Everybody’s got their secrets to looking good and setting their own style. I polled our past FACES of Louisville and learned their style secrets, by asking them just four questions:
- What is something that you spend more money on than usual?
- What is something that you will not spend money on?
- What is part of your beauty routine that you cannot go without?
- What part of your beauty routine do you skip sometimes?
Their answers will enlighten you, make you laugh, surprise you and maybe sound familiar—from reading about the dermatologist who forgets to wash her face at night, or learning that women across the board will spend some serious money on shoes, all of these answers are great.
What is something that you spend more money on than usual?
Not surprisingly, this was a tie between handbags and shoes. Women love their purses and love their shoes. You know why? They always fit and accept you no matter how much you weigh.
Handbags
Summer Eliason: A great handbag! Love the LV bags, they are classic and go with everything!
Lucy Gentry: Makeup, purses and shoes. Do I have to choose one? If so, I’d say purse.
Jacqui van Ham: I’ll always drop more coin on quality bags, coats and watches. I’m pretty tough on those items and want them to last.
Kelli Campbell: Shoes and Purses. I only buy a few but they are usually pretty pricey.
Shoes
Women love their shoes! These answers read like a love letter. And everyone is willing to pay more for shoes that fit and are comfortable, not to mention shoes that are beautiful.
Amy Cimba: For sure SHOES! I love shoes and will forever love shoes. Shoes always fit! I often sacrifice function for form when it comes to shoes! I wear tall shoes on construction sites and climbing ladders, etc. I love shoes!
Louise Breen: I feel that shoes usually look cheap if they are cheap, although I wore my new suede Target wedges out last night and people couldn’t believe they were Target!
Shane Shaps: Shoes, because size four shoes don’t come cheap.
Tami Cassis: I love shoes and always have, no matter what my budgets have been in my life. I think it is a genetic defect, I get it from my mom.
Damaris Phillips: Shoes. I love shoes and because I am on my feet constantly, I am willing to pay more so that I don’t feel like my toes are bleeding.
Terri Weber: Shoes. I’ve decided that comfort is much better and worth paying extra. I’m on my feet at networking events and need to be comfortable.
Coats
You know it’s cold here when people have a coat wardrobe and spend some serious cash on them. Four of the ladies said coats were their number one extravagance.
Amanda Tyler: I’ll spend money on statement pieces of clothing. Usually like a lightweight coat to wear inside or outside.
Jeans
Do pricier jeans make you look better? Three women thought so.
Louise Breen: I’ve never found a pair of pants or jeans at Target that I like, so I go straight for the higher-end brands.
Erica McDowell: One other thing I LOVE are great-fitting jeans that can be worn with heels and a dressy top.
Food
Two women spent their money on food. One owns a gelateria, which explains that.
Kristin Gilbert: Food. (Local, Organic, Italian.)
Tiffany Cardwell: Food. A great meal is worth it. I just went to Vegas with a few sorority sisters and spent a pretty good amount of money on fantastic meals.
Bras
Perhaps my favorite answer, because so many people buy cheap bras. But Janna (below) is right, and I’m a firm believer in a solid foundation, as well.
Janna Flowers: I will not buy cheap bras. Nothing beats a good support system!
Skincare and Makeup
Lots of answers about skincare and makeup. And, these ladies are very particular about what brands they are spending their money on.
Kara Mohr: Skincare, e.g. facials, lotions etc.
Aockquee Burgess: Something I spend money on would be my makeup and skincare products. When it comes to my makeup, I prefer Mac.
Abigail Mueller: CHANEL makeup
Jewelry
Nothing beats bling, and it does last forever.
Catherine Delaney: I would spend money on a classic piece of jewelry over anything else.
What is something that you will not spend money on?
Some women said nothing. This is perhaps my favorite answer of the entire poll, simply because they were being so honest.
Patti Swope: Can’t think of anything.
Betsy Jones Cooper: Cannot think of one thing…need lessons from someone!
Amanda Tyler: I’m the type that will do without rather than buying cheap, so that’s hard.
Basic Clothing
Socks and t-shirts came up time and time again in this answer. And everyone mentions Target. I mean everyone.
This was followed closely by accessories.
Amy Cimba: T-shirts. I have a ridiculous amount of white,grey and black t-shirts of all shapes and sizes. V neck, cap sleeve, long sleeve, tanks, etc. and I go through them like crazy in a season! I wear them under blazers and sweaters, with trousers and jeans, to bed, etc. I can’t stand spending money on these so I stock pile t’s at Target! Then start all over the next season!
Kristin Gilbert: Socks for sure.
Catherine Delaney: Should I just run through my Target list here? Actually let me tell you what NOT to buy, maybe people are wiser than me, just say NO to Target underwear. Other than that, I could get it all at Tar-jaaay. Definitely make-up, definitely a white t-shirt, definitely socks, actually probably don’t own any socks that are not Target.
Maryanne Honeycutt Elliott: Most of my summer wardrobe (other than work clothes) are considered disposable after the season…sandals, etc.
Kara Mohr: Belts and most accessories in general…but not jewelry that turns your skin green (I was over that in 8th grade).
