Style is completely subjective based on each person’s preferences, and it’s important that your style makes you feel confident, however there are some rules that everyone should keep in mind. Here are three style tips to live by
Dress for your body, not current trends
A lot of people forget this, but when it comes to style, it’s important to dress for your body and your life. Forget about the latest trends, and stick with what looks best and works best for your life. People often use fashion and style interchangeably, however the terms mean completely different things.
Fashion is what is being offered and worn by the public at any particular moment in time, whereas style has nothing to do with fashion. It’s unique and very personal.
Define your style based on your lifestyle, what you feel best in, what image you want to reflect to others, and what clothing flatters your body best.
For example, you may feel best in a pair of heels and a dress, however that kind of outfit might not be feasible to wear on a daily basis. If you’re looking for something more functional, try a pair of skinny pants, block heels (they’re much easier to walk in than stilettos) and a great blouse.
Forget about size and focus on fit
Many people make this mistake and get swept up in the numbers. When it comes to style tips to live by, this is extremely important. No one will see the size tag but you. It doesn’t matter.
What other people do see is how you fit in your clothing. If you try to squeeze into the next size down to make yourself feel better, other people won’t be able to see what size you were able to fit into, but they will see that your clothing doesn’t fit properly. This will make you appear worse than if you put on the right size garment for your body.
Style is all about perception and giving off the image that you want others to see. If you want to give off a polished and put together image, it’s essential that your clothing fits properly. If you’re not sure how something is supposed to fit, ask for help. Sales associates are familiar with particular clothing style and fit, so they’ll be able to guide you in the right direction. Additionally you can always reach out to a professional stylist to gain some insight!
Make sure to balance out your outfit
Balance is key in all aspects of life, and balance in an outfit is no different. Make sure to balance out your outfit between fitted and loose clothing, casual and a bit more dressed up, etc.
A good rule of thumb is to pair something loose with something fitted. For example, you could pair a slightly loose or flowy top with fitted pants, or vise versa. Wide leg trousers or a pleated skirt will look best with a fitted top. When you pair a top and bottom piece with the same fit, it can give off an unbalanced appearance. If everything is loose, the clothing tends to look frumpy and disheveled whereas if everything is super fitted and tight, it can appear unbalanced.”The object is to even yourself out,” explains designer Nicole Miller. “So avoid anything too oversize or you’ll look bigger.”
The same balanced approach can be used when creating any outfit. When trying to balance out a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, add a blazer to bring the look together and balance out the casual aspect of the denim with a polished blazer.
If you put on a bright colored piece, balance the bright color out with a neutral. For example, balance bright pants with a neutral top and jacket, or balance a bright top with neutral bottoms and shoes.
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There’s not one style that is right for everyone, but hopefully these three style tips to live by will guide you down the style path that’s right for you!