When it comes to fashion tips, it sometimes seems that everyone has tried-and-tested style advice they absolutely swear by. Some are useful, while others not so much. With that in mind, we have gathered some styling tips from the best: designers, lifestyle experts and, of course, our stylish friends. With these gems, you will be well on your way to living your most stylish life.
Tip #1: Make any outfit look great with just three key pieces
Do you hate complicated fashion trends that only seem accessible to models and actors? It takes just three items to make literally any outfit look great: A face-flattering pair of classic sunglasses (preferably black), a gorgeous everyday leather handbag, and a smart pair of shoes you can easily walk in. Sunglasses are one of the most prominent accessories, so you want to make sure to choose the right frames for your face shape. For instance, the best sunglasses for square faces are round frames that will balance your angles. The opposite is true for round faces, which look better in angular designs like wayfarers.
Tip #2: Add accessories to instantly look polished
You can get away with wearing a pair of nice jeans and a T-shirt nearly anywhere, even at work, if you amp up the look with accessories. Try throwing on a statement necklace, an intricate bracelet, or even some standout earrings. Long necklaces and drop earrings will add to your outfit’s vertical effect. Belts are great and all, but try swapping in a beautiful silk scarf and knotting it to the side for change. It’s a small tweak that will make your basic jeans-and-top combo a little more French-lady polished. Another great trick is to tie a scarf to your bag handles to make it look chic.
Swadharma: A sense of natural harmony and clarity
Tip #3: Make a basic hairstyle look way more impressive
Accomplishing a Pinterest-worthy hairstyle isn’t impossible, even if your skills are super basic. Cool and modern trends like weaving silk into your braids can fancy up your hair and make it look like you tried a lot harder than you did. There are simple ponytails and braids that look really fancy and stylish that you can learn through YouTube videos or step-by-step posts on fashion blogs. Or simply changing the part of your hair and braiding it will change your look. The idea is to try and wear your hair differently every other day.
Tip #4: If you are petite, dress to look tall
Do not choose to wear the boy-shirt type ever. It does not do the trick for you. Instead choose wisely the shirts that end in your hipbone zone. The same trick goes for the jackets or cardigans. Similarly, oversize bags will not do for you. Go for the structured, smaller ones. There are bags that may seem small but have much more volume inside than the giant bags. For those who are a little on the heavier side, jeans and trousers should hit at the ankle or an inch below. Dark colors with a slightly tapered leg and no pleating are the most flattering. Choose pencil skirts that hit mid-thigh, right above the knee, or right below the knee. Any shorter can make your legs look heavier (unless you’re petite), and any longer can make them appear stubby. Stay away from capris, long or baggy shorts, and shapeless calf-length skirts.
Tip #5: Wear summer friendly clothes
Avoid flimsy fabrics if you don’t want your clothes to stick to your body. Lightweight materials are great for hot weather, but they need to have some structure like embroidery or seams, so they don’t cling to you the second you start to sweat. Stick to cotton or cotton-blend wear. However, try to avoid dark colors too. It doesn’t look stylish if you look uncomfortable and sweaty. Wear breezy clothes that let your skin breathe.
Tip #6: Mix and match patterns
Pattern play isn’t as tough as it looks. When mixing prints, try focusing more on the color than the pattern. You can mix prints in the same hue, like plum and lilac, or in complementary colors (shades on opposite ends of the color wheel) like blue and orange. If you’re feeling adventurous, vary the sizes of your patterns or throw in a little leopard, which goes with just about everything. Also, contrary to popular belief, polka dots and stripes work really well together. Just make sure you don’t add any other pattern to make it look too chaotic, and stick to different patterns in the same color.
Tip #7: Invest in shapewear
Embrace a slimmer silhouette with properly fitting shapewear like Spanx. You don’t have to wear something that will totally change your shape but just targeting trouble spots like the butt, thighs, and stomach will work wonders. However, don’t size down in shapewear. Experts say that doing so can cause bulges and dangerously compress your body’s organs.
Tip #8: Go monochrome for added oomph
All black is always chic, but other dark colors are equally slimming. Give deep greens, reds, and blues a try: The monochrome look will create a long vertical line, making your body seem tall and lean. However, keep the outfit crisp and tailored, and stay away from the lighter end of the color spectrum. You can also opt to zing up the outfit with shoes in a different color. Try royal blue shoes if you are wearing all red, pair bright pink shoes with a blue outfit, and opt for neon green heels with beige clothing items.
