As women we have so much on our plates, between the demands of motherhood and the time constraints of our careers, that dressing in a way that makes us feel both confident and stylish seems like an unattainable goal. But it’s not!
Have you ever noticed that there are some women who have a consistent quality about them that feels both effortless and perfectly polished? You get the impression that the way they dress just comes naturally, and what feels impossible to you looks like an innate skill they possess.
The truth is, for these women, fashion has much less to do with a hidden talent and is much more based on knowing what works for them and following a few guiding principles. They build a strategy for their personal style so that majority of the guesswork is eliminated right off the bat and getting dressed in the morning is a breeze.
If you want to learn how to look more stylish and put-together without having to invest in an entirely new wardrobe, the secret can be found in a few key rules.
Scroll down for the top 50 style tips for women that work regardless of your size, budget or aesthetic, that will help you automate your wardrobe and take the confusion out of what to wear.
1.DETERMINE HOW YOU WANT TO SHOW UP IN THE WORLD
The first step in establishing your sense of style is to build your message. Think of this as your personal branding – an external package that shows the world exactly who you are on the inside and highlights your strongest qualities.
Begin by asking yourself how you’d like to be perceived by the people you interact with. Choose words that paint a vivid mental picture of the way you want to represent yourself. Adjectives like powerful, compassionate, sophisticated and intelligent, provide a measurement to assess your image against, so it’s important to get as clear and concise as possible. When we first begin the personal styling process with a new client, this is the initial step we start with. Before knowing what your clothing will look like, you have to be clear on your message.
Keep in mind that you’re always driving your personal narrative, whether you’re conscious of it or not. What do you want your style to say?
2.BE AUTHENTIC
The clothing you wear is an extension of who you are. It should strengthen your image and be an expression of your true self, so don’t force it. This means not wedging your feet into 5-inch stilettos that require an hour foot massage at the end of the work day if you’re more comfortable in flats, or wearing the latest trends just because all of your friends are. Wear clothing that feels like YOU.
If you’re unsure how you feel in something, take the authenticity test by asking yourself 3 simple questions: Does the outfit feel comfortable or will I be constantly adjusting it? Do I recognize myself in the mirror or am I trying to be someone I’m not? Does this clothing bring me joy and am I excited to wear it? If you answer yes to all 3, you’re good to go! If not, look for another option.
3.DON’T PRIORITIZE FASHION OVER COMFORT
When it comes to style tips for women, this one is a non-negotiable.
If torn between style and comfort, always opt for what feels the best. When you’re uncomfortable or restricted in any way, you’re not able to exude power. The old adage that beauty is pain is not a reality we should ascribe to. As women, we juggle busy careers on top of child rearing and family life. The last thing we need to worry about is spending an 8-hour work day in a dress that sucks the life out of us or jeans that feel too restricting. There’s always an alternative, equally as stylish option, that we can find.
4.IDENTIFY YOUR INSPIRATION
Studying the work of those who’ve already mastered a skill is a useful place to start when learning something new. As you begin to determine the framework for your sense of style, it’s helpful to draw inspiration from people who fit your mold.
Whether it’s celebrities, politicians, TV characters, or co-workers, make a list of individuals you view as consistently well-dressed. Getting clear on who you look up to helps you better identify what your preferences are as you build a unique personal style of your own.
This exercise can often feel difficult. As creatures of habit, it’s challenging to envision ourselves wearing something other than what we’re familiar with. For the time being, ignore the natural hesitation to step outside your comfort zone and instead focus on what appeals to you.
5.BUILD A VISUAL STYLE GUIDE
Create a collection of images that reflect your desired sense of style – search for outfits you’d like to try, icons who embody your aesthetic, and anything else you can use as reference to help build your personal brand.
Pinterest is a great platform for compiling ideas. Their algorithm is quick to learn your preferences and make personalized recommendations. If you need a place to start, our account has lots of outfit inspiration to get you going.
Alternatively, you can save images into a designated folder on your phone, or cut out pictures from magazines and build a physical mood board.
Collecting photos allows you to see what your preferences look like as a whole and easily identify patterns in your taste. This visual framework serves as your style guide while you begin to put outfits together and decide what you’re going to wear.
6.ASSESS WHAT YOU OWN AND LET GO OF WHAT DOESN’T ALIGN
Getting clear on the image you’re creating for yourself will help you assess what’s in your closet with honesty and objectivity. Chances are you’ve been wearing the same thing for years, not because you chose it strategically but because it was familiar. It’s time to be more methodical about what you’re wearing.
Review your current wardrobe piece by piece, to determine if each item fits with the style you plan to achieve. Commit to letting go of anything that doesn’t align. Holding on to clothing out of sentimental attachment will only guarantee you repeat old patterns. Keep the items that match your goals and part with the rest.
If you want to learn how to organize your closet effectively, try our simple 7 step process, which will help you easily maintain a more effective, comprehensive wardrobe.
7.OWN BASIC SILK CAMISOLES
Just like the right undergarments, good silk camisoles are essential base pieces to have in your closet. Black and white are a must – other neutral colors will get a lot of use as well. These can be worn under a blazer or cardigan and look more polished than their cotton alternative.
If your sense of style errs on the more feminine side, look for styles that have lace detailing.
8.USE HANGERS TO SEE WHICH ITEMS DON’T GET WORN
After you’ve done a major edit, you’ll still want to keep an eye on everything you’ve kept in case you held on to something that isn’t getting used. To see which clothes you never wear, try the hanger test. Start by turning all the hangers in your closet with the hook towards you, opposite to what you’d usually do. As you wear items, re-hang them back with the hook facing away from you in the normal direction.
