strips from Footpetals.
Finishing Touch-ups
With dress in place, take a good look in the mirror. Stray deodorant marks or spots of makeup found their way onto your dress? The little, red Miss Oops sponge magically rubs away marks without damaging fabric. You'll want to pick up a few to keep at home and in your purse for the next time you eat a powdered donut. For potential makeup smudges, keep a few makeup remover-filled cotton swabs, like Jane Iredale's Dot The I swabs, in your handbag, along with blotting papers for quick, shine-removing touch ups. Bend the top of a swab when you need it to release makeup remover into the cotton tip- precise enough to erase smudged liner and stray shadow. You'll find that with just a little extra preparation, you'll look great from head to toe, and you'll leave everyone else wondering about your style secrets.
