Beautify with Confidence: the D.O.L.L.S have it!

By Margina Dennis

While most of us spent last Sunday closely analyzing who we thought was the best (or worst) dressed during the Golden Globe Awards; as a makeup artist, I focus on the faces. This year was no different. What was different, however, were the faces I was focusing on – or, more specifically, their ages. For it was the D.O.L.L.S (as we like to call the “delightful older lovely ladies”), that beautified best. They exuded an unparalleled and uncompromised confidence that only comes with being comfortable in your own skin and being accepting of one’s self.

Just think: People young and old are still talking about Helen Mirren, Sophia Loren (who received a standing ovation as she appeared on stage), and Meryl Streep (who stunningly – and sexily – exposed her shoulders and neck).  Not even to mention the fact that the usually dreaded “aging” (especially in Hollywood) has only enhanced the beauty of Jennifer Aniston, Toni Collette, and Courtney Cox – and it’s not because of anything other than their mounting self-confidence.

You don’t, thankfully, have to wait to age, though, to find that confident glow. Rather, women young and old can work on exuding beauty from within by trying these simple steps:

Look yourself in the mirror every morning and say something positive to yourself even (or especially) if you are not feeling your best. Yes, it sounds silly, but being positive has a tremendous impact on how you perceive yourself and, thus, how others perceive you. You’ll be surprised how much it will boost your spirits.

Make an effort to be the best you that you can be.  It doesn’t mean being full-glam all day every day. But when you look good, you feel good – and when you feel good, you look even better.  If you are all thumbs when it comes to makeup, take a makeup lesson from a freelance makeup artist.

Dress to flatter your body.  You don’t need to follow every trend. Instead, know your body type and dress to flatter it. It will affect how you feel about yourself and how people approach you.  If you don’t know what looks good on you, find your most brutally honest friend and do a closet run-through or pick up a copy of a book like The Science of Sexy: Dress to Fit Your Unique Figure with the Style System that Works for Every Shape and Size.

As a D.O.L.L. myself, I know that when I follow my own advice, I turn heads. The days that I don’t, I disappear into the woodwork.  We all owe it to ourselves to be the best D.O.L.L.S. that we can be (no matter our age).