Jacqui van Ham: Scarves and gloves…I’m only going to lose them anyway, promise.
Abigail Mueller: I buy Old Navy Jeans. I like new pairs almost every season because my body and the styles change.
Kelli Campbell: Bras – I’m very bad about buying cheap bras.
Beauty Products
People go cheap on makeup and beauty products too.
Janna Flowers: Shampoo. Sorry ladies but I’m still a Pantene girl.
Aockquee Burgess: Something I really don’t spend a lot of money on is manicures. I know that sounds real cheap but I just keep my nails trimmed and clean. No polish. No color. Short and clean. That’s how I like them.
Lucy Gentry: Nail Polish.
Tami Cassis: Daily facial moisturizer. If it has the correct ingredients that is all I need.
Derby Hat
Again, a great answer from Shane, below, because she’s right: It’s hard to spend $500 on a hat when you can find one much cheaper.
Shane Shaps: Derby Hat – I always find something the week of that is reasonable.
What is part of your beauty routine that you cannot go without?
Washing Your Face
Women were as vehement about washing their face as they were about praising their shoes.
Patti Swope: Must wash my face and every night before bed, and slather on eye cream and night moisturizer. I’m religious about it.
Jennifer Mackin: I have to wash my face before going to bed. It doesn’t matter how late it is or how tired I am, I can’t fall asleep without getting the mascara off.
Kara Mohr: Cleansing, CE Ferulic Acid every morning and moisturizer.
Elizabeth Woolsey: Can’t go without washing my face.
Lucy Gentry: Cannot go without washing my face morning and night with Estée Lauder cleansing foam.
Tiffany Cardwell: I have to follow my five step Arbonne skin cleansing process every other night.
Facials
Facials are considered a necessary luxury by many women. For those of us who get them, we know why.
Jacqui van Ham: Monthly facials are part of the routine; they really make a difference in the quality of my skin. I’m prone to acne, still, and it seems to keep the oiliness from heading into HAZMAT territory.
Catherine Delaney: In an ideal world with lots of time and money, I cannot go without a facial.
Skin and Beauty Products
Sunscreen and moisturizer were a recurring daily theme here.
Summer Eliason: Can’t go without an SPF; gotta protect your skin everyday!
Tami Cassis: Daily facial moisturizer with SPF 30 and lipbalm with SPF 30.
Shane Shaps: Moisturizer at night, sunblock during the day.
Amy Cimba: I cannot live without hair product! My hair has such a mind of it’s own with frizz and curls in all the wrong places. It’s a sight to see me au natural without hair product. I encourage you to avoid this at all costs!
Janna Flowers: I can’t go without eyelash extensions. Little maintenance, no mascara and I wake up looking pretty as a princess. <smile> I let my lashes rest every couple of months, but it’s a sad, sad day without my fabo lashes!
Aockquee Burgess: It would be my eyeliner and mascara. I need my lashes to be long and full. My routine is the full face: primer, concealer, foundation, eyeliner, mascara, browser, blush, and lip gloss.
Abigail Mueller: Eyebrow waxing every 12-14 days.
What part of your beauty routine do you skip sometimes?
Washing: Body, Hair and Face
Washing goes by the wayside … a lot.
Brooke Vaughn: I often skip showering, as its a chore and all those oils are actually good for my aging skin.
Maryanne Honeycutt Elliott: Probably hair washing/drying. I wish it was more common to wear wigs/hairpieces. I’d be all over that.
Amanda Tyler: I skip washing hair. Don’t have to wash much but can go five days if time is short.
Catherine Delaney: Sometimes, I just have to go to bed without taking my make-up off.
Tami Cassis: Washing my face at night! AH that is right, my secret is out! Many nights I got to bed with a complete face full of makeup. TERRIBLE, but true. Just too tired to do it.
Shane Shaps: Sometimes I skip the Clarisonic, but I’m always sorry when I do.
Makeup:
Makeup was the most skipped part of the routine.
Damaris Phillips: I usually forget to put on makeup.
Jennifer Mackin: I often skip makeup on the weekends.
Summer Eliason: Skip foundation especially after the beach when I have lots of freckles even though I try not to get any.
Other regimens:
Janna Flowers: I sometimes skip my face serum. Isn’t it enough to cleanse and moisturize twice a day?!? That third step doesn’t always happen.
Elizabeth Woolsey: If I’m being honest, I skip shaving my legs in the winter for a few days, especially if I’m wearing pants! Maybe you shouldn’t put a name on that one!
Kara Mohr: All of it. Kidding. It certainly feels like it when I’ve got my hands full with the kids and Chris is traveling. But probably make-up.
Well lovely ladies, your secrets are all out. Now we can all see that you are just like the rest of us. Unshowered with no make up on, but wearing our expensive shoes.
Thanks for participating in this fun straw poll!
All of these beautiful pictures are from Adele Reding Photography for FACES of Louisville. To learn more about Adele, click here: adeleredingphotography.com.
Be sure to check out these two FABULOUS deals we have going on! Quantities are limited, so order fast!
Boutique Serendipity: $50 for $100 value CLICK HERE
W & M Custom Jewelry: $30 for $60 value CLICK HERE
