Ten Ways for Women to Re-Engineer Themselves

For most of us, cosmetic or gastric bypass surgeries fall under the heading of excessive or inappropriate for our images. Teeth whitening and invisible braces are options perhaps, but still constitute substantial dedication to self-improvement.

With some help from my daughter Molly, the fashion diva, I have identified a few less costly ways for women to redesign themselves. Some of them are as psychological as they are physical but can all be used to give us a mental boost, improve our exteriors (if only to ourselves) and put a little exuberance in our lives.

The first is designer jeans. Molly advises that a woman will walk differently, feel different and emit different messages while wearing designer jeans. They don't need to be very expensive (that being relative to your budget, one might suppose) but they need to be different from the ones you wear every day, that you may have purchased from a discount outlet of one type or another.

Another addition is knee-high boots. Again, your budget will determine the size or your investment. But the diva tells me that these bring you into the present with respect to fashion while making a formidable contribution to the look that you are (probably) trying to achieve.

I'm working on the next one - fishnet stockings. I remember the last time we wore these and I fully embraced the convention. The diva advises that these are must-have accessories in the present tense. Buy an inexpensive pair first, make certain that you like the look and then invest in other colors.

She also suggested body waxing. This is an alternative to shaving, and although I haven't ventured into this custom as yet, I am told that it's a preferable option, both for the mental lift and the results. Be sure that you select a reputable site, one that's paying serious attention to cleanliness.

My contributions are probably more traditional. I have been celebrating the return of the scarf to our fashion looks. It has been my habit for many years to wear scarves. They are colorful, stylish, easily purchased and one scarf can be used in many ways, on many different outfits. Costume jewelry is also an option. It's easy to find and if you choose bright colors or big items that you might not ordinarily wear, they will wake up something that has been boring for some time or that has been hanging unloved in your closet..

Hats have also been coming back for a while. Not every head can wear a hat but experiment to see how you like you in a variety of hats. Pick a color or design that you have never worn before. Wear it with panache. Make a radical change to your hairstyle. If you've been wearing it long forever, cut it all off. If it's been short, let it grow. Changing hairstyles will enable an assortment of accessories such as headbands, barrettes and other gizmos.

Go for a manicure and choose a polish that you would otherwise not choose. Dark colors such as black or dark purple have been seen quite a bit lately. Or go the other direction (maybe for spring) and switch to something very light. You may be surprised at the effect.

Finally, shop around for a brightly colored purse/tote bag. There are many of them out there and in addition to being functional, they flag you as someone who is not afraid to take (small) fashion chances while making it stylish to carry your belongings. As in the case of the other recommendations, you'll discover wide price ranges, but if you go toward the bottom end of cost, you may be able to buy two.

I'm not a fashion resource by any means and I get a great deal of input from my daughter (some good, some not quite as flattering). Get thinking about spring, change your look and your outlook. The people around you may very well be grateful for the new, redesigned appearance that you display. More importantly, you're likely to enjoy the experience for yourself.