by “Mrs Humphrey.” That tells us so much about the era…
It’s amusing, if painfully dated. But the thing that I have to say I liked most about it is the ongoing emphasis that the author places on health and good attitude as the true keys to an appealing appearance. It resonates so much with what I see on the streets of Chicago every day – unhealthy, scowling, slouching… No WONDER you’re not turning heads, eh?
A good attitude is worth thousands of dollars in cosmetic surgery, at least according to Alexander Smith!
So leave me a comment about the best beauty advice you’ve ever received, and next Monday I’ll draw a random number and send out this little gem to the winner.
The best beauty advice I ever received?
“Stand up straight!!!!”
lifting my head, even as I type…
love,
Janice
"Feel beautiful and you will be beautiful".
The best advice I ever got was to smile when looking in the mirror.
My Mum taught me to cleanse and moisturise my face morning and night starting age 12 to keep good care of your skin.
And at a deeper level I remeber as a child being tantalised by the imported red delicious apples on the shop shelves- the most beautiful apple that I had ever seen, only to be disappointed by the powdery texture on the inside. It's what's on the inside that really matters…….
YES!! Completely agree with her quote. I want to read the book now!
Moisturize, moisturize!! Still use the same lotion 40 years on (Oil of Ulay/Olay).. Also, wearing sunglasses when driving, all year round, to stop the tendency to frown.
The best beauty advice I've ever received—Stay out of the sun AND use sunscreen everyday!
This was the best-ever advice given to me. It came from a doctor I met, who had his nose shaved in half by skin cancer. Wear sunscreen everyday — especially make sure your nose is covered.
Never sleep in make up and drink lots of water.
I was told to stand straight, too, but I always thought I already was. ;)
Take makeup off every night before bedtime.
Do whatever you damn well please, with confidence! (As long as you're not mean or unfair to other people).
-Kaci
Graciousness and kindness will shine through…..and a little bit of make up on a pleasant face (which sometimes requires some thought) seems to have people respond in they way we hope. If not, then I always think, perhaps, something is not well in their lives (said Miss Clavel).
Thank your for the give away….I love those vintage advice books. They usually have the best tried and true advice.
Graciousness and kindness will shine through…..and a little bit of make up on a pleasant face (which sometimes requires some thought) seems to have people respond in they way we hope. If not, then I always think, perhaps, something is not well in their lives (said Miss Clavel).
Thank your for the give away….I love those vintage advice books. They usually have the best tried and true advice.
My Nan always said "Chin up, shoulders back, and leave your worries in your pocket."
Smile :)
When I smile, others smile. It's not only great for me, but for all those around me.
Thanks for the give away!
Ooh! I have a small collection of vintage beauty and fashion advice books, but nothing from this era. It looks fascinating.
My mother told me to never wear a hat that has more personality than I did. Probably good advice for all clothes.
My mother always told me to work with my hair not against it and to always have strong eyebrows. She still does her hair and eyes at 99+.
Deb from Vancouver
More great, creative, and fearless advice!! Cannot wait to read her book!!
"If you have to choose between underwear and mascara, always choose mascara."
Don't let your mouth hang open!
Don't let your mouth hang open!
Stand up straight and smile!
Turn your features and quirks into your beauty, don't try to copy somebody else's looks.
Smile! It will make people wonder what you've been up to.
A signature lipstick and a signature fragrance is all you need!!
Be as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside.
"If someone can see your (insert obsessed over flaw here) they are standing too close." said my mother on numerous occasions.
I love books like this!
The best advice? Be kind. That's always beautiful.
Outer beauty fades, but inner beauty shines for a lifetime!
Always wear protective gloves while cleaning. No, seriously, every single time: washing a single dish, wiping down the kitchen, scrubbing the bathtub. Wear gloves. My hands have aged, but they don't look "old". And my nails are strong and healthy, too.
The best accessory is a smile
My mother always said, "Pretty is as pretty does."
Use a satin pillowcase. :)
Using the towel to push my cuticles back after showering.
My Mom was beautiful, elegant, and slim. And sh loved fashion and always had a beautiful wardrobe. I have never been slim, being from a much sturdier forebearer! But she always encouraged me, telling me I had a pretty smile and beautiful, expressive eyes. Her best advice to me was to mind my manners and to be a woman of integrity. And to smile. Laura.
I find that people I like are attractive, no matter what they physically look like. I assume they see me the same way.
I know exactly what you mean
My Aunt Flo would always poke me in the back and tell me to stand up straight. I did have a problem with that having grown to 5'11" by the age of 14 and not being comfortable in my own skin. Not wanting to be poked cured me.
Drink lots and lots of water. It is great for your skin and keeps your weight down.
One of my favorites came from a friend right before I was to give an important presentation. "No matter where you are… Walk In Like You Own the Place!"
