20 Fashion + Beauty Hacks to Help You Breeze Through 2020 in Style

A new decade–time to regroup! This year calls for a fresh set of guidelines to stay on trend with as much ease as possible. Based on my own personal beauty hacks from previous years, as well as breakout, but long lasting fashion trends I’ve seen (that don’t seem to be going away any time soon), I’ve put together 20 fashion and beauty hacks to help you breeze through 2020 in style.

1) Replace Peep Toes with Pointed Toes

Pointed toes have replaced peep toes like the selfie pout has replaced our wide teeth, posed smiles. It’s the era of pointing out how hot your pointed toes are! Keep it on point! (OK, sorry. I’ll stop now..)

2) Keep a Pair of White Kicks in Your Day Bag

Come to think of it, it’s hard to think back to a time where white sneakers weren’t a good idea. I always like to carry around a lightweight pair if I have a full day ahead that requires me to sport footwear that’s a bit more glam. It’s important to give your feet a break, so especially if you wear heels a lot, it pays to carry a pair of white kicks around!

3. If You’re Accessorizing, Personalize

Let’s face it–we are living in an era where it’s all about the “self.” Selfies, self-care, self-love, and so much else about the self–these are all normalized topics and it’s a good thing! Why not bring the self all the way to your accessory game? Whether it’s zodiac sign-inspired jewelry, birthstone accessories, or just initial necklaces and bracelets, bringing a little bit of yourself to your jewelry never hurts.

4. Take out Your Turtlenecks

There’s no running away from these. Turtlenecks flatter just about anybody and allow for so much fun with layering. You can wear them under a low neck dress, under crew neck sweaters, tucked into your favorite denim, or otherwise! Plus, if you are layering necklaces like I sometimes do, turtlenecks are one way to go to help them stand out.

5. Ditch The Skinny Jeans

Skinny jeans remind me of a time of side bangs and high school–which I so do not want to remember. I’m not saying skinny jeans are totally out, but what I am saying is there is no time like the present to experiment with other silhouettes–boyfriend, boot cut, mom, flare, wide-leg–you name it and it’s probably coming back in style!

6. Part Ways With Your Classic Part

Most of you guys who follow me on IG know that my signature low bun is worn on repeat on my bad hair days. What most of you guys may not notice (or maybe you do, who knows) is that I switch up my hair part sometimes when I’m wearing it! My natural parting is a middle part, but I like to do a side part to break the monotony. I can tell you that sleek hairstyles will continue to be a craze this year, but it will pay to make your look a level up by changing up your classic/natural hair part.

7. Totes and Top Handle Your Way Up

Taken from what I’ve seen in the past runway shows during the last fashion week season, it’s safe to say that big bags (totes especially) are now the norm. However, if you’re wearing a big bag, either wear it as a top handle (if it is made that way–that is), or tuck it under your arm (even if it’s a tote).

8. Fashion Emergency Kits At Your Rescue

Fashion tape, safety pins, and sewing kits have saved more lives than you’d think. Here’s one kit I keep handy at all times: Hollywood Fashion Secrets Emergency Kit

9. Heart (of) Pomade

I said it already and I’ll say it again, sleek hair is a major craze. Still, there’s nothing worse than annoying flyaways when you’re trying to look super chic, so one hack I’ve been using (I thank one of my makeup artist friends, @makeupbyjett for teaching this to me) is to use pomade to really get at the tough ones. Good pomade (like this one from J.S. Sloane) got me through an entire night of dancing at my recent Silver Soiree celebration. Check out the videos here.

10. Long Days Call for Lobe Wonder

Here’s another hack I used on the night of our Silver Soiree–I wore my trusty lobe wonder’s to keep my ear lobes from sagging and ear piercing from elongating. If you’re a fan of earrings like me, wearing these on the day to day can seriously save you from building up to an unnecessarily stretched out ear piercing. You can find these here.

11. Calm Down, There’s Concealer for That!

Since we’re talking about #SilverSoiree2019, I cannot not take you through a slight panic moment I had when I found a big, fat, and dark bruise on the front of my foot all of a sudden. Thankfully, my friend helped me cover it up with concealer, and ever since then, I’ve sworn to carry a nice travel sized concealer with me since I know I’m pretty accident prone. I use Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Camouflage Concealer. Whether it’s a shoe bite, mosquito bite, or bump you come across, there’s always concealer to make sure the small blemish doesn’t take away from you looking #fabulous.

12. Keep Pink Lipstick in Your Bag. Always.

Makeup touch-ups really help you look refreshed throughout the day. A little more blush, eyeshadow, or lipstick here and there, now and then, can make all the difference. I like to keep a pink lipstick in my bag to use as blush, lipstick, or even just apply on my lids to get some color on me when my makeup starts to fade. The one I’ve been using lately is YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in Nude Lavalliere. It has a natural/nude tint with a pink undertone.

13. Don’t Overdo The Makeup

Gone are the days when caking your face to the point where you look like a ghost is attractive. These days it’s all about highlighting what’s real. Fresh, dewy makeup looks are the best, and for that, the best place to start is by making sure you’re taking good care of your skin! Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!

14. Forget The Frill

Frills are fashion’s past. That is all I have to say on that.

15. Shape-wear For All Sizes

I used to be that person that used to think shape-wear was not necessary: “I have nothing to hide,” I’d tell myself. Boy, was I wrong. It’s not even about hiding your curves–it’s about accentuating them and keeping everything in place so you feel comfortable wearing all kinds of clothes! All I have to say is: thank you Kim Kardashian for coming out with SKIMMS because I ordered my mom a pair and now I’m just about to order one for myself. So. GOOD.

16. Grab Your Glasses

We all know that a good pair of glares pulls together a look, but what if I told you that those eyeglass frames you set aside years ago were just as chic? I’ve definitely seen an increase in wearing bold eyeglass frames and I have to say I’m a fan! Here’s to more experimenting with this in 2020.

17. Hats On

The beauty about each season is that it has a hat to match it! In winter, beanies and berets take front and center, while in summer, baseball caps and straw hats reign all. Just like accessories, hats help add a bit more of a personal touch to your look, and I’ve loved seeing other’s get creative with their hat game as of late!

18. Ain’t Nothing Finer than A Fine Tooth Comb

I completely forgot to mention–for all those slicked back hairstyles, you’ll be needing one of these (especially if you’ll be wearing a hat atop your hair at any point). Click here to see one I recommend from CHI.

19. Cool Are Those Who Brave Coconut Oil

I’m not going to be your health coach and start explaining you all the benefits of cooking with coconut oil, but I am here to say I know it does wonders for glowing skin. One change I’m implementing in the new year is moisturizing with coconut oil! Let’s face it–good clothes look best when we can pair them with super shiny skin.

20. Color Yourself Silly

A new decade means a fresh change from playing it safe (AKA the “all black” wardrobe most of us sport when we don’t know what to wear). From mixed patterns, to wearing plaid on plaid, and even mixing the most outrageous colors (who would have thought dressing like a watermelon would actually be a thing), the past few fashion seasons have shown us that the bolder you are with your colors, the bigger of an impact you make….

And, what better way to start a new year than by making an impact?

XOXO,

-MS

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