How to achieve your dream wardrobe this Christmas

DEAR LUCY,

I’ve dressed in black for the most part of my life, not because that is my favorite color but because I want to get as much mileage from it as I can.  I have only a few dresses, pants, skirts, and tops (compared to the many that most others my age have — I am in my late 30s, and I earn comfortably well), but they are all keepers, of quality so good that, although pricey, I know I can wear them for a very long time to come.  I just realized though that about 70 percent of my wardrobe is black, and although I am ready for some color, I feel self-conscious wearing bright shades.  Jewel tones are a target, but I can’t seem to head straight for them just yet.  With Christmas coming, I am looking at getting something new and definitely not black.  And I resolve in 2014 to only get colors, after all, I have more than enough basics to play around with!  What is a good color to start with?

KAT

Right away, I wanted to suggest emerald green.  I think it is a beautiful color.  But since you specifically said you do not see yourself in any jewel tones just yet, then I would mute it up a bit and ask you to consider forest green.  It is sophisticated and rich yet low-key, without being boring and drab. If you wear it as a separate, you can pair it with pale green, navy, taupe.  Be sure to wear it with gold accessories, and lip color with orange undertones. 

Another color you can wear would be eggplant, assuming amethyst is too much for you.  It can be quite a flattering hue and, like forest green, can be mixed with many other colors for unexpected but sophisticated results.

I am all for wise spending in the sense that even if you buy just a few pieces each year, these are items you keep for a very long time to come.  By doing that, you are refining your fashion sense, editing yourself by being very sure about what you want and don’t want, and a big plus is you will achieve everyone’s dream wardrobe — one that holds only things you 1) love and 2) will always look good in.  Quality always over quantity, that is how the French do it.  We all can learn a thing or two from them.

Now, given that you are very particular about the colors you want to wear, you may have a difficult time searching.  Your next best bet would be to buy fabric —luckily there are many shops in Manila now that sell beautiful ones in heavy crepe, dull satin, etc., and you should be able to easily find some to your liking.  Next step would be to find yourself a designer that not only dreams up beautiful pieces but one who also has the cutter and the seamstress to execute the design very well.  Always have your dresses lined, they always look and fall better.  And again, fit is very important.  I cannot emphasize that enough.

LUCY

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Say goodbye to varicose veins

DEAR RISSA,

I am an avid fan of your column ever since I was high school. I just want to ask if there are available topical ointments or supplements on the market for varicose veins. I run a lot and occasionally enjoy late nights out all glammed up in heels. I really like wearing shorts, skirts, and dresses, and I’m afraid to get ugly varicose veins.                  JOYCE C.

Women go to great lengths to achieve beautiful skin, salon-gorgeous hair, and the perfect figure, but we neglect the health of our legs. Whether you are a sports enthusiast, stiletto heel lover, travel bug, devoted mom attending to her kids, tireless doctor or hospital nurse, or even a college student who walks from building to building, your legs are some of the most abused body parts that you neglect to keep healthy. We often go home with tired, aching, and heavy legs, and we rarely do something about it. Fact is, these major leg problems are results of poor blood flow in the legs, which may lead to varicose veins.

Yes, even activities like standing too long, crossing your legs, pregnancy, and genetics can all play a role in unwanted varicose veins. My personal habit after a long day from a fashion show or a night out in killer heels is to raise my legs and lean them against the wall. This helps stimulate blood circulation so my legs can recover easily. It never fails to make my legs feel better!

I recently learned about Antistax (available at Mercury Drug and Watsons), a leg vein supplement made from the antioxidant Flaven which is derived from natural vine leaf extract (you can find this in red wine, too, so drink up!). This ingredient helps maintain healthy leg vein circulation to prevent common problems like heaviness, tiredness, aching, and a swelling feeling in your legs. Those are actually symptoms of CVI or chronic venous insufficiency, which can lead to the formation of varicose veins. Good friend Tweetie de Leon Gonzalez is ambassador to the brand and shares that as a squash enthusiast, she’s often prone to leg and ankle injuries so she takes Antistax supplements so her legs can keep up with the sport.

Apart from taking Antistax, have a proper diet because maintaining the correct weight helps alleviate unnecessary pressure on the legs. If you like getting massages, they’re extra good for your legs, too, because they help blood flow easier to the veins of your legs.

RISSA

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 Send e-mail to Lucy Torres-Gomez at ltg@pldtdsl.com. E-mail Rissa Trillo at stylesos_rissa@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter @RissaMananquil. Send Regina Belmonte your questions at vivatregina.tumblr@gmail.com or tweet her @vivatregina.