I wouldn’t necessarily classify myself as a fashion expert, but going to school for Textiles/Merchandising and watching countless hours of What Not to Wear has taught me a great deal. So, I thought I would feed you some of my wisdom in the fashion world. Here are a few tips I thought would help anyone scrambling in the morning because they just don’t know what to wear.
1. If you have articles of clothing in your closet that are either faded from their original color, pilling (has little balls on worn areas), or contains holes that you are not going to ever get around to repairing, get rid of them immediately. And don’t donate these, no one wants your beyond used clothing.
2. Beige or nude colors only really look good on tan or dark skin. If you are pale, chances are that you can’t pull the color off without looking washed out. Do yourself a favor and wear a brighter color.
3. If you are attending a wedding, wearing black is only appropriate after 6pm, and DO NOT wear white. Word of advice for what to wear…look at the invitation. The style of the invitation sets the tone set for the event; if its more relaxed, you are clear to wear something more “fun,” if its elegant and says “black tie,” you are going to need a gown/tux.
4. Staple items are key to a good closet. These are items that will never seem to go out of style; they are timelessly chic. In this list is: a nice pair of jeans (a darker wash), a pair of nice neutral slacks (black or grey preferably), a crisp white buttoned down collared shirt, a little black dress (will always be stylish), a trench coat, and a cashmere cardigan.
5. Let’s talk about matching. First of all, it is not true that your belt, shoes, and bag all have to match; switch things up and use bold choices. Next, neutrals match. A neutral is classified as black, brown, grey, navy, and beige. They all match and are cohesive together, even black and brown.
6. Underwear. We all wear it, so get it right under your clothing. A visible panty line is never okay…they make briefs and boy-cut styles that are seamless, wear them! Also, ladies, you need to get fitted for your bra size. It is estimated that about 80% of women wear the wrong bra size. It’s not good when your spilling out or the back is so tight that you’re creating rolls that you wouldn’t have otherwise. They do it for free at the store, take them up on their free offer!
7. Scale is important. Prints should be scaled to your body…don’t wear loud big prints if you are larger. In addition, when choosing a bag or accessory, keep it in proportion to your size.
8. If you have some added weight in your midsection that you would LOVE to camouflage, wear a blouse that is cinched right under the bust line. This creates an illusion that the shirt is going out, not your body. Stay away from boxy shirts that don’t create shape (they only look good on super models). Also, a tiny belt goes a long way…if a shirt is a little big, put a belt on it and it will look great. Try different thicknesses.
9. Size doesn’t matter, fit does. Don’t hold onto that pair of jeans that you know you can never fit back into. Don’t try to force your body into them either. Spilling out over a pair of pants 2 sizes too small isn’t doing your body any justice. Just because you can button them does not mean they fit you. Stop denying the fact that you have a different body now, and go get yourself some new clothes that fit. If you’ve lost weight, congratulations! Go get yourself smaller clothing now!
10. It is important to dress for your shape. Everyone wishes they looked like someone else, but face the facts and love the body you have. Dress it accordingly and you will feel fabulous!
