Beautiful style begins with self-confidence
by Shari Phillips

My great-grandmother always reminded me that beauty is only skin deep. However, I think I’m going to go out on a family limb and disagree with how our family really judged the true beauty of a woman.

Beauty can be skin deep, but when I remember the person my great-grandmother was, I realize that beauty certainly starts much deeper than the skin. A remarkable woman, seemingly ahead of her time: she was generous, always tending to others’ needs before her own, and yet ambitious and self aware, because she always knew how to connect with what she desired, and balanced both sides graciously. This became my benchmark for success as a woman.

She was that woman we all seem to know in our own social circles…that self-confident woman radiating with a natural sense of style, creating her own individual beauty. I’m sure that comes to many people, in time, with life’s experiences and maturity…but sadly, not everyone attains this inner ease.

I love to watch today’s youth evaluate their contributions to style. For instance, my niece is seven years old and ever since she was four you could not pick out her clothes or even get involved with her fashion ‘preparation’.  She as an uncanny talent and love for mixing just the right colors, patterns and lengths with fun accessories to suit her personality and hone her own style, caring little for the opinions of others. Consequently, she already has a look of a self-assured young woman, really comfortable with herself.

Normally, as we grow older and socially ‘arrive’, we tend to seek the approval of our peers and thereby adapt someone else’s look blended into ours. We are susceptible to others criticisms which can unfortunately drive away much of our confidence. Sadly, many of us feel inadequate inside and out.

The good news is that we all have the potential to enhance our beauty!

Today we are reconnecting to traditions steeped in daily practices of self-awakening, self-realization, and self-appreciation… a wonderful opportunity to admit to ourselves what we like about our looks, about our expressions, and about our bodies. This is truly where beauty lives. And it is where it seeps through the skin becoming a marriage of one’s own harmonic dance.

Then comes the layering. Choose styles that work for you and your lifestyle so you will never have to consider whether you are in fashion or not. Trends are just that, temporary! Once you build on a classic tried and true foundation you can do anything that defines your style. Watch people. Learn from someone you admire. Choose make-up and hairstyles that compliment your face and head shape. Get real and check out your body shape when making a style decision and be sure to dress your body with love.

Always take into consideration your lifestyle first. Seriously, showing up to play golf with four-inch heels probably won’t win you any accolades.

True beauty goes deep into the soul but you can recognize it right on the surface; just check the eyes…