This week a leading academic journal ‘Scientific American Mind’ confirmed what we’ve know for ages. ‘You are what you wear’, psychologists have confirmed that the way you dress influences your climb up the corporate ladder or into the top seat and that’s not just in the fashion and media spectrum but across the board. This revelation is rather timely as once again power dressing is back. This autumn there will be no skirting around the issue as pencil skirts are backed with tailored crisp shirts and large neck tie bow blouses. And what power dressing ensemble would be complete without subtle shades and hues of success?
The 80’s was the era that coined the term ‘power dressing’ and featured the quintessential ‘working girl’ in the form of Melanie Griffith. Petite and large frames alike adopted power suits and shoulder pads, with strong makeup and voluminous teased hair to finish off the look. Eyes were dark and dramatic with the help of many layers of eyeliner and bold eye shadow in bright shades of blue, green, gold and purple. For lips, the color of choice: furious reds and neon pinks. And what drama-loving era would be complete without, mica, a metallic powder popular to shimmy up eyes and any other body part that needed extra shimmer. Icons of the time included Melanie Griffith, Madonna, Kim Basinger and Molly Ringwald. While Cynthia ‘Cyndi’ Lauper provided the sound track that was to feature as the 80’s mantra: ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’.
No doubt it’s hard to be a woman of importance without make up, however there is no need to revert back to the high drama of 80’s make up to get the look.
Prepare to power groom: Success has a tint and it comes in the form of a tinted moisturizers. With beauty editors standing in queue for MAC’s Face and Body Foundation ($31 ), which was developed as body make-up but provides an almost indelible cover to the face and provides a professional finsih. While Bobbi Brown's Extra Tinted Moisturizing Balm SPF 25 Deep Tint ($48.00), creates a luminous finish for skin and contains carrot oil and vitamin A to help reduce the look of fine lines.
Sheer Highlights are radiance in a bottle, dollop it on for an instant lift. Try Lancome's Fluide Illuminator Sheer Radiance Highlighter shade 01 or for darker skins opt for Highlighter shade 02 Hale (£14.00) or another firm favorite, Benefit's High Beam (offers a soft pink sheen $24.00) and Moon Beam (a golden glow $24.00) for instant sheer.
Powder pretty: powders are tricky and can easily create an unwanted caked look as well as magnifying lines around the face. Most women have combination skin with the greasiest part of the face being the nose and forehead dubbed the T - Zone, while the cheeks and chin stay dry. Therefore opt to minimize the shine with only powdering the nose and forehead. Other options open to power groomers are some old fashion blotting paper to absorb excess oil. Try Classic Chanel Papier Matifiant ($31.00) a firm favorite as the container looks sleek and chic but surprisingly is able to contain 150 sheets on one pad in a mirrored compact for ease of use. An asset in the battle against the T-Zone. Philosophy's Oil Control Blotting Papers offers a cheaper alternative and promises not to disturb make up ($12.45).
Eyes are back in the lime light, with all eyes going for black liquid eyeliner. A quick run of liquid black over the eye can create a fashion forward fall eye. Try Jane Iredale Liquid Eye Liner ($20.00). This liner is so easy to apply that even if you've never used a liquid liner before you won't have any trouble lining your eyes. Like mascara it's all about the precision brush, Iredale offers a long handle for easy application with the tip offering the option of thin or thick line depending on how you use it, added benefit includes no sensitizing or drying chemicals. Double beauty comes in the form of Elain Colorist Eyes - Duet Eye, ($17) which contains an eye pencil and liquid eyeliner. Application is fabulous thanks to the fine tipped brush that gives precision ease application. This duo is the ultimate weapon when attempting the smoking eye. The pencil and brush can of course also be used separately and this one is my personal 'must have'. As for the color only one shade creates classic chic and needs no introductions number Zero - color black.
Power grooming is all about the details, look to elite shaped brows and manicured nails (Try Too Faced Brow Envy Eyebrow Kit $35.00) It’s the frills that set the well groomed apart from the power groomers. Power grooming is about looking immaculate not over preened or pruned, happy grooming!
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