My father always told me and my sisters if we complained we were not dressed quite right, 'Don't worry what others think, they are probably only thinking of themselves anyway'. Later in life, I now dress in what I am comfortable in and don't worry too much about others. My style is comfort driven and my style is my very own. Daggy! As for beauty, no point trying. I just watched one of those nip & tuck programs and I think it is society that drives perfectly ordinary ladies to think they are less ordinary. (I am not talking about large disfigurations here.) Nose too big, liposuction here we go… I actually found the program to be very sad. We are not super models. Carol S
Bob Marley's quote helps keep me look great everyday: "The most beautiful curve on a woman's body is her smile"
Accessories are essential! The book sounds very intriguing!
Laura Kaye
Perhaps the best beauty advise was/is "wear sunscreen everyday – rain or shine." Which I do. Maybe next was/is "remove your make-up every single night." I mostly do that, too. I love old books on fashion and beauty – so I hope I win! :)
(from a 60-year old who highlights her blonde hair) Tone down the make-up and the "blonde-ness" of the highlights as you age…a more natural appearance is better as you grow older! And, show a sincere interest in others – you will instantly become more attractive!
The best advice I received was to always use a moisturizer with sub screen as otherwise my face would look like a saddle (my female relatives have a flair for the dramatic!) Susan from Northern VA
That is–sun screen! Sub screen sounds like mayo! Susan from Northern VA (again)
My mom always told me to hold in my stomach all the time and that would give me strong stomach muscles.
A good haircut will give you the confidence to smile and feel good any where, any time. Even at a high school reunion ;)
Dear Janice,
This looks like such an interesting book. I would love to win / read it.
As always, thank you so much for all you do for your devoted fans.
Louise P
So your mother must have known my mother. My mom was a fiend about good posture. I heard "stand up straight — put your shoulders back" about a thousand times a year. And her greatest annoyance: people (especially women) who walk down the street round shouldered & hunched in with their eyes down. She used to say: "stand up straight and look people in the eye when you walk down the street, don't scuttle along as though you're ashamed of something." She believed that woman who didn't walk with confidence looked like — and risked being treated as — victims. One of the best compliments I ever received was from a man at work who, after I'd come back to the office after having been out for lunch one day, said: "I can always tell you from everyone else down there — " he pointed to the office windows, 24 floors above street level — "because you're the one who walks as though she's got somewhere to go and something to do when she gets there." Decades later, I have to bite my tongue to keep from telling the slouchers on the street to stand up straight, put their shoulders back and look life in the eye. Thanks, mom! [I dread to think of what she'd have to say about all the robots wandering the streets with eyes glued to their phone screens these days.]
The best eye makeup remover is a bit of baby shampoo on a soft cloth.
A smile goes a long way and drink more water. I have added sun screen for my daughters.
Not slouching. Smile (frowning uses more muscles than a smile). Who's going to be looking at you? Others are more modern – sunscreen, water etc. I love the Bob Marley quote (EmaN)
Not slouching. Smile (frowning uses more muscles than a smile). Who's going to be looking at you? Others are more modern – sunscreen, water etc. I love the Bob Marley quote (EmaN)
"Walk as if you have three men walking behind you"–thank you Oscar de la Renta! I always feel more confident when I remember this, especially since my large behind has always been a bit of a confidence-killer for me.
Cortney
I was about 6 years old when my beautiful aunt told me her secret to beauty was to look in the mirror every day and sing "I'm so pretty, oh so pretty…."
Wear sunglasses every time you go outside. This was advice given to me when I had just turned 20 and 40 years later I have no lines around my eyes!
Wear sunscreen every day and don't forget to smile :)
I went to a school in England that gave colours for "deportment" as well as for sports. So standing tall is still ingrained more than 50 years later. I also like to walk briskly with the head up and looking alertly ahead. My husband tells me that he was first attracted to me by my "take-no-prisoners" walk! I feel that a pleasant expression and a smile helps to erase lines around the mouth – as well as showing that the ones around the eyes are laughter lines rather than frown lines. SO much more pleasant and charming.
The best advice comes from a little red headed girl "You are never fully dressed without a smile" that may be cheesy; but Annie was right!
The best advice: Always listen to people with your heart — it's makes you the most beautiful person.
The best advice: Always listen to people with your heart — it's makes you the most beautiful person.
Don't pull faces – one day the wind will change and you'll be stuck like that! (My grandmother.) Apart from that, having been a child with bubble curls, I often had the rhyme "There was a little girl and she had a little curl" recited to me (not exactly beauty, well, except of the inner kind…..!)
To look and feel beautiful always wear your smile.
To look and feel beautiful always wear your smile.
In junior high this boy I liked stopped me in the hall and asked me why I always walked with my head down. I never did so again. And that appearance of confidence, the ability to look every person and situation in the eye, has been a hallmark for me since that day.
In junior high this boy I liked stopped me in the hall and asked me why I always walked with my head down. I never did so again. And that appearance of confidence, the ability to look every person and situation in the eye, has been a hallmark for me since that day.
Good foundation garments. Always wear a good bra, helps the posture too
A smile is the best accessory.