The saving grace of that situation is that it’s not really all that black and white. You don’t have to wear war paint to look made up – most days you can’t even tell I have anything on my face, I just look alive and awake (as opposed to like death warmed over). Same goes for clothes. Girls actually have a lot more options in that department than guys so we have more leeway to develop a personal look.

For a crash solution to the immediate problem, I’d translucent powder over concealer where needed, topped with blush and two coats of mascara on curled lashes, finish with some lip gloss. Voila – the face is polished, but still looks like the actual person underneath. A few well fitting tanks with a couple of dancey skirts short/long for latin/standard, a pair of leggings and a fitted wrap sweater for layering on chilly days and she’s set until you figure out what you actually wanna wear. Good luck!

One can dress for others or for oneself (the two are not exclusive, but every fashion decision will be based on at least one category). Dressing for oneself may be based on comfort, enjoying a costume, enjoying the image projected, or personal reasons. Dressing for others, however, is based on communication and appeal. When I wear a well-pressed shirt and tie to a lesson I communicate to my students how seriously I take their lessons. If I appear formal, it’s because to me the lessons are formal. They can be fun – indeed, they MUST be fun – but I don’t play around at teaching; I’m in this for real.

Every time I go into a lesson, even if it’s with a student I’ve taught dozens of previous lessons to, I’m essentially auditioning for the next lesson. I’d never show up to a job interview in acid-washed jeans and a t-shirt, would I? This isn’t to say that informal clothes mark a bad teacher; the majority of teachers I take my lessons from wouldn’t be allowed on the floor at the franchise studio in their typical getup, but that’s a decision they’ve made and an obstacle they’re willing to overcome in order to teach in the outfit and manner they wish to teach. I choose to use my clothes to aid me.