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The Sweet 16 Point System
By Kathy Friend
SITUATION: You are out and about, and you see a perfectly accessorized woman. You think to yourself: “How in the world did she know to put that together?”
PROBLEM: You try to pull together accessories, and feel a little like a Christmas tree--and not in a good way.
SOLUTION: There is a trick to getting the accessory thing right.
Accessories used to baffle me. I would see an outfit in a magazine, and try to duplicate it. Most of the time, I felt like I looked as though I was trying too hard. Then I heard about the trick.
I don’t know where I read about the trick, but I do remember the light going off in my head and realizing I was trying too hard to accessorize.
I was reminded about the trick when I was reading through a colleague’s new book (Shari Braendel’s “Good Girls Don’t Have To Dress Bad”). The trick is to simply count to 16. It’s a point system; the closer you get to 16, the more perfectly accessorized you are! As my eight-year-old would say, “easy peasy.”
Totally confused?
Let’s back up. First, we should define what an accessory is. Generally, an accessory is something worn to highlight an outfit. Sometimes thought of as the “frosting on the cake” of an outfit, an accessory can play up an outfit for a night out or play down a look for the office. Some examples of accessories include:
· Shoes
· Leather goods (such as a belt or handbag)
· Jewelry
· Hosiery
· Makeup
· Hairstyle
With the goal getting to 16 points, and having a good idea what an accessory is, let’s start building the perfectly accessorized outfit:
CLOTHING
Give yourself a point for every piece of clothing you have on that is visible. ___________
(For example, pants, blouse and sweater is three points.)
Got shoes on? Give yourself another point for each shoe. __________
How about socks? A point! _________
So far, you should have about 7 points.
GROOMING
Makeup: Have you updated your makeup recently (as in the past six months?) If so, and if you are wearing it now, give yourself another point. ___________
Hair: Has someone complimented you on your hair in the past week? Two weeks? If so, give yourself a point. _____________
(If not, make a consultation appointment with a stylist for some ideas on how to rev-up your hair-do.)
Pedicure: If your toes are showing, and you have a fresh pedicure, give yourself a point. ____________
(But, given that it is winter and we are in Michiana, I might have to deduct a point from you if your toes are showing!)
Manicure: Do you have a fresh manicure? Give yourself another point! ________
By now, you should be at about then points.
BLING AND THINGS
Give yourself a point for each ring you are wearing. Yes, if your wedding ring is a two-ring set, that means two points. __________
Earrings? One point for each earring. _________
Necklaces? A point for each one! _________
Bracelets? Again, a point for each one. __________
Are you at 16?
Not yet? Let’s keep counting…
OTHER THINGS
Think about your handbag. You can get a point if you picked it out specifically to go with the outfit you are wearing right now. __________
Did you remember to count your belt? __________
WHAT POINTS SAY ABOUT YOU
0-5 I hope you are in a swimming pool!
6-10 Spiff up your makeup and hair style. Splurge on a manicure.
11-14 You’re almost there! Just add a necklace or maybe a bracelet.
15-17 YAY! You are a perfectly accessorized fashionista!
18+ You might want to think about taking off one ring, one necklace or one scarf.
