General Appearance

I am not personally going to go into depth on make-up. I think that too many other places on the Web, specifically the , have done a great job on this subject already. Art experience does not hurt, and a great improvisational knack is also quite useful when it comes to developing just the right look.
How much is too much is going to be dependant on your personal physique and desires. I am fortunate enough to be rather fair skinned but still sometimes layer up foundation and powder to help hide shadow should I be planning on being out for any extended durations - especially during daylight.
Follow the guidelines set out on sites such as the site. Learn the colors that match your skin tone and shop for those. is also reasonably priced so why not endorse them! I love em! I should also add that they list three 'types' on the WWW page and have actually got four make-up classifications. It took me a minute or two at the make-up isle to figure this out. A luxury some feigning embarassment might not have. The last classification being 'Neutral' which does not denote another skin tone, but merely make-up that can match any of the three others. Also, don't forget to refer back to the tips in your 'how-to' collection. I have gotten many more good ideas or discovered new things after going back over the info I started with...

As far as clothing - I can say but one thing "Thrift". Chances are, any that would be reading this for actual new information are still in the exploratory phase as I was. Don't make the same mistake I made by buying all new items! Eghad, I spent over $70 for the first outfit, and a week later spent $25 for four outfits at a thrift shop!
Of course sales don't hurt either. Some items you may not be fortunate enough to find in stock at a second hand shop. Watch for sales. Pick up catalogs that offer discounts from time to time. The catalog often has sales and also offers discounts of something like 15% to first time catalog buyers.
also frequently has sale catalogs including grab bag specials with prices as low as many of the second hand stores. Although you don't get a choice in the items and some grab-bags may be out of stock and require additional waiting to receive your order, you get new items at a real good price and more oft them not get some gems to add to the wardrobe that might otherwise have not considered purchasing!

Jewelry is one of the most fun things along with all other other accessories IMHO. (belts, scarves, hair gidgets, etc) Gimme a good costume jewelry shop an a reasonable amount of time and money and I will probably go beserk. If you are color blind or fashion deft, I can't really tell you much other than find a cohort in crime. Grab some drag mother or even an unsuspecting female and get pointers for coordinating, accessorizing, etc from them if necessary.
Scarves and necklaces make great adam's apple conceilers. There are a number of trendy items in neckware including ribbons with a dangling faux pearl, beaded neck peices and bands of faux pearls that look very in style yet go across the middle rather than the lower portion of the neck. Excellent for hiding that damn lump!
I must have a eighties madonna hang-over, as I like lots of dangley bracelets too. I am not really a big fan of lotsa neck stuff or big ear-rings and you definately won't find me looking for any lip/nose/body peircing items in the near future, but I like tasteful jewelry items. I was able to get a long sash like scarf on one occasion then bought a round broach type pin to use to clasp it around my neck. I now have both a white one and a black one. (you might see this in the kathy_l series under the Sights area).
If you have an outfit that hangs too loose or make you look a bit to 'round', try adding a belt to match. Pants to high? Maybe you bought petites by accident? Try an ankle bracelet! Shoulder line getting daring? Wanna draw some attention away from those forms? Throw some necklaces in there. I have even seen some use of larger earrings by both t*'s and women alike in a manner that distracts from other problems with their faces or appearance in general.

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