Welcome to the next post in the series ‘From Drab to Fab’, and today Jo Williams from Jo Simply Will shares her simple, no fuss, economical style tips with us.
Maybe you’re looking to simplify your beauty routine and find ways to cut down on any high maintenance habits that might be costing you too much time or money? I know I’m always looking for tips like this.
So a big thanks to, and over to Jo …
Simple, no fuss, economical style
For me, it’s all about simplicity in my skin and hair care, make up, and dress. I have a very quick skin care routine. The whole ‘cleanse, tone, moisturise, apply eye cream & night cream’ routine is not for me. Some may be horrified to read that I wash my face with soap!
During the day I wear sunscreen to keep freckles at bay and minimise skin damage from the sun.
I wear whatever moisturiser I happen to have on hand at night. It is usually something that has come as part of a ‘gift with purchase’. In summer I don’t wear moisturiser at all at night, because it tends to make my face more sweaty than it sometimes already is!
Walking is reserved for days I’m not at work. I’m just not one of these people who is willing to be out in the dark and cold at 5.30 am on a winter’s morning. This T-shirt identifies both the era I’m from and the identity of one of my favourite rock bands!
Work dress is quite simple and relatively casual although I do tend to dress a little more professionally some days. I’m currently working full-time, and being something of an under-buyer, I quickly found I just didn’t have enough clothes to get through the week.
The entire outfit pictured here was purchased from an op shop! Who doesn’t love a bargain, and the environment also benefits when we re-use rather than continually make new purchases.
The 100% cotton jumper is from Yarra Trail. The previous owner of the pants is exactly my height, and she has even neatly hemmed them by hand, bless her! Each of these items was $7.
On work days I usually wear foundation over my 50 SPF moisturiser to further protect my skin from the sun.
The rest of my makeup comprises a bit of eyeliner, a brush of blusher across eyelids and cheeks, and a smear of lipstick, all from Natio. Five minutes and I’m done!
I’m fortunate to have very thick hair, and I prefer a cut that requires no styling or products. Mostly, I allow my hair to air dry. The blow dryer does come in handy on cold or wet days, just to dry it off.
When it comes to more formal occasions, I will make more of an effort with my hair, make up, and of course dress!
Outfitting myself in something a little more dressy always causes me anxiety. I have a real aversion to shopping, and am just not one of those women who enjoys whiling away the time browsing in shops.
So when needed I head to a particular boutique where the service is good. With a palpable air of desperation, I describe the occasion and plead for help! There is nothing like a sales assistant who knows her stock and will tell you honestly whether something looks good or not!
I was so pleased with this purchase made for a wedding, and even happier that it was the first and only dress I had to try on!
So that’s my skin care, hair and make up routine, and dress preference in a nutshell! In a word or 2, it could be summarised simply as ‘low-maintenance’!
A big thanks to Jo Williams, who is the author of the blog Jo Simply Will. Jo’s intention is to live more simply and thoughtfully. She writes about her love of growing, making, and baking things, and seeks to challenge the dominant paradigm of consumerism. She hopes that through her blog, readers will be influenced to contemplate the cycle of work, consumerism, and waste in which we can all get trapped, and perhaps make some small changes in their own life. Jo has previously written a guest post for Lifestyle Fifty entitled When one door closes: reinvent your life.
You might also like: Fashion Tips for Women Over 50
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How Can I Have A Healthy Heart?
Looking good Jo, proof that a. you don’t have to spend a million bucks on clothes to look good (hooray for op shops) and b. you don’t need to wear a ton of makeup either.
thanks for these quick and easy tips – I sure need them. I am hopeless with skin care, and fashion! Thanks for another fabulous blog post.
Thanks Jill 🙂
Absolutely love this simple style. My favorite is the third one and the second I love the sporty look! Thanks for sharing this
Thanks for popping by Gray Hair No More 🙂
Thank you Kathy!
It just goes to show that a simple beauty routine and not spending a fortune on high-end fashion works a treat. Jo you look fabulous in everything, from your workout gear, your Op shop work outfit to your beautiful formal dress. I wish didn’t spend so much on beauty products and fashion. I need to take a leaf out of your book.
Hi Kathy, I think it takes a bit of focus and discipline to adopt an economical style not based on quantify, but Jo shows us that there need be no lacking in quality!