Style is highly personal.  Some people like to follow the trends, others prefer a vintage vibe.  Some ladies make amazing finds in thrift stores; others are on a first name basis with the staff at Holt Renfrew.  As long as you are in clean, well-made clothing free of rips, tears, and sagging hems (unless it is intentional, like distressed denim), it is hard to go wrong.  There are, however, a few things every woman should avoid no matter what her style is. 

First on this list is the improper application of lip stain.  Lip stain is a very sexy way to add color to your face.  However, applying it like lip gloss or lipstick is a recipe for disaster.  Lip stain is just that – a stain.  It is a fluid that behaves very much like a paint stain.  Never apply lip stain over cracked, dry lips.  The stain will go into the cracks and be a darker color than the smooth part of your lips.  If you are partial to wearing stains, make sure you apply a good lip moisturizer nightly to keep your lips subtle and soft.  Also, buff your lips very gently once a week with warm water and a soft cloth.  Once you’ve got your lips primed and ready to be darkened, use an applicator to gently apply a thin coat of stain.  Then let it dry.  If it is not dark enough to suit your tastes, apply a second coat once the first layer has dried. Avoid getting stain on your fingers or the skin around your lips as it will…well…stain.  The darker the color, the harder it is to apply it evenly.  If you are new to using stain, do a few practice runs before taking your look public.  Prom night or first date is not the time to attempt a sexy vamp red stain.  Like wearing fake lashes, staining takes practice to get it right.

Next on my list is blue eye shadow.  Ask ten different women how they feel about blue eye shadow and you will get ten different answers.  The fact is, color trends in eye shadow come and go.  Some seasons are all about the smoky eye.  Some seasons are all about the metallic eye.  Some seasons are about candy colors and some seasons are (insert a personal shudder here as my skin tone is very unforgiving of this trend) all about neon.  When you get one of those candy/neon/80s flashback seasons, you will see blue eye shadow on the shelves.  The color itself is not the issue.  It’s the application.  No bright color should be applied up to the eyebrow.  The only people that can pull that look off are runway models and that’s only good for the duration of the show.  Like red lipstick, blue is a shade that you have to match to your skin tone.  A very bright blue is more suited to fairer tones while navy looks sophisticated on darker skin.  Once you have found your shade, use the color as a highlight.  When using bright colors, apply the three-tone application process.  Lay down your base shade, use the color as a highlight, and finish off with a neutral to tone everything down. 

My final fashion faux pas is the criminal act of not wearing your correct size.  This applies to wearing clothing that is too big or too small.  Whether you are over or underweight, long limbed or petite, have a full bust or can go out without a bra, you can always wear clothing that fits your body.  Wearing clothes that are too big, too small or too shapeless in an effort to hide your body will only draw attention to what you are trying to cover up.

Don’t be afraid of your personal style.  Celebrate it!  Just remember that style means being well-dressed and looking good, so if you are operating in those parameters, you are stepping out in style.