....wear a choker

Chokers are neither in nor out – but beware the choker on a chicken neck. The age of your skin is the determining factor here. There’s a saying that the older you are, the longer your necklaces should be. Don’t get me wrong, chokers are fabulous in that they can be worn with anything except a poloneck sweater, however, be conscious of the fact that it will draw attention to that area of your body. Saggy skin aside, chokers look best when worn with a top that displays some flesh; preferably only your throat and collarbones. While there is a multitude of choice for younger women, I favour a very simple pearl choker or a black choker, made from agate or jet.

....ensure expensive clothing lasts

For most people, wooden hangers, a sachet of potpourri and plenty of hanging space is all they need to feel as if they’re caring for their clothes, but there are some tips that will prolong their life for as long as you wish to wear them. Invest in three tools: a lint tape roller, a clothes brush and a steamer. After each outing, remove lint, hair and dirt with the roller. Before wearing your clothes, perk them up with a clothes brush and a shot of steam. A steamer is a quick and effective way of removing wrinkles and freshening up the fabric. Dry cleaning is very harsh on your clothing, so rather than have things laundered every time you wear them, hang them outside to air. This dries out the fabric which absorbs moisture from the body during the day and eliminates odour. Unless something drastic happens, like red wine or baby vomit, aim to have outerwear (suits, jackets, trousers, skirts etc) in natural fibres dry cleaned only once per season – usually at the end – just prior to packing them away for the following year.

....achieve an expensive polished look - fast!

Thank God for all of those Vietnamese nail bars that have sprung up like weeds in recent years. If you have crap nails - like me - for $40 and an hour of your time, you have can perfectly maniucured hands. It's well worth it if you have a big event or equally as important, a job interview. Secondly, always have your hair dyed the right colour. Nothing worse or more sloppy-looking that undone roots and stray greys. To top it off, wear navy, charcoal, beige (if you're slim) or black head to toe and always ensure your face looks good.

....save yourself $330 at the hairdresser

OK, so two tuesdays ago, I had my hair cut and coloured at a grand total - shocking price - of $330. Today, I had to redye my hair with a $10.00 packet of dye from the supermarket because I could no longer bear to stare at the grey hairs that were not covered professionally. I called the salon which told me they use semi permanents because it was better for the hair. My reply was, well, who can afford $330 a month???? What a joke. Never again. Garnier Nutrisse Chocolate all the way.

....shave your legs.

The great beauty paradox. Magazines bombard us with ideas about outsourcing our beauty routines: hair colouring, manicures, waxing, eyebrow shaping, cellulite wraps etc, when many of the girls who work on the magazines are so busy (and well informed) that they do actually perform many of these tasks themselves -or they did when I was a beauty editor. While a lot of these treatments have become so cheap it's laughable, there are times when seriously, isn't it just easier to do it yourself?? I mean shaving your legs is surely a snack...all it takes is five simple steps.
1. Shower for 2 mins to hydrate and soften skin.
2. Use a new blade and shaving cream when possible
3. Exert as little pressure as possible - direction not an issue
4. Leave ankles and knees till last, when you're most comfortable with the razor
5. Hydrate your skin as soon as you get out of the shower (within 5 mins) to seal in moisture

....pack lightly

Of course it depends whether it's a warm or cold climate trip, but the premis remains the same: Take as little as possible and buy anything else you need.
Here are some of the rules I pack by -
1. Take only nylon or poly underwear, it's easy to wash in a hotel room and will dry overnight. Cotton NEVER dries overnight. If you want a cotton gusset, use a Carefree Barely There Pantyshield.
2. Keep your colour palette to two, and accessorise in a highlight colour: Black/white, navy/white, black/ grey, navy/camel are all good travelling colours and highlight with a colour that goes with both whether it's red, orange, lime or whatever....
3. Take t-shirts and singlets that have given you good wear at home, that you can abandon rather than wash. And, either replace them on shopping expeditions while away or when you return home. Same goes for socks, thongs, ballet flats etc
4. Always take one great dress that can be dressed up or down. You just never know who you'll meet and where they'll take you. Depending on where it is you're going, either take heels or use your destination as an opportunity to shop.
5. One pair of comfortable shoes that you can live in while away. If you're at a holiday resort, this is probably a pair of thongs or sandals and then you might just take sneakers so you have the option of hitting the gym or playing tennis. If you're travelling around, these might be walking shoes such as loafers, ballet flats or low-heeled boots. Something that can be dressed up or down. 6. Toiletries and cosmetics are really heavy, so only take what you need. And, try and time it so you're taking the last half of the tube of toothpaste, not a new one - it's twice as heavy.
7. Always have your hair cut and coloured, so that it looks good when you wash and go. And, have a wax - eliminating the need to take razors.

It's all simple stuff really, but just remember that you alone are carrying your bag. And, you might think it's just from the baggage carousel to the trolley which you'll then wheel to a cab. But more and more airports require you to place money in the trolley so by the time you've got change, the queue at customs is an hour longer....

....hide a large tummy

I am an advocate of the French way of dressing - and that is slim! It not only makes overeating uncomfortable, but it shows off the curves you have. By contrast, dressing in loose, oversized clothing will highlight, not hide a problem area. You need clothes that are slim fitting, but not tight. Don't wear tops that button through. They are guaranteed to gape where they shouldn't. Instead go for wrap styles that open up the face and neck. These are flattering to almost everybody. Other tricks include drawing attention to areas of the body that you like - if its your ankles, always wear fabulous shoes, hair, make sure it's always cut and coloured etc. The other thing is if your aim is to hide your tummy, you need the right underwear - try control briefs and the right trousers. Never go for a wide or skinny leg. Instead stick with a very neutral boot leg trouser which ensure the proportions will be right.