Do you wish you knew a little bit more about how to dress? Being fashionable is actually simpler than you might think. Fashion is supposed to be, first and foremost, a means of expressing yourself, so you should wear what makes you happy and not worry too much about trends.
That said, it helps a lot to build a core wardrobe of high-quality, basic pieces that you can embellish with accessories. It’s important that your clothes fit. Color is your friend, and so are contrasts in fabric, textures, and style. Most of all, have fun, and be yourself.
1) Build a Core Wardrobe of Basic Pieces
Fashion trends are definitely a thing, but some things will never go out of style. It will help your overall look a lot to build a core wardrobe of basic pieces that will last a long time, and that you can dress up or down with accessories. Buy staple pieces like a little black dress, a few good pairs of jeans, a cashmere sweater, or a trench coat. If you find a piece or style you particularly like, go ahead and buy several. Simple pieces like white t-shirts never go out of style, and can look surprisingly elegant when worn with jeans and heels.
2) Get Clothes that Fit
The fit of your clothes makes all the difference in the world to how they look. You don’t have to get all your clothes tailored, although it would certainly help. But make sure that there isn’t any space between the back of your shoe and your heel. Check that the seams in your shirtsleeves lie right at the tip of your shoulder. Get a few pairs of jeans that fit. Make sure zippers are easy to close. You’ll look your best in clothes that fit properly, and you’ll be more comfortable, too.
3) Add a Splash of Color
Neutral colors have their place, but they can be a bit boring by themselves. Keep your outfits simple, sure – don’t overthink things and don’t overdo it. But do add some color to your ensemble to add some interest and show your personality. You could pair a neon green handbag with a black feathered dress and black boots. You could follow one of the most popular women’s summer 2022 fashion trends and go for an outfit all in one brilliant color – hot pink, neon yellow, or kelly green, for example. Wearing only one color from head to toe certainly makes it easier to accomplish a pulled-together look!
You can also choose a color of two or three colors and base your entire outfit and accessories around those two colors. For example, maybe it’s Saint Patrick’s Day and you need a stylish look to celebrate. Choose a green dress and accessorize with gold jewelry and makeup. You can always make an outfit look put together when you color coordinate in this way.
4) Play with Contrasts
Contrast can make an outfit interesting, and it’s a fun way to mix and match different items from your wardrobe. There’s more than one way to create contrast in an outfit. You can play with proportions – for example, wearing a bra as a top under a big, fluffy puffer jacket, or a long, bulky top with cut-off shorts. You can contrast soft and silky textures with rough ones, experiment with loose and tight silhouettes, mix structured pieces with shapeless ones, or thick fabrics with thin ones.
Use many different fabrics in the same look. Pair a leather jacket with a sheer lace top. Wear snakeskin with ribbed knit, or suede with silk. Mix complementary colors or keep everything the same shade for a subtler effect.
5) Have Fun and Be Yourself
Remember, fashion isn’t about following arbitrary rules and it isn’t even entirely about keeping up with trends. It’s about expressing yourself, looking your best, and having fun. It doesn’t matter if something is out of style if you feel comfortable and like yourself when you’re wearing it. Sure, you can follow trends if that’s what makes you happy, but these days, you can buy any style of clothes you want online – there’s no longer a fashion monoculture like there was 20 years ago, seemingly dictating that we all wear the same styles. You’re free to wear whatever you want, no matter how colorful or crazy, as long as it makes you happy – and if you’re confident in what you’re wearing, you’ll probably pull it off, too, even if it is a little weird.
Alton Clarke was born and raised in Syracuse. He has written for MSNBC, The Business Insider and Passport Magazine. In regards to academics, Alton earned a degree from St. John’s University. Alton covers entertainment and culture stories here at Diving daily.