I won't claim to be an expert on fashion, but I've been blessed with enough kind comments from all of you to help me at least believe that my advice is worth a damn on this subject. Fashion can be fun! It can also be stressful. Where does one even start? How on Earth do you nail a style? And more importantly, how do you make sure it's YOUR style, and not the image of another? It's not the easiest of tasks, but the good news is that it can be made easy! These are the 10 most useful tips I can think of to pinning down your own personal style. I hope they manage to help someone! Because believe me, the feeling of knowing that you're finally looking on the outside how you feel on the inside is extraordinary.
1. Check the weather
Picking an outfit can be incredibly overwhelming. With so many options, where do you even start? The answer? Start with a base! Forget everything else you need to remember, and start with a basic question that will help narrow it down dramatically. The weather is probably the best choice. And depending on where you live – Chicago girl over here!-- it can really narrow your choices. Is it cold out? Long sleeves it is! Humid? Whip out those skirts! It’s the easiest possible way to kick off your outfit. Maybe you’re a cold-blooded witch like me and can handle exposing your legs to the cold. Regardless of your flexibility, it’s always going to help to measure the temperature.
I begin every day checking my phone– Or my Alexa– for the temperature outside and whether it will rain on that day or not. And if showers are on the horizon then I may just go with any outfit, regardless of the weather, just to take some cute pics in my room (and to practice!) Having that base to build off of is the easiest way you can get an idea for your outfit of the day. And as a bonus, it will make transitioning between seasonal fits all the more exciting! I look forward to Fall twice as much as I used to nowadays! Nothing like some delayed gratification in waiting for that extra payoff.
2. Ask how you feel
And the other easy catalyst? How do you feel? Sometimes, you’re not going to be up for an outfit. It sure happens to me, and that’s A-okay. Don’t stress it!
But sometimes? Oh sometimes that vibe is going to explode all over your closet and unleash a killer look for the ages. I base most of my outfits on how I’m feeling that day. Heck, that’s what style is! You don’t want to wear anything just because others do, or because it’s in! You’ll be miserable. Style is about unleashing YOU over the world. And sure, there are those who are just going to stick to that one vibe (and style) and run with it, and that’s totally valid, but it’s also just as valid to have some versatility and change depending on your mood.
So, ask yourself: How are you feeling on that particular day? Maybe you’re feeling super bubbly and cute? Flaunt that skater skirt! Or maybe you feel like a badass queen of darkness? Let the gothic chains be released! Style is a reflection of the mood. It’s about showing who you are on the inside on the outside. You don’t have to go full goth if you’re feeling moody, but guaranteed you’ll feel better going with an outfit that matches your vibe. Trust me, there is nothing like waking up feeling like you’re a hot babe and then putting together an outfit that shows off the goods, cause God damn you deserve it.
3. Purge at least half of your closet
Now we get to the fun part! Ahem, or not. But trust me, you’re going to be happy you did this. Purge your closet! Throw a LOT out… Uuuh or donate it. Easier said than done right? No doubt. But you can do it! Find a moment when you find yourself with energy, put aside an hour and go through your entire closet, each piece one by one. Then create three piles. The first is “keeping for sure.” The second is “maybe,” and the third is “Get rid!” Be picky about it. If you realize you’ve never actually worn a piece, are you ever going to? Be honest, friend. If you’re doubting it, get rid of it!
It may sound obvious, but the smaller you knock it down, the easier it’s going to be to figure out what you like, and that’s half of what style is. I know it sounds difficult, but it can feel surprisingly liberating. Of course, you’ll want to look at your “maybe” pile at the end of it and make the difficult decisions. If you are very short on cash, then it’s totally valid to keep more than you get rid of, but if you’re amped up for a shopping spree, get rid of that shit!
4. Buy your basic linking pieces
I have no idea if this is an actual term, but I’m going to use the term “linking piece” to refer to any generic clothing item that is super versatile with others. These are the pieces you want to make sure you get first. So what are they? They are things almost every girl owns! Get yourself one or two pairs of pants you like! And yes, there are many different types, so this will tie into your taste! You’ll also want a pair of shorts, a skirt or two (two different types!) a white blouse, a cute pair of shoes, a little black dress, a blazer, a sweater (if you live in an area subject to cold) and to be even more fun, maybe a pair of tights, thigh-highs and some belts. Belts are a huge part of my wardrobe, personally, as they are a very easy way to add a little bit of extra flair to any of my outfits. By obtaining these pieces first you’ll have some nice starter clothes to jump off from.
