How to create a new you for the new year

Ebony, Jan, 1998

There's something about the new year that makes people think of starting over. We make good-intentioned promises--most of us don't keep. We pledge to shed that 10 pounds. We vow to stop overspending. We promise not to waste another minute on foolishness or gossip. How many times have you heard someone say: "This is my year to [fill in the black]?"

But this holiday, consider making a beauty resolution you'll be glad you followed. Use January as the time to reflect on ways to refine and reinvent your look. Is your wardrobe stale? Is your make overdone'? Is your 'do all wrong?

Makeovers are the stuff women's magazines, television shows, and many Sisters' dreams, You can create a new you this year--and it's easier than you think.

Here are some tips from experts on ways to bring out the real you in 1998:

COLOR YOUR STYLE BEAUTIFUL

A simple way to boost your wardrobe and your spirit says Darlene Mathis, is to add a splash of color. The image consultant recommends that Sisters take time to find the palette of shades that works best for them.

"It gives you a new attitude and a lot more self-confidence," says Mathis, author of Women of Color: The Multicultural Guide to Fashion and Beauty. "No longer on those gloomy days of the season will you wear black or brown. You'll have a whole selection of colors to choose from."

Mathis says the hues that work best for Black women's skin can be envisioned as seasons. Some Sisters are winters, some are springs and some are summers or autumns.

As a quick guide to finding your color s, she offers the following tips:

* Winter women have blue or pink undertones in their skin and look good in Chinese: red and black

* Spring women are often fair-skinned and beam in blight shades including corals and limes.

* Summer women have rosy skin and shimmer in sky blues and sunshine yellows.

* Autumn women have golden tones and stand out in orange-red and khaki green.

"Identifying their colors will help women immensely in terms of adding to and building their wardrobe," she says. "It will save them a lot of time and despair in the morning trying to decide what to wear."

After you find your most flattering colors, you can gradually add some pizzazz to your style with new pieces in these shades. But Mathis says women shouldn't run out and buy a whole new wardrobe.

"You don't need a lot of things to make a total look," she says. "You can use what you already have; just don't buy anymore of those colors that aren't good for you. If you are a winter woman and have tons of autumn colors, it may just mean adding black and silver to your wardrobe."

Mathis says that wardrobe basics for young professional women include a blazer, cardigan, slacks, vest, blouse and at least two turtlenecks. Must-have accessories are belts, a watch, a bracelet and jewelry. Women who fall in cool-color families should try silver-toned jewelry. Warm-hued Black women should try colorful pieces in orange- and gold-toned metal.

For a complete new you, remember to update your overcoat, Mathis says. Instead of wearing dull grays or browns, consider a coat in fuschia, mustard or electric blue. You'll brighten up your style and the mood of those around you.

MAKE MAKEUP WORK FOR YOU

Experts say Black women should make sure their skin is healthy before they cover it up with cosmetics. Start with an evaluation of your skin type and skin-care regimen. If you have the time and money, visit a skin-care salon or spa so your purchases won't be hit-and-miss.

"If you are a working woman, you owe it to yourself to treat yourself," says Bettye Odom of Chicago's Bettye O Day Spa. "Before they see your brains or intelligence, they see you--the physical person."

She says an everyday skin-care regimen should include a cleanser, toner and moisturizer--even for those with oily skin. Give yourself a home facial at least once a week and a moisturizing mask to combat the drying effects of the atmosphere. Once you have healthy skin, experts say, applying makeup is a breeze.

If you've never worn foundation, you might consider giving it a try. It gives you a polished finish, experts say, and acts as a buffer to harmful agents in the air. Lipstick is another way to breathe vibrance into your look. Odom says Black women should learn to have fun and experiment with color.

"I have to coach my clients into it because history has taught many of us not to wear bright colors," she says. "But Black women have to know that they've got it."

The beauty veteran says she doesn't believe in old-fashioned rules that say Sisters should stay away from cosmetics like blue eyeshadow or pink lipstick. Our brown coloring gives us an edge.

"Black women can wear anything they want because they have the canvas to work with," she says. "We set the rules. We don't follow them."

Experts say those who prefer a more natural look can choose to just play up one feature for a dramatic effect. Odom recommends Sisters start with their eyes.