Does This Look Like I Tried?
Two winters ago I tied a small silk scarf around my neck for a client dinner, and a colleague asked which airline I flew for. I laughed, then went to the restroom and took it off. The photo of that outfit now lives in a folder on my phone called “never again,” and it is the reason Ivy Styling exists.
My name is Margaret J. Wheeler, and I write every post on this site. I have never worked at a fashion house, a salon or a makeup counter. What I have is a habit that started long before I published anything. Friends kept texting me a photo at 6:40 in the evening with the same question: does this look like I tried too hard, or not hard enough? In late 2025 I started writing my answers down, and the answers turned into this site.
Three worries, three categories
Every post here starts from a worry and tries to end it. The categories are simply the three places those worries show up most often.
Outfits: will this look styled, or accidental?
This is the largest category and the closest to that first text. It covers outfit ideas built around one tricky piece at a time, such as white socks, lace tights, vintage stockings, cheetah jeans, a balloon skirt, a white t-shirt or a mini scarf. It also covers occasions with rules of their own, like a night at a bar or a golf tournament dress code.
Nails: will it suit the season and my nails?
Seasonal nail ideas, including short winter and autumn sets, summer pastels and orange, pink and Christmas colors, plus the shapes and blends people ask about most, like almond nails and ombre.
Makeup Looks: will it work with my dress and my face?
Makeup built around something specific. That means face-shape guides, looks matched to an emerald green dress or a black homecoming dress, soft pink and pink smokey eye tutorials, dark blue and bright colored looks, classic looks, and more creative ideas like galaxy and pop art. There is also a product roundup for readers in their mid twenties.
What I have instead of credentials
I am not a stylist, a cosmetologist, a nail technician or a makeup artist. I am self-taught in all three, and I have spent nine years teaching myself in mirrors, dressing rooms and one very unforgiving office bathroom. I have been politely redirected at a golf tournament for wearing the wrong shoes. I have bought eyeshadow that matched nothing I own, more than once. I have redone my own nails at midnight before a wedding. I write from those mistakes, and when something belongs to a professional, like a skin problem or a reaction to a nail product, I say so and stop there.
What I will not tell you
I will not tell you that a look works for everyone. Face-shape guides, color pairings and cuts are starting points, and bodies, skin tones, budgets and dress codes are all different. I will not promise that a product does what its label says, and I do not write about skincare treatments or medical skin concerns. If an idea only works with a stylist and a ring light, I will tell you what to change so it works in daylight.
If something in one of my posts is out of date or wrong, please write to me. I will check it and fix the post.
The careful part
Everything on this site is general style and beauty information from my own experience. It is not professional advice, and I am not a dermatologist, doctor, licensed cosmetologist or nail technician.
- Patch test first: new makeup, adhesives, nail products and skin products can cause reactions in some people. Test a small area, and stop using anything that burns, swells or itches.
- Around the eyes: use products made for the eye area, do not share eye makeup, and replace old mascara and liners. For creative looks like galaxy or pop art, use cosmetic-grade products near your face, not craft paint or craft glitter.
- Nails: gel, acrylic and dip products can trigger allergic reactions. Follow the product directions, use UV or LED lamps as directed, and never pick or peel off gel or acrylic, because it damages the nail. See a licensed nail technician or a doctor for pain, swelling, discoloration or anything that looks like an infection.
- Skin and health: I do not diagnose skin conditions or recommend treatments. Please see a dermatologist or doctor for those.
- Fit, dress codes and prices: sizing varies by brand, so check the return policy before you buy. A golf club, a workplace or a school dance may have its own dress code, so check it yourself. Prices and availability can change after a post is published.
- Younger readers: if you are under 18, ask a parent or guardian before trying chemical nail products or new skincare.
Affiliate disclosure. Ivy Styling is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy through one of my links I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change what I write or what I tell you to skip.
Things outside the mirror
I keep a folder on my phone called “never again,” and the scarf is not the only thing in it. I drink my coffee before I decide about eyeliner, never after, because I have learned that those two decisions go badly in the other order.
About Margaret J. Wheeler:
- Full name: Margaret J. Wheeler
- Role: Founder and writer, Ivy Styling
- Based in: Charleston, South Carolina
- Email: [email protected]
- Contact page: ivystyling.com/contact
- Background: Nine years of self-taught styling, makeup and nail experience across offices, weddings and dress codes. No formal cosmetology or fashion training.
- Focus: Outfit ideas, seasonal nail designs and makeup looks matched to an occasion or an outfit
- Writing since: 2025
- Pinterest: pinterest.com/ivystyling
Somewhere there is a photo of me in a very small scarf, and I have made my peace with it.
