Reinvention

Harper's Bazaar's recent article "Reinvent Yourself" opens with photos and descriptions of Madonna's various looks over the past 2 decades. Fortunately writer Teri Agins is not suggesting that women run out and attempt each of Madonna's styles. Instead, she suggests, "Revamp your look for a fresh start."

Here is some useful advice to keep in mind:

1. Dress up more often. Wear bold jewelry and beautiful shoes. Don't save your "best" clothing for special events. This reminds me of when my girls were toddlers. I would dress them in lovely frocks, mostly given to them by grandmothers, knowing they would probably be stained or torn in no time. But gosh, they looked cute, and they would quickly outgrow them anyway. Life is short!

2. If you favor preppy, classic touches, happily wear those looks. J. Crew has some super cute tennis shoes for spring. You can wear them with almost anything.

3. If you are tired of your style, try wearing different accessories which transform your look.

4. Get a new hairdo. Cut styles you like out of magazines and ask your hairdresser which ones would work best for you.

5. Tune up your body: Getting in shape is about eating and exercising sensibly, not working out madly and depriving yourself of food. A Santa Barbara personal trainer and holistic nutritionist I can highly recommend is Dan LaBerge.

6. Try a new lipstick color. This sounds simplistic, but it really can provide a lift and change your appearance. Before Longs converted to the dreaded CVS, I used to love choosing a fresh lipstick color every season. It didn't cost much, and it felt like a little treat. I suppose you can do the same thing at Sephora.

Reinventing yourself does not have to mean following Madonna's extremes. It does mean branching out a bit and trying styles and colors you may have shied away from in the past.