On Maturing and Style, Sixth to Ninth Grade!

Makeup and clothing is an issue for many preteens and teenagers. But its hard to know what to buy and what makeup to wear when the only things you are exposed to are either a few years older, or a few years younger than you. If you are stressing about what you should look like as a newcomer in middle school, or a freshie in high school, here's my guide to help your fasion mature with you throughout middle and high school.
In Sixth grade, it's good to wear lip gloss, some mascara, and maybe a little bit of pale eyeshadow; don't go too heavy or it may look bad. If you want to try out more types of makeup, keep that for experiments at home. As for clothes, keep it in your comfort level. But looking back, keep this in mind: If you are wearing a bra or undershirt of anykind, don't let the straps hang out. It doesn't look cool; it looks sloppy. If you are wearing a short shirt, check in the mirror, relaxed, to see if your stomach hangs out of the bottom. Otherwise, wear something a little bit longer. Also if your pants are likely to slip, try wearing a belt. Belts are totally hip these days! The main thing is try to look neat and clean, because only a few years ago I didn't realized how bad it looked when my pants were falling off my hips and my stomach was hanging out (this happens to anyone!). The main point is to keep the makeup light, and the clothes clean cut. Awesome stores are Limited Too and The Gap and Kid Gap.
As for Seventh grade you are beginning to care a little more what you look like; you might want to try curling your hair a few days a week, and using different hairstyles besides your typical ponytail. If you are acne prone, try foundation. But be careful! Even oily skin can get flaky and that looks horrible with foundation. So try it on weekends first and ask your mother (or someone that uses foundation well) if it looks okay. In Seventh grade you might want to try eyeliner also. But not too much; you don't want to look like a racoon! Start trying to tie outfits together with accessories. In Seventh grade its good to try new things with your makeup and clothes. But when you try the new things, make sure it looks good on you, not just in the picture or at the store. Check out different stores, and try to find out if there is a style that suits you.
In eighth grade you are probably getting pretty good at makeup and you know what you like. If you don't, keep trying and soon you will figure it out. Try establishing your own hair style without looking like everyone else. I'm not saying go get yourself a mohawk, but if everyone has long, layered hair with no bangs, try getting light wispy bangs and a shorter, layered look. You might be wearing tighter jeans now and probably starting to get concerened with impressing the guys, so now its safe to try more mature styles such as a sleek leather blazer, or lower cut necklines. Kohls is a great store for any style, basics or hot new items. Now, even though this is a subject you might want to avoid, eighth grade is when you might want to buy yourself a real bra. The padded kind. If you are content with your sports bra, that is totally OK. But its safe now to check out the actual bra department and wear something that makes you feel pretty, like lace.
Heres the big one, Ninth grade: high school! This is a big transition. Now in the same world as seniors, some voting age, you are going to want to look like the rest of your peers here also. You should by now have your make up and hair styles already. Try to update this look a bit, because no one wants to carry the same look they had in middle school, into high school. Dramatize a detail in your hair. If its known for its left side part, part it even deeper. Make a straight style even sleeker and hip. Learn to make youre curls tighter, or looser. In high school you might want to wear your usual make up during the day, and as you start to go out with friends and boys at night, add a darker shade of eyeliner, or jazz up your lips with something more festive. It's also good to try new shoes, try wearing spikier ankle boots with a pair of hot jeans and a peasant blouse. Chunkier heels aren't as hip as spikes as you get older. Incorporate accessories into your outfit. Buy yourself a bag that's in suede or leather to keep your schoolbooks in, instead of a backpack. You will want to buy yourself a new jacket, and make it your own. Make sure it's warm enough for football games or school events. Since you are in high school you will probably want to buy a school sweatshirt. Good hip stores to try for high school are Wet Seal, and eXpress. If comfort is your thing stick with kohls. If you are more of a punk/glam type of person, try HotTopic. You know what you like, so go out there and find clothes that fit your style, but crank it up a notch for a more mature feel.
Remember, if you are in 7th grade, don't try to skip to the ninth grade style thinking it will be cooler to look mature. It very likely won't; stick with what girls your age are wearing. Also, no matter how old you are the most important thing to do is have fun. Have your whole fashion thing put together before you leave the house, and keep it at a very minimal maintanence. An outfit isn't worth it if you have to worry whether the back of your jeans are too short or if you are scared it might be too see through. What you buy should make you comfortable, or its not worth it. So put your outfit together and forget about it for the rest of the day, and have fun!