Guest Post: How to Look Haute in a Hurry

Good Morning, Beautiful! The fiancé and I are headed down to Indiana for the weekend to attend a wedding and see my family! Although I'll be away, I've arranged a couple guest posts so you won't have to go without your Haute Lunch! :) Today I am super excited to have Alyson from The Average Girl's Guide as the very first guest on my blog! She is smart, sweet, and chic, and can do it all while maintaining a balance of work, family, and blogging (of course)! Since she is a super busy gal who always looks fabulous, I thought she'd be the perfect person to give us some tips on how to look haute in a hurry!

Hi fabulous Haute Lunch readers! Alyson from The Average Girl’s Guide here... so honored and thrilled to be guest posting because I just adore Tara’s blog.

As a mom of an 18-month old, a blogger and full-time new biz owner (wheh!), I don’t have hours each day to get ready. Since most women juggle multiple responsibilities, I wanted to share with you a few tips and tricks that I’ve found helpful to get ready fast while still being fashionable. Would love if you comment with any others you have so we can all help each other get ready super-fast while looking totally smokin’!

Don’t wash your hair every day

Now I know there are some women whose hair gets so oily that this is not an option but for most of us, we can do it. Promise. Two years ago I thought this was the grossest thing on earth but slowly started skipping a wash because it seemed like it would be helpful once I had my little girl. Yes, it takes a little while to get your hair used to this so I avoided having the ‘skip day’ on a date night or big work event, however give it a month or two and you’ll be so glad you did. As a Florida gal dealing with brutal humidity, I now think my hair looks so much better on day two. It’s much smoother and doesn’t ‘fro the way it used to!
Tara's Tip: If your hair looks a little oily on the second day, try some dry shampoo (or even baby powder if you have light hair) to help freshen your roots!

Rid yourself of “I have nothing to wear” syndrome

I recently wrote a post about this because one of the biggest challenges to getting ready fast is finding a cute outfit you feel good in. Don’t just throw on jeans and a baggy tee or sweatshirt because you’re too frustrated to look. If your closet ONLY includes items you feel good in, getting ready will be a cinch.  Clean out the clutter (here are some tips) and then ONLY buy what you need. Make a list and stick to it. You’ll be happy you did, and save money at the same time. For example, I’m on the hunt for blouses with special detailing that can transition from a work meeting to happy hour to cas’ on the weekend. Even this top (love the pink or blue) from Old Navy for just $12.50 is way cuter than your basic top.

Accessorize!

Don’t be shy when it comes to adding pops of color or interesting details to your look through jewelry, headbands, shoes, belts and watches (here's an example). Any look can be transformed when you start playing with accessories. Mix and match every day or find a few and call them your “signature look!” For example, my Michael Kors tortoise shell watch is now with me daily, be it at the gym, meeting or glammed night out! Just don’t think you need to spend a lot of money to make the most of each look. I love testing out new trends or something you’ve been considering for a while (hello, statement necklace) by hitting up Target, Forever 21, H&M or another affordable spot. Usually it’s less than $15 for me to see if I like the look. Right now that means I’m searching for the perfect fedora and maybe a cute little elephant on a long gold chain. Sound absurd? Maybe, but it’s all about having fun with it and remembering… tomorrow’s another opportunity! 

-Thanks to Alyson for putting together this fabulous post! I know I learned a thing or two about looking good when I'm short on time!

Tweet