5. Learn your body type
I don’t think this is as vital as some claim, but it can be a very helpful way to keep you on track and guide your journey to style. Everyone has a different body. But someone out there decided to categorize each of them to simplify things. A very quick google search will reveal the various body types, and as you might have guessed, certain clothes will look better on certain types. A person with an inverted triangle body (Hi there), for example, has wider shoulders and more narrow hips, and so, skirts with a lot of flare can give them more curves. Now you know why I always wear skater skirts! A person with a pear-shaped body (very wide hips) will own it in a pencil skirt.
These are not rules. They are simply guidelines. I firmly believe you should wear whatever you like regardless of your body type. But if you want to give yourself that extra boost in knowledge, run a quick search for body types and what clothes go well with what. A quick measurement of your shoulders, hips and waist with some measuring tape should lock down your specific body type. It’s easy to find, but sadly would take way too much time to talk about here. Above all, what I hate hearing is that someone can't get into fashion because they aren't the right size. Rubbish! You can look incredible with the right fits regardless of size! My sister is a plus size and taught me everything I know. But with that being said, if you find that you are blessed by the Gods on high, and have the oh-so-coveted hourglass type, then congrats, because literally anything will look good on you!
6. Make a Pinterest
This may in fact be the most helpful thing I can possibly tell you. Make a pinterest. Make a pinterest. MAKE. A. PINTEREST. That site is a Godsend. I’m sure most of you already know you can find a ton of aesthetic goldmines on there, but using the right techniques, you can use it to not only marvel at cute outfits, but to figure out which ones are in your future!
The recipe is simple. Create an account and make a board! Name it whatever you want! Heck, you can even make multiple for each season or occasion if you want! But the important thing is to be strict with it. Make your fashion board, and then get searching! There are many different style types, so this is how you can find out what might suits you! If it helps, try cute, preppy, girly, goth, bohemian, urban, chique, trendy, or grunge to get started. Next, pin all the looks you like! Go nuts! It’s going to be addictive if fashion is something you’re interested in.
And now we get to the hard part. I want you to take a look at your board when you are done, and remove outfits until you have narrowed it down to just 50-60 left. If you can do more, then wow! And great! The more you narrow it down the more you will realize what your style is. It’s so unbelievably helpful. Now get to buying the pieces you like! You may not find the exact thing you see, but if you can find something similar you will likely be happy about it. Get picky if you’re tight on money.
Here is my board for reference - https://www.pinterest.com/chronokatie/
7. Make it visible/Make it easy
The other most important advice I can give you? It’s this one right here. I cannot stress this enough, the more accessible your clothes are, the easier it is going to be. With your newfound tiny closet (after the purge) make sure above all that you arrange your stuff in a way that makes it both easy to see and easy to grab! Don’t squish things together! Keep space! Don’t hide stuff in drawers, because you will forget you have it and you will not even want to go looking for it if you do remember. Hang your stuff up! Hang it up in a neat fashion that is perfectly visible when you walk up to your closet. You want it to be as easy as you can to see a top and yank it right off.
If there is even a tiny obstacle in your way, it will make fashion 10x harder. You’ll have to go through hoops now just to flaunt your stuff. Now it’s turned from just a fun hobby/or interest to a project that doesn’t need to be one. The easier it is for you to see and grab, the more you are going to whip out some beautiful looks. There is no questioning it. This is a super super important factor. Check out how I arrange my stuff if it helps! I bought a purse and shoe rack solely for this reason. Sure, they look cute, but the primary reason I own them is so that when I’m making an outfit I literally only have to turn my head to see all of the options at my disposal! It nearly makes putting outfits together in real life as easy as it is in a video game with fashion souls like FFXIV… Speaking of...
