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I’ve compiled a few basic tips for ensuring you’re on track when styling your amazing outfits. Read below!
Make Sure Your Clothes Fit You Properly
We’ve all been there before – we try on a piece of clothing that we’ve had for some time and it feels a bit snug or even too loose. We say ‘ehh’ and wear the item anyway and move on with our lives. The truth is, wearing clothes that are too small or too big can alter the way your outfit looks entirely (not to mention it’s physically uncomfortable!). Here are a few tell-tale signs your clothes may not fit properly:
- There’s a gap between your blouse buttons. As most women know, our chest fluctuates in size from time to time. If you’re going to invest in a button-down shirt, make sure you leave enough room for the ladies and the wear and tear that the shirt will surely endure.
- You can’t fit two fingers between your pants and waistline. Try to place your middle and first fingers between your waistline and your pants. If you find it difficult to get your fingers in there, chances are your pants are too small. Go up a size. Another test I like to keep in mind is to look at the front of your jeans or pants when they are on. If the panel is smiling or frowning, chances are the pants are too small or too big!
- You constantly have to pull your shirt or sweater down over your waistline. If it’s not a crop top and you find your shirt riding up, chances are you need to size up.
Create Balance In Your Outfit
There are so many great pieces of clothing out there, some more subtle than others, but the truth is that the best styled outfits have a balance within them. So what does balanced mean with regard to styling outfits?
Statement items: Here’s an example: instead of wearing a statement headband and larger, dangling earrings, try choosing one and letting it shine! The eye tends to focus on statement pieces and if you have too many in the same area, the balance will be off. Have a great statement top? Be sure to combine with a subtle pant. Each statement piece will be fighting for attention, so be sure to space them out. Struggling with this one? Just remember, less is more.
Going big on top? Go small on the bottom (and vice versa): oversized clothing is trending like crazy these days (think shackets, sweaters, etc.). If you’re opting for an oversized sweater, choose a fitted or subtle pant to offset the size of the shirt and maintain balance in the look. Wearing wide-leg pants? Give your top a slight tuck to create a natural waistline to draw the eye in and create that balance.
Ensure colors are cohesive: Neutral colors are trending like crazy right now, so it’s not too difficult to ensure outfit colors are cohesive. But how about colors that aren’t neutral? Check out this quick read on color matching!
Create a Capsule Wardrobe
I talk about this a lot, but I’m a true believer that closet staples (think white sneaks, jean jackets, leather moto, blazers, white t-shirts, white button downs, blue jeans, etc.) can ensure you have the right pieces for not just one, but many styled looks. One of the many benefits of capsule wardrobes is that you’re narrowing down your wardrobe to pieces that not only make you feel and look amazing, but are pieces you know you can wear in multiple ways. You can save time, space and money by purchasing clothes intentionally. Have you ever gotten frustrated by the choices of clothes you have in your closet, many of which are random clothing items? With capsule wardrobes, you know each and every piece and how it can be styled. Building this out can reduce decision fatigue. You’re also forced to be mindfully creative when purchasing clothes. Here’s a simple test: before buying any item of clothing, make sure you can style it in at least 3 different ways with items already in your closet. If you can, it belongs in your capsule wardrobe.
Add Accessories
I absolutely love accessorizing and texturing my outfits. One easy way to do that is to start adding accessories to your capsule wardrobe (see section above). Start by ensuring you have at least 2 accessory pieces with every outfit. The combinations can be earrings and a necklace, headband and bracelets, etc. (be sure that the accessories are balanced). Enhancing your outfit with accessories is an easy way to step up your outfit and make the entire look come together.
What are some of your favorite style tips? Let me know in the comments!