50 Fashion Secrets Personal Stylists Won’t Tell You for Free
Master your wardrobe, dress with confidence and build a better outfit with these essential style tips from the fashion pros
Style tips you’ll actually use
Need some confidence as you pore through your wardrobe? Have a silly dressing conundrum? Maybe you want to develop your personal style or are looking for universal style tips from women who know how to look expensive. No matter your style IQ, we’ve curated the ultimate list of fashion tips and tricks, and to do so, we’ve enlisted stylists to the stars, designers, influencers, sartorialists and simply stylish people with fashion know-how.
So before you rush to buy new essentials for your closet, here’s how to nail the perfect look. Their suggestions might surprise you—and land you with more compliments than ever. Because the most stylish women aren’t focused on trends; they simply follow a few guiding principles. No more outfit mistakes here. Read on for the best fashion advice from stylists, free of charge.
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Borrow from the boys
“Fashion doesn’t mean having to be super girlie,” says fashion influencer and TV personality Olivia Pierson. “I’m a tomboy at heart, so I like to encourage women like me to experiment with menswear or more casual pieces.” Borrowing from the boys? Instead of a standard-fit black blazer, reach for an oversized, double-breasted wool boyfriend blazer—and pair it with a tailored pant or more casual denim. Another archetypal men’s style that Pierson reaches for: a relaxed-fit trench coat with sneakers.
Streamline your closet
Is your wardrobe filled with items you don’t wear anymore? Have you forgotten what you own? Make time for a proper closet purge. An organized closet immediately makes getting dressed easier and more enjoyable. Don’t waste your brainpower in the morning trying to get dressed. “When your clothes are organized, dressing is a more relaxing and enjoyable experience,” says Julie Ann Clauss, founder of The Wardrobe, a professional fashion archiving and storage service. Get rid of things you can’t or don’t wear regularly and simplify your closet to pieces you like. Plus: A clothing subscription box is perfect for building a wardrobe that matches your exact needs, size and preferences.
Take a proper inventory of your wardrobe
Here’s an easy fashion idea: Once your closet is properly purged, take inventory of what you love. “The key to finding personal style is to make a list,” says Stephen V. Hernandez, a New York City–based personal stylist. Write down which items make you feel comfortable and confident, and which items you like but don’t feel yourself in. This way, you’ll have a clear idea about styles to buy in the future and which items to build more outfits around. Plus, anything that makes you feel uncomfortable is a no-go.
Develop your sense of personal style
“There are so many trend pieces, online articles, news snippets and magazine blurbs about what the next it-things are or what things you should never be seen in again,” says Hernandez. “All that is propaganda.” His advice, instead, is to focus on developing your own personal style. Clothing is one of the easiest forms of self-expression, so wear what makes you feel great—that’s one of the most tried-and-true style tips. And remember: When you feel confident in your own style, it shows.
Mix high-end pieces with low-priced items
“It’s perfectly OK to mix expensive items with cheaper pieces,” says Pierson. Not only does it mean you’ll come up with unique outfit combinations, but it’s a great way to learn what items and brands you really like and which aren’t worth investing in. Plus, your personal style is bound to gain more personality, compared with wearing head-to-toe fast fashion or only one brand. Splurge on capsule wardrobe pieces that you’ll wear often, whether it’s a blazer, jacket, cotton button-down shirt or a pair of heels or flats. Save on costume jewelry and certain fashion accessories, and even consider thrifting.
Adopt the four-or-more rule
When it comes to outfit building, one of the most important style tips personal stylist Laurie Brucker lives by is the four-or-more rule. This four-part strategy says that an outfit consists of four standout pieces. In Brucker’s case: a blouse, a skirt, a jacket and a necklace. A blouse and skirt alone, she says, won’t do it. “Any combination of four or more works.”
Don’t buy trends you don’t really like
While this may sound obvious, it can be easy to get sucked into the trends everyone is wearing. But never buy something just because it’s in fashion. “Regardless of what’s trending at the moment, try to stay true to yourself,” says Natalie Halcro, fashion influencer and TV personality. “Know what you look good in and what you like, and stick to that.” Shopping smarter is one of those fashion tips that will help you dress younger. Whether that’s on-trend colors, silhouettes or shoes, if it doesn’t fit your personal style, don’t buy it. It’ll not only allow you to save money for longer-lasting pieces, it’ll ensure you will actually wear what’s in your closet.
Spend wisely on investment pieces
Many people think they can’t afford high-end style, but that’s not often the case, says Halcro. Instead of buying new inexpensive things (which add up), the key is to focus on purchasing fewer investment pieces that you’ll wear for years to come—quality over quantity. Quality pieces might include a wool coat or a leather jacket. Halcro’s style tips include a bag, but investment shoes, boots and belts also provide long-term wear.
Dress to suit your lifestyle
Your personal style should suit your lifestyle, mood and resources, say our experts. Do a routine audit of your current lifestyle: Are you on-the-go? Working from home? An expert traveler? Tailor your wardrobe to the way you live your life (or choose your signature style based on your zodiac). Most often, simple and quiet basics, or a recurring style uniform, are the most versatile foundations of a closet.
Reach for the ubiquitous cardigan
“The cardigan is one of my favorite wardrobe essentials for women and men—and is often undervalued,” says Shala Rothenberg, a fashion and wardrobe stylist. “A close-fitting cardigan mimics a blazer for a more polished look, while an oversized fit can elevate a simple jeans-and-T-shirt pairing.”
Whether you choose simple cotton, cozy cashmere, bold colors, statement prints or textural neutrals, the cardigan is versatile from season to season, perfect for travel or summer nights and ideal either as a warming layer or solo option. To care for your sweaters, Rothenberg says to store them folded in a drawer, on a shelf or in a breathable sweater bag. Or learn to properly hang your sweater.
Scour secondhand stores for key pieces
“Whether you’re buying or selling, consignment shops can be your best friend,” says Halcro. Because they’re not defined by the seasons, you never know what you’ll find. Scour locations in your state or shop at online thrift stores. Outerwear, knitwear, trousers and denim are all great options to look for when thrifting. And don’t be afraid to head to the tailor. A well-made pair of thrifted jeans altered to your body is often less expensive than buying new. To make some money yourself, sell last season’s key pieces, says Halcro, and you’ll have a bigger budget to pick up some seasonal essentials.
Save and reference outfit inspiration
If you’re worried you’re wearing styles that date you, look to others for outfit inspiration and style tips. Whether you scroll through images of influencers, celebrities, stylists or friends who are stylish, use them to help you come up with potential outfits. “One way to fast-track that is to identify style icons that speak to you,” suggests Carlton Jones, a designer and celebrity stylist. Note what aspects of their style you specifically relate to—do they always look put together? Do they master cluttercore, clashing color and accessories to brilliant effect? “Pinterest boards can be a great help,” says Jones. Pin images and look to your board before you create your next outfit.
Choose the right underwear
“Choosing the right underwear for your garments can breathe life and death into an outfit,” says Mickey Freeman, a celebrity stylist. “The type of underwear one chooses can completely alter the way an undergarment fits, depending on how they move in tandem with the outfit and most importantly, affect one’s overall comfortability. Many women and men make this mistake every day.”
It is worth taking some time to sort through your underwear drawer and do some updating. Not only should you be purchasing the best underwear for your body type and lifestyle, you should also make sure you’re taking care of your undergarments and washing underwear correctly. “It’s not a crime to invest in high-design or luxury designer underwear,” says Freeman. “Though no one will see them, it will serve as an invisible confidence booster that works its magic from the inside out.”
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