Looking more fashionable isn’t always about wearing the coolest trends, mastering complicated styling tricks, or wearing the most expensive clothes. (Who has the bank account for that, anyway? Can’t be me.) It can really be as easy as loosely tucking in your shirt, throwing on a pair of sunglasses, or adding more layers to your look.
Even if a specific ensemble feels outside of your comfort zone, just go around and act like it’s something you wear all the time—your outfit is as much about your attitude as it is the clothes and accessories.
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But if you still want some easy tips to help pull off an over-the-top ‘fit or look fashionable without trying too hard, here are 10 ways to get the compliments rolling in.
Colour Coordinate
Pick two or three colors to base your outfit around (in this case mint green and off-white), and then go off that with your clothing and accessories—and even your makeup! You’ll look pulled together and elevated no matter what scheme you go with.
Mix Textures
Pile on a bunch of different fabrics in one look—ribbed knit, snakeskin print, suede, silk, leather, etc.—and it’s super chic. You can opt to go bold with your color choices or keep them all in the same shade to make the texture mixing more subtle.
Read Also: FASHION HISTORY: history of Dries Van Noten
Pair a Blazer with a Graphic Tee
A luxe blazer over an edgier graphic T-shirt paired with jeans pulls off that “high-low” look. It’s an effortless ‘fit that’s both casual and dressed up, no matter where you’re heading.
Opt for Monochrome
Pick one hue and go for it! (You definitely don’t have to match your hair lol, but you can if you want.) This option makes getting dressed for the day wayyy faster since it narrows down your choices, and you can match head-to-toe without spending too much time on your outfit.
Wear your Jacket on your Shoulders
Don’t think of your jacket as a jacket. Think of it as a cape with sleeves that fall by your arms. Especially going into transitional weather, it’s a simple way to wear a jacket that won’t make you overheat, but will still give you the coverage you want.
Layers, layers, and more layers
The more layers you have, the less likely any one piece is to really make or break your outfit, so go crazy—e.g., wear a coat, over a dress, over a mesh shirt, with tights, like seen here. Basically, think of yourself as a fashionable onion. A bonus: This tip works well in the winter time when you need to bundle up anyway!
Change up your Footwear
Whatever you would normally choose for footwear, choose the opposite. Trade your high heels for flat booties, your sneakers for high heels, and your sandals for sneakers. The more wrong it feels, the more right it is. Trust me on this one.
Don’t tuck in your top all the way
Whether it’s a sweater, a tank, or a collared silk shirt, just grab that middle front piece, loosely tuck it down, and watch your style cred increase instantaneously. The less effort you put into the tuck, the better.
Wear Sunglasses
If you put on an outfit and it feels like it’s missing something that you can’t quite put your finger on, odds are it’s a pair of sunglasses. Even better if they coordinate with the rest of your outfit, like this lilac pair here. They’re also easier to put on than eye makeup, just sayin’.
Wear your cross-body bag in the front
Pull that thing around to the front and show it off. You know it’s your favorite part of your outfit anyway. Another trick is to adjust it so that the strap is shorter and sits closer to your waist as opposed to the top of your leg.