How to Look Pretty, Not Provocative
Choosing Modest Over Overtly Sexy
Sometimes it's hard when you're a modest girl or woman to feel pretty--the images you're bombarded with from television, movies, and magazines so often equate pretty with sexy, requiring lots of leg, cleavage, and make-up.
If you prefer a midi-skirt to a mini-skirt, you can still be pretty--and leaving something to the imagination isn't a bad thing. It's just all about the image you want to portray, and the situation you find yourself in.
Read on for tips on looking pretty, not provocative.
How to Apply Natural Make-Up
Pretty and Natural Make-Up
One way to look pretty, not provocative is to choose a natural look when you're applying make-up. Going light on the make-up gives you a fresh, youthful, and healthy look.
To get a natural look, try the following:
- Go easy on the bronzer--it can look over-the-top in the bright light of day.
- Stick to two coats of mascara and avoid heavy eyeliner
- Choose a light foundation, either a mousse consistency or a mineral powder
- Apply a gloss instead of a heavy lipstick
- Blend on neutral eye shadow colors, such as taupe or cream (and avoid sparkle)
- Save the smoky eye for going out or dates
Heavy makeup, including bright lips with a smoky eye, look more like you're heading to a club than to work or your everyday life. Even artfully applied, it can be a bit much for daytime. If you're going for modest rather than attention-grabbing, keeping your make-up natural is a good strategy.
Advice Books on Style
Choosing Clothing that Covers You Up
The easiest way to look pretty, rather than provocative, is through your choice of clothing. When you're choosing modest clothing, keep in mind that you can still look pretty--cleavage, bare shoulders, and bare legs are not the only way to look lovely!
As an added bonus, dressing more conservatively portrays an image that you respect yourself and that others should, too.
When you're shopping for good go-tos for pretty yet modest outfits, consider:
- Shirt dresses
- Maxi skirts
- Maxi dresses
- Peasant tops
- Pencil skirts
- Cardigans
- Sheath dresses
- Skinny jeans
- Camis for layering under tops that may show a little more than you're comfortable with
Great stores for ladylike, beautiful clothing include:
- Ann Taylor
- Ann Taylor Loft
- Kate Spade
- J. Crew
- Banana Republic
- Anthropologie
If you do like to show off your favorite asset, so to speak, but still want to look modest, then choose one feature to highlight at a time--legs, shoulders, arms, etc.
As for shoes--stick to heels under three-and-a-half inches, and avoid any shoe that incorporates clear plastic in the heel, sole, or upper.
Dressing for Work
Tailoring Your Outfit to the Occasion
Remember that whether you look modest or sexy depends on the situation--almost any amount of cleavage at your place of work will feel provocative, while if you're running errands a little cleavage isn't out of place. And to take it to an extreme, you probably won't want to be wearing a shirtdress if you're out for a night in Vegas!
Dressing modestly during the way and showing a little more skin at night or at appropriate occasions is a great way to look pretty rather than provocative.
There are all kinds of beauty, so just dress in the way that makes you feel comfortable and confident!