8. Play video games!
I am so far from being an expert at fashion. In fact, I worried making an article like this would just come across as a delusional ditz who thinks she’s better than she is trying to preach about something she knows nothing about. But regardless of whether that’s true, I will tell you this: The reason I got into fashion? Video games. Absolutely, 100% by far my biggest inspiration, video games. Why? Well, because in games we are able to project ourselves onto the characters we control. And in many cases, we are able to do that by dressing them up! My favorite thing in any game is customization, but it wasn’t until Final Fantasy XIV that I realized it was a full-blown passion. I have lost so many hours in FFXIV creating cute outfits for my cat girl in my glamour dresser. Seriously, I do it more than I take part in the main game. With all of the outfit, color and shape combinations at my disposal, the possibilities are endless.
Eventually, I finally decided that I loved doing this in video games so much because it’s what I wanted in real life. Games are often said to be power fantasies and that was the case here. During the pandemic, I had an excuse to finally explore my love for fashion. And from there on out, I would no longer be jealous of the girls with cute and girly outfits. I’d be one of them! Video games are not for everyone, but if you are open to it, I promise they are a fantastic doorway into fashion. By learning how to dress a digital character you will better learn how to dress yourself.
Here are some great ones that offer this feature: FFXIV, Current Pokemon games, Xenoblade Chronicles, Dark Souls games, Diablo, The Sims, Animal Crossing
9. Start with some basic rules
Now that you are all prepped and have bought your stuff, how do you go about putting it on? While I highly recommend looking up deeper guides on how to actually dress for your specifications, a fantastic way to get off the ground is to follow some very basic rules. These are not 100% vital, but they will help, and can help make things easier when you start. Eventually, some may choose to break these rules, but it’s dangerous territory. With that being said… Hell, go nuts if you want!
Anyway, here are some starter tips
. Loose top? Tight bottom. Loose bottom? Tight top
. Don’t mix patterns. Stick to one!
. A solid color piece in your fit? Add a pattern with another piece!
. Learn what colors compliment what! This is true for all things, not just clothes
. A cool skin tone and warm skin tone will look better with different colors
. Skirts should always lay right where your waist is thinnest.
. Don’t mix black and brown… I guess
. The same color showing up in your fit twice with two different shades is bad
. Remember that a lot of muted colors will make you look dull. Spice it up!
. Outfit not popping? Add just 1 extra accessory (or belt! Or even a hat!)
10. Trends are stupid
Ahem, now with all that above being said… screw it! If you like something, you go for it. Yes, these are helpful rules, and if you decide you like trends, go nuts, but trends… Are stupid. I understand that life is more exciting when sometimes the rules change, and the tides shift, but it’s even cooler to swim against the tide. That’s my firm belief. Who cares about what is in? Care about what is in for you, sister! The truth is that less than 1% of people on this world will even know or care that you’re wearing something out of fashion, and they don’t matter if they tease you for it. You should simply wear something if you like it.
Will it help to follow trends and rules? Sometimes, but I will never go by what’s popular at the time. I have never once checked into that stuff and don’t care to. Style is about you, not about what is right or wrong. And to add to that, don’t be ashamed of using what many call fast fashion sites. Sure, it’s important not to buy something solely for one use, but if you like it, buy it! I’ve never understood people who shame others for exploring fashion on a budget, or who like to seek out things that look less traditional and more like an anime character. Screw the judgment. Fashion can look amazing on a budget! Again, less than 1% of people will be able to even tell that you are wearing something cheap. That’s the secret they do not want you to know. You can wear an assortment of pieces that add up to an outfit that looks much better than a $2000 dollar one.
It’s time, my padawan. Get out there, and have fun with it!
Is there more to it? Oh absolutely, and I heavily suggest looking up other tips. But these are the ten that I believe help out the most. They are the ten steps I used. No fooling, these are the exact things I did, and I found I was putting together steady outfits within a month. The most important matter of all, however, is that you have fun with it. It’s not a race, and it’s not a science project. If you don’t enjoy it, don’t do it! Plenty of people are completely happy dressing with whatever they got available for the day, and that’s completely valid. Fashion is fun, but it can be a tad stressful, especially if you are trying to build a brand with it. I do hope these tips help you out though! Now get out there and light up the runway!
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