How to Be a Smartypanties at your Formal Events

So we may not know much, but we are quite good at stretching the dolla and still managing to look pretty decent. We mentioned in an earlier post how we had to talk ourselves down from purchasing the most gorgeous $500 Nicole Miller gown. And we’re so happy we did! (We’ll get it on Sale later–muah-ha-ha-haaaaaa)

(PS before we go on we’re going to try to post more pics of ourselves since we’ve been getting emails asking to see exactly what we’re talking about –we’re not just incredibly obsessed with ourselves…)

Here are Smartypanties tips to looking and feeling great at formal events without going broke:

1. Purchase investment pieces. I know not all of you are in a position to be able to invest in timeless pieces like Chanel but I think it’s worth saving up and getting a few special pieces that will be able to carry you through the years. All my bags like Gucci, Balenciaga and Chanel are bags I will have forever. My Black Balenciaga still rounds up compliments  whenever she comes out. Pieces like that make you feel special no matter what you wear. Even when I wear jean shorts and sandals I instantly feel pulled together when I pair my outfit with an expensive bag. Shallow (and perhaps sad) but true. And even though I spent a pretty penny on it, it’s cost per wear! nearly 4 years later, her and I are still in love.  Same goes for jewelry. We splurged and bought a giant onyx/diamond David Yurman cocktail ring and we wear it every single day!

2. Buy gowns at sample sales or wait till they go on sale even a little. Big ticket items that go on sale even for 20% off equal huge savings. Keep your eye on it online or while window shopping. Once they knock it down even 20% that’ll be a $90 savings! I picked up my Foley & Corinna gown at a sample sale for $250 (from $500).

3. Get a trim the day of the event to leave you feeling fabulous. Any hairstyle will look perfect–even if you just wear it down. We stopped into a cheapie salon downtown by us for ours. It only ran us $26! And they did a great job. I mean anyone (including probably us) can manage a trim sans mistakes. We passed on having our hair blown dry since we like how we do it better ourselves.

4. Add easy trends into your look YOURSELF for a perfect polished look. We chose to Hills our hair up by adding some tiny braids under different layers of our locks and are proud to report we even received a few compliments. However, don’t try anything to complicated otherwise you’ll end up looking like you did DIY, which is very UN-glamorous.

We were very happy how our hair came out–espesh when we pulled it back, the braids fell perfectly! Even at the cheapie salon we went to they wanted $45 to do something like this. Frankly, why pay an idiot to do something you can do yourself? You guys are smartypanties! You think you can’t manage to do anything the girls on the Hills can’t do? C’mon now.

5. Know which products can be picked up from the drug store. We’ve really been digging the nude lipgloss situation. Taking a note from celebs like Gweneth we decided to subdue our lips and play up our eyes with a little purple. You like?

We used Sally Hansen Lip Inflation Extreme in Sheer Bare. It’s hard to tell here (and this is an hour after application and a bellini) but it actually worked! The nude color was just right and so was the price…$8.29. Love this!

6. Wear shoes that won’t ruin your night! Last event we went to our shoes totally rocked! However, we spent half the night looking for a chair to rest our little yams. This time we opted for flat sandals–hey, no one could see our feet anyway and we danced the night away!

Got any better tips? Email us and let us know ‘em!!!