I’m not perfect, but I refuse to leave the house looking like it’s obvious. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I don’t feel comfortable if I look sloppy. I get up at 5 am so I have time to shower and get myself ready as well as work for a few hours before the kids get out of bed. I have more confidence when I feel I look good, so you just won’t catch me looking sloppy. It’s my thing.
But, I’m not always in the mood to stand in my closet and choose a perfect ensemble. Sometimes I run out of time. Four kids will do that for you. And sometimes I’m just lazy. When I’m lazy, I promise you I will choose the simplest, most basic outfit and add a few very specific items to it so it looks more put-together than it really is.
It’s lazy. It’s cheating. It’s my favorite thing to do.
We all have mornings when rushing is what happens, and that never does anything for our mood. To ensure I don’t look as rushed or sloppy as I feel, I make sure I get out of the house looking as though I’ve got my shit together when that’s the last thing I have. I know it works, too, because I hear it all the time.
“Tiffany always looks so pulled together and great!”
And I love it.
But don’t get me wrong. I don’t feel it. So, I’ll fake it til I make it by adding a few of the most basic, simplest, chicest accessories I own.
Oversized Sunglasses
Ladies, these are your best friend. They’re even more so if you wear them indoors when you quickly into a building and wait a second before pushing them up over your head. I love a pair of classic Ray-Ban Aviators with a mirrored lens (preferably in a color that goes with my outfit) or my classic black YSL frames that are oh-so chic. I don’t know what it is about frames like this, but they have the power to change even the most basic outfit.
Nude Heels
You can dress up a pair of jeans and a white tee with a pair of nude pumps in a second. Even if your jeans are torn, your shirt is hole-y, and your mood is sour, you’ll look amazing in zero seconds flat. Nude heels give you legs for days – and they add a touch of elegance to any ensemble. Bonus points if you throw on a black blazer over your casual tee.
A Great Handbag
My go-to is my LV Neverfull GM, because I have a million kids and all their stuff. I’m certain they’re all hoarders who want their stuff-hating mama to go insane. Regardless, any gorgeous handbag is going to help you look put-together, classic, and elegant. It works even more if your bag is structured such as this one, this one, or this one.
The great thing about fashion and style is how personal it is. The rules are few and far between – and they’re meant to be broken. If you feel confident and gorgeous when you walk out the door, that’s exactly how the rest of the world perceives you.
Tiffany Raiford 
1 Comment