The Refined Girl’s Guide to High School

With the beginning of my senior year starting, I realized how much knowledge I have accumulated throughout my three previous years of high school. Interestingly enough, most of what I have learned hasn’t been educational, but more of how to make it through high school. I want to share with you what I have learned, and things I would tell my freshman-self, so that you can have some of the tools you need to make the most out of your high school experience. I am going to start off with the most essential piece of advice for school is that you should have school as your main priority. Think of school as your job, try to learn as much as you can while you are there and strive for good grades. Your education is such a valuable asset, because nobody can ever take what you know away from you. Good grades are important, because they are a reflection of you, your work-ethic and your responsibility.

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5 Styling Tips For People With Disabilities

A guest post by Amy Evans

Hi everyone! Seeing as this is my first post for Zoe, I thought I’d do a little introduction about myself. My name is Amy and I’m 21 years old from Perth Australia. I have a rare condition called Nemaline Rod Muscular Myopathy which means I have to use an electric wheelchair to get around. So, with that, I thought I’d give you my top 5 styling tips for a person with a disability. 

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How to Love Your School Uniform

With the beginning of the school year just around the corner, I thought it would be a great time to discuss school uniforms. Personally, I go to a private school where most of the students hate the uniform there. This is completely understandable with all the restrictions on what they can and cannot wear, along with the “inability” to express themselves. I have actually never disliked my school uniform or dress code like the majority of students. I felt like it never hindered my ability to express myself, and I saw it as a challenge to be more creative within the guidelines. Some of the tips I give might not be appropriate at your school, so it’s important to read your school’s guidelines before using these tips!

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The Beginner’s Guide to Accessory Etiquette

“I’ve always thought of accessories as the exclamation point of a woman’s outfit.” – Michael Kors

When you think about the most stunning outfits you’ve seen, what makes that outfit memorable? These outfits are memorable because of accessories. Accessories can elevate any simple garment, into a refined outfit. Trying to match accessories with clothing can be difficult if you don’t know where to start. The accessory etiquette that I will be discussing is my personal guideline that I use to make my outfits look more elegant and refined. Beginning with jewelry, this type of accessory can be easy to go over the top with. You want to make sure that you always match your metals, the only exception is if your piece of jewelry is mixing metals itself. Don’t be completely dismissive of costume jewelry. Some costume jewelry can make great statement pieces, you just have to be selective with it. During the day it’s acceptable to wear diamond earrings and necklaces, but you should save your diamond watch for the evening. The purse is the most practical accessory you will ever own. Continue reading “The Beginner’s Guide to Accessory Etiquette”

The Beauty of Natural Makeup

“Nothing makes a woman more beautiful than the belief that she is beautiful.” – Sophia Loren

In today’s beauty trends, natural beauty is hardly acknowledged. I’ve noticed the effects of these trends on social media and younger women. Makeup is often used as a form of self-expression. Although for many, makeup is a way to hide from the world. Most of the makeup looks I see are layers upon layers of contour and a “unique” assortment of eye shadow. These looks can come across as off-putting, overwhelming, and even inappropriate if worn in an everyday setting. There is a time and place for everything, especially for dramatic looks like these. Fortunately, a great alternative to dramatic makeup is a natural look. With natural makeup, your wearing less product and styling it in a way that enhances your own features. Enhancing your natural features means not drastically changing your look. Continue reading “The Beauty of Natural Makeup”

The Art of Simplicity

” Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” – Leonardo da Vinci

Notice how there is minimal accessories, no clashing patterns, and natural makeup to create a simplistic look.

When I was younger, I was always told how “less is more”. This phrase was monotonous to me, especially when I started using makeup. I assumed the more elaborate you looked, and more product you used determined how beautiful you appeared. I couldn’t have been more wrong, and luckily I figured that out pretty quickly. The phrase “less is more” transcends into many aspects of your look such as makeup, fashion, accessories, and more. Having a simplistic look means embracing your natural beauty and enhancing it. Contrary to what most believe, having a simplistic look can make you stand out in a positive way. People always make inferences about you on how you appear, with having a simplistic look its hard to make a negative inference about someone at a glance. To have a more simplistic look, start with your makeup. Your makeup should not try to change any of your natural features but enhance them. Pick your best feature, whether it’s your eyes, lips, eyebrows, etc… and play up that feature. Continue reading “The Art of Simplicity”

Simple and Easy Ways to Improve your Morning Routine

Having a morning routine is essential to start your day off well. Especially if your mornings tend to be rushed or chaotic, establishing a routine can make you feel more collected and calm throughout the day. Every step I have in my morning routine is catered to my skin. I first start off with a cup of hot green tea. Green tea has many proven health benefits, such as promoting healthier skin and hair. After I am finished drinking my tea, I take out the tea bag and place it in the refrigerator. While I wait for my tea bag to cool I start on my ice facials. Many people have no idea what I’m talking about when I mention ice facials, all you do is rub ice on your face. This helps reduce inflammation, such as puffiness under eyes and acne. Continue reading “Simple and Easy Ways to Improve your Morning Routine”

The Ultimate Guide to Shopping for Makeup

If you’ve never shopped for makeup before the whole process can be extremely overwhelming. With a wide variety of products and brands, it can be difficult to choose what products are best for you. With the right guidance, you can find the products that make you feel beautiful. Before heading to the store you should do your research, look at the products you might need such as foundation, mascara, blush, and lipstick. These are just some of the basics you may need to achieve your desired look. Then you should set your budget, this is important because shopping for makeup can easily get out of hand. There is a wide variety of quality products for any budget. Price doesn’t always correlate with quality, some of my personal favorites are from the drugstore. You should also research the highest rated products, thoroughly read the reviews to see if the product could potentially work for you. Continue reading “The Ultimate Guide to Shopping for Makeup”

How to Shop for Clothing

“Buy less. Choose well. Make it last. – Vivienne Westwood 

Shopping for a new wardrobe can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it can be a little stressful if you don’t know where to start. Thankfully there are many ways to make your shopping experience stress-free and affordable. Before you even begin shopping, create a strategy! To create a strategy start by creating a budget for how much you want to spend in total, and how much your willing to spend on individual pieces. Creating a budget will keep you grounded, and help you shop responsibly. The next step is to decide what you need to shop for, this can be anything from athletic wear to formal wear or accessories to casual clothing. Once you decide what kind of clothing you are looking for, you’re going to decide which stores you are going to visit. To choose what stores you are going to visit, you can browse online stores to see if you like what products they have to offer. When the day comes to go shopping make sure you are wearing appropriate undergarments, this means wearing the undergarments you would wear for what you are going to purchase, this will help you see how flattering the clothing actually is. Always inspect the garment!!! Continue reading “How to Shop for Clothing”