Eight years and three thousand blog posts later, there’s a lot of content and many, many style tips for fashion lovers on YLF. If I had to narrow it down and choose my ten favourite style tips, these would be them.
Assess your bra, hairstyle and specs upfront
Begin the process of a style renewal or refresher by addressing the fit of your bra, your hairstyle, and your eyewear (if you wear specs daily) before you address your clothes, footwear and accessories. Having these aspects in place gives you an effective head-start and the rest will fall into place more easily.
Dress your body in clothes that fit today
Embrace your size and shape, and buy clothes that fit and flatter. If you’re on a long weight loss or gain journey, purchase items that fit along the way. Keep purchases to a minimum, but don’t spend months in ill-fitting clothes while your body changes.
Ask these 3 questions to troubleshoot problem outfits
You can often identify the problem with an outfit that is “not quite right” by asking these three questions.
- Is it the length of an item that will make the difference?
- Is it the contrast between the items and your skin tone?
- Do you need to add heels to the outfit?
In some instances you’ll solve the problem by actioning one fast tweak.
Create proportions that are just flattering enough
You’ll find fashion and style a lot more forgiving and fun when you create outfit proportions that are just flattering enough instead of sticking to conventional forms of figure flattery. By using subtle techniques that create structure and elongate an outfit, you’ll find this modern way of dressing very liberating.
Assess how you FEEL in an outfit
Sometimes an outfit looks great in the mirror, or to others, but doesn’t make you feel fabulous. Style starts from within, so listen to these feelings because it’s YOU wearing the outfit. Wear outfits with a high happiness-factor because they are the ones that will make you the most confident and stylish version of yourself.
Create brow, lash and lip definition and look after your skin
Cleanse, moisturize and use sunscreen daily because healthy skin makes your style shine more brightly. A workout does wonders for your skin too.
You don’t need to wear lots of make-up daily, but a little goes a long way to making you look brighter and more alive. Create eyebrow definition by grooming your brows. If they are light, use eyebrow dye or eyebrow pencil. Mascara makes your eyes pop. And a little lippie, whether it’s gloss, lipstick or tinted balm, adds the final polished touch.
Be patient with your style
It takes time and resources to build a baseline wardrobe and refresh your style seasonally. It also takes time to accurately identify your needs and refine your style preferences. And just when you think you have it all figured out, your lifestyle will change and so will your preferences. Be patient and don’t expect everything to fall into place after one season. If you’re frustrated with shopping or another aspect of your style, take a break, and revisit things later. Style is an ongoing journey with many paths and temporary destinations. Enjoy the process as much as the end result, and learn from each leg of the journey.
Leave no retail stone unturned
Each retailer has its good and bad points, and should be awarded a clean slate at the start of the season. Shop all price points. Shop the kids and menswear sections if you have to, and don’t forget the sporting goods store. It doesn’t matter where you shop as long as what you buy fits the bill and makes you happy.
Keep poison eye to a minimum
We can’t help our “poison eyes” (items or combinations that we don’t like on anyone, ever), but do try to keep them to a minimum. Fashion and style is subjective, which makes keeping an open mind especially important. Your own style preferences might be narrow, but try to appreciate items and styles that are outside your personal preferences on someone else. Doing so reflects a love for fashion and style that goes beyond your own appearance.
Have fun with fashion at every age
It’s never too early or too late to have fun with fashion and style. We need a wardrobe that suits our needs and style preferences throughout our adult lives. Dressing daily is an opportunity for self expression, creativity and FUN. Shout this from the rooftops and spread the word.
