For office wear, be comfy and stylish, too?

Dear Lucy,?

I have long legs, which are the only part of my body (aside from my face!) that I am confident about at the moment. What can I wear to work, aside from slim skirts, that will show them off? And are there any tricks so that I can run around the whole day in heels? I have a very busy workplace.                                                   

Ditas?

Pants will look great on you! You can do pantsuits, in a silhouette that is skinny, straight, or wide-legged. Be mindful of the correct length. If you wear boot-cut or wide-legged pants, choose heels in the same color to further elongate your legs. Wear a crisp shirt that you can easily layer with a smart jacket. Lace blouses will be good, too. A high neck always looks smart. Always remember you need not have a gazillion clothes in your closet, but make sure that what you do have look flattering on you. ?

Re running around in heels, you don’t! Don’t put yourself through that. Especially in the workplace, comfort is key; painful feet because of wearing too high heels should be the last thing you should worry about so I suggest you really purchase comfortable flats. That said, make sure they are sleek, beautiful, and of excellent quality. You want to be comfortable, yes, but you also want to be stylish. Your flats have to look good with your office clothes. Don’t wear a wide-legged pantsuit with flats; if you want an easy and fool-proof switch, choose the slim or skinny cut in ankle-length. ?Invest in flats in solid colors first — black, navy, brown, nude, gray.  Great brands that I can attest to for comfort include Repetto and Rupert Sanderson. ?                                         Lucy

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Sunscreen Is The Best Anti-Aging Solution?

Dear Rissa,

I saw your column last week about choosing the right sunblock. Is makeup with built-in SPF enough?                                                         

Anna 

Truth is, it’s not. According to dermatologists, the amount of SPF you should be applying on your face should be equivalent to a teaspoon for the SPF rating to be effective. For the body, it should be a shot glass worth of sunblock per body part. So unless you are applying a teaspoonful of liquid foundation on your face, you’re not really getting the SPF it indicates in the bottle. This is why dermatologists highly encourage you to use sunscreen before makeup. It sounds like a chore, but if you find the right one, it will be something you can commit to.

Since you wear makeup, go for a formula that is lightweight, non-greasy, and matte. It’s important that you choose something that works in harmony with your makeup. There was a time when dermatologists would recommend a minimum of SPF 15. But now, the recommended SPF is at least 30 for everyday use.  

I think it’s great you’re concerned about SPF. Beyond makeup, sunscreen is really the best anti-aging solution. It protects your skin from the burning and aging effects of the sun, which only surface later on.                               

Rissa

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Send e-mail to Lucy Torres-Gomez at ltg@pldtdsl.com. E-mail Rissa Trillo at stylesos_rissa@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter @RissaMananquil.