Rookie

I’m not skinny at all; but I’m not fat either. Can you give me some suggestions, stylewise?

First of all, let’s get real. When it comes to personal style, SIZE DOES NOT MATTER. You can be the most stylish girl on the block regardless of the number on your clothing tag. Because style comes from THE INSIDE. Taking some inspiration from Aaliyah (RIP)—it can totally be a positive motivating force within our (fashion-loving) lives. It is the pizzazz we put in our pants. The divaliciousness in our dresses. The sass in our zapatos! Basically what I’m trying to say is that “style” is an equation of your own special unique taste + classy pieces + je ne sais quoi. Style doesn’t care whether you are skinny, fat, in the middle, or whatever.

Figure out what you are comfy in and what you feel good in. What makes you go, “OOOH YEAH”? Do you like skinny pants and bowties? Do your thing like the Ole Razzle Dazzle. Do you feel pretty in a cropped tee and a maxi skirt? Work it, then put even more of your own spin on it. You know that collection of vintage Bakelite bangles your grandma gave you? Work those. And if you want a tip on a fail-proof piece of clothing, I think skater-style dresses like these from ASOS are super cute on everyone. Same goes for dark denim skinny jeans. So find something like that and ACCESSORIZE, YOU FILTHY ANIMAL (sorry, watching Home Alone right now). Put a beret on dat bitch. Or smoochie tights. Wear all black except for yellow moustache socks. Find a peacoat so obscenely bright it makes your mama cry. Decorate a shirt with Justin Bieber’s eyes; sew a lace veil to cover the eyes for a peek-a-LOL. Look at the girls in this article. Wear anything you want. Be creative. Don’t care about your size. This is totally going to be fun. I promise. —Marie

I’m not a morning person. I’d like to consider myself a stylish person. But I always end up oversleeping and then I have to throw on my go-to jeans-and-T-shirt combo or go-to black-dress-and-black-tights combo. I never feel particularly ass-kicking when wearing these outfits. Do you have any suggestions on how to get dressed in a maximum of 12 minutes? (And don’t even bother telling me to get up earlier. I’ve tried just about everything and it’s just not going to happen.) —Isabel, New York City

GIRLFRIEND. I have the same problem. I will keep hitting the snooze button on my alarm, then finally proceed to roll out of bed and throw on the same pepaw sweater I wore twice that week already, some salty leggings, and an ugly Rod Stewart tee I bought on eBay on a weird whim. This happens way too often, especially for someone who is supposed to be a “fashion blogger.” WHAT A DISGRACE I AM.

Well, honestly I am too laid back to be hard on myself about it, BUT I will admit that I do feel better when I don’t dress like a total sloth. So this advice I’m going to give you, I will follow it too. Let’s be a support group for “Non-Morning People Who Want to Look GOOD” aka “The No More Holey Leggings Ladyteam.” Hold your hand out to your monitor and PINKY SWEAR WITH ME.

This is what I think works: outfit preparation the night before. I do believe it was Alexander Graham Bell who said, “Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.” Ain’t that the truth. If I have some idea the night before of what I’m going to wear, that shaves off 10 minutes of dilly-dallying the next morning, half-asleep, staring at my closet, silently screaming, “WHAT DO I WEAR I HAVE NO CLOTHES I HATE EVERYONE!!!” I know this “be prepared” tip sounds like an obvious Girl Scouts antidote, but it will seriously help us. I remember laughing at a friend whose phone call I’d just overheard where she was asking her boyfriend to lay out her outfit for the next morning. “Yes, babe, take those pants out. No, not those black pants—the other ones I left on the ironing board.” I secretly LOL’d like a jerk. But she was smart! I figured that out when the next day I woke up late and threw on some ratty-ass chanclas and an old black V-neck that by the end of the day was basically down to my belly button, exposing way too much of my cleavage. Luckily I was able to cover my gazumbas with my long hair, but HOW EMBARRASSING. I learned my lesson.

I don’t want you to have a similar wardrobe malfunction. So let’s do this. I am planning my outfit for tomorrow as I write this! GO TEAM GO! [Next-day note from Marie: this totally works. I wasn’t late this morning and I’m looking GOOD...] —Marie

I can’t seem to put eye makeup on right. I usually just do mascara and eyeliner above the bottom lashes. (I don’t know what that part is called—you know the one that is sort of wet? Do you know what I mean?) Anyways it’s all gone in 30 minutes. I would like to have a dark look to my eyes and for it to actually LAST. Thanks, Alice

First off, that area above your lower lashline is called your waterline, and you have to be careful lining it since your tear ducts live there. Be sure that every time you are lining, you use a freshly sharpened pencil to get rid of any bacteria lingering around. Now that my little warning is out of the way, let’s answer your question. To get your liner to last, try a waterproof formula like Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero ($18, urbandecay.com). It’s formulated to last a really long time. Also, if you want to add black eye shadow into the mix (it looks great smudged along the upper and lower lashline using a Q-tip for a smoky look), be sure to start with a primer like NYX’s HD Eye Shadow Base ($7, drugstores). Primers make sure eye makeup stays in place all day on your lid, exactly where you put it. In short, just look for formulas that say “waterproof” or “long wear,” and you should be good to go! —Hannah

My nose has always bothered me. My obsession over it started when I read Looking for Alaska. In that book John Green describes Alaska as this perfect girl with a ski-slope nose and perfect features. I’m nothing like that. Even when people say I’m pretty, I find it hard to believe because of my nose. Can people with big/ugly noses still be attractive? Are there any beautiful women to look up to with big/ugly noses? I wonder this because every time there is a woman being called beautiful in books or magazines, she has a clear complexion, perfect lips, and a perfectly pointed nose. I’m the exact opposite. When I look in the mirror, I feel ugly. —Aliya from New York

Listen, I’m sure that book is a good read and all ::side eye:: but SCREW this idea that you can’t be pretty without a “ski-slope nose.” If that’s the case, there’s no hope for most of us! AHHH! OK, you know what. I’m going to first go straight to a list of hot ladies with more distinct shnozzes.

#1: Lea Michele (top left). She opted out of getting a typical Hollywood nose job and still became Glee’s lead songbird! Then, moving clockwise, we have our #1 director crush, the amazing Sofia Coppola! Next there’s the singer-rapper M.I.A., who would be gorgeous no matter what, but isn’t she so much hotter with her natural nose than she would be with a ski slope? And finally, if you are a Misfits fan, you are familiar with the beautiful Lauren Socha, I LOVE HER! All these women are SO PRETTY! And they don’t have that “perfect ski-slope nose” either! Don’t let it get you down, my boo!

If you need further convincing, look at this Tumblr called Fuck Yeah Big Noses. Lots of sexy people in that one! And read this amazing Hairpin piece written by a fellow larger-nosed lady!

Look, we all get self-conscious about our physical features. ALL OF US. The girl whose nose you wish you had is probably looking at you wishing she had your eyes and hair. It’s true! I used to be a little insecure about my nose too. But then my supreme hotness just kind of washed those insecurities away. So will yours. Your nose is perfect just the way it is. BELIEVE IT.

Sorry, just couldn't help myself...

Love, Marie

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