Set a time frame to reassess what you’ve used, generally 6 months to 1 year, taking note of everything still hanging in the original manner. These can be donated or sold as it’s highly unlikely you’ll ever wear them again and they’re taking up valuable real estate in your closet.
9.TRY THE ONE IN, ONE OUT METHOD
Now you’re organized with a wardrobe that’s ready to showcase your updated style. To keep it that way, you’ll have to be disciplined. Remember, the objective of an overhauled closet is to maintain a selection of clothing you wear on a consistent basis, all of which makes you feel like your most confident self. As time moves forward, put systems in place that prevent you from over-accumulating. A great way to do this is to maintain your organization by removing an item each time you add something. If you buy a new pair of jeans, one pair should go. Everything needs a purpose within your closet so that you know it’s there and don’t lose it within the clutter.
10.SHOP YOUR SHAPE
Understanding your body shape is a key piece in successfully achieving a great sense of personal style. When you know which cuts and silhouettes work best for your body, you eliminate a lot of the confusion around what to wear and a closet filled with items that go unworn.
One of the best style tips for women is learning how to master balance. If you hold more weight on the bottom, the trick is to offset it by adding more volume to your top (think structured shoulders, jackets with breast pockets). If your bust or shoulders are bigger, than you fool the eye into creating visual balance by increasing the weight on your lower half (ie. A-line skirt, wide leg pants).
Women who dress with ease know exactly what flatters their body and what to avoid, always enhancing their best assets. If you aren’t sure of your shape, do some research into the most common female body types so you can easily identify which category you fall into.
The most important part about developing your style is choosing clothing you feel great in – and there’s nothing that feels better than wearing clothing that enhances your body.
11.INVEST WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD IN GOOD QUALITY BASICS
Women with great style know that spending a little extra money on the basic wardrobe essentials means that they will always have access to good quality pieces that stand the test of time. Basics are items that belong in every woman’s closet and can carry them across a variety of settings. The point is to have less, while getting more out of what you own.
We suggest investing as much as you can afford into neutral denim and slack options, versatile coats, classic white button downs, fitted dresses, structured blazers, classic leather handbags and staple footwear. These pieces will be worn time and time again, thus making them worth the investment.
While you may need to spend a little more upfront to account for the better quality, you’ll be replacing your basics much less frequently than if you were to buy cheaper, fast-fashion versions. Ultimately, you’ll be shopping less often and saving money you would have spent on repeat purchases.
12.CREATE A CAPSULE WARDROBE
A capsule wardrobe is the intersection between fashion and functionality, where everything in your closet can be mixed and matched with ease and has a cohesive theme running through it. Think of it as your own personal uniform in the sense that everything works together by setting the foundation for your personal style. When you have a capsule wardrobe, getting dressed in the morning becomes that much easier. Everything already pairs together so the guesswork is removed from making great outfits.
As you edit your existing wardrobe and begin to shop for new pieces, the ultimate goal is to have a collection of like-minded items. The importance of the capsule wardrobe methodology isn’t to achieve a certain number of items in your closet, but rather a framework for dressing that makes everyday life much more simple.
13.DON’T FOCUS ON FADS
Fads or trends are the items that gain overnight attention but have little staying power. A key style rule is knowing not to waste too much time focusing on these pieces, spending money on something that won’t be relevant for long. While we always suggest buying something if you truly can’t stop thinking about it, make sure you keep these purchases to a minimum and focus on the classics. Establishing your sense of style means not getting overly distracted by trends so that you don’t have to continuously update your closet. If you’ve built your capsule wardrobe successfully, you should have everything you need to perfect your everyday look.
14.WEAR CLOTHES THAT FIT
Fit is the number one most important thing when it comes to great style. Why? Because wearing clothing that fits us properly, highlights our assets, flatters our body type, and most importantly makes us feel good. Beautiful clothing has no place in our closets if it doesn’t hang, drape or mold to the shape of our bodies properly.
When it comes to fit, the items we choose to wear should create a clear shape and allow for breathing room without looking bulky. Too big and they end up making us look sloppy and ill-proportioned, too small and they cut in all the wrong places. Proper fit is how we achieve effortless style while feeling comfortable in the clothing we wear.
Don’t go a size down just because the number makes you feel better, or a size up because you think it hides problem areas. Clothing that fits you properly will always look the best.
15.EXPERIMENT AND EXPLORE
Building your image doesn’t happen instantaneously, so give yourself permission to play around and explore. Creating a sense of style is a trial and error process designed to help you discover what makes you feel like the best version of yourself. Use what’s in your closet to experiment with new outfit combinations. Go to the store and try on silhouettes you’ve never seen your body in. When you step outside your comfort zone, you discover new possibilities for yourself.
16.AGE IS ONLY A NUMBER
When it comes to clothing, the term ‘age-appropriate’ is ill-fitting if not entirely outdated. The prescriptive notion of giving into a quieter, more controlled image as we age suggests that looking our best has a time limit.
Being a woman is challenging enough without the added social pressure of having to fit a style-by-numbers approach to dressing. As with everything in fashion, the most important element is how we feel and what our clothing-choices do to elevate our confidence.
Perhaps the way we dressed in our 20s isn’t something we want to re-create in our 40s, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t allowed to be just as in love with dressing our best. Regardless of the age you’re at, embrace the styles that make you feel good, experiment with fashion, and know that it’s well within your right as a woman to be as stylish as you wish to be….regardless of your age group.
17.COMMIT TO STRATEGIC SHOPPING
To shop effectively, you’ll need to have a plan in place otherwise you’re destined to repeat similar buying habits you’ve formed up to this point. Make a list of specific items you’re missing in your current wardrobe, so you’re clear on what you’re looking for when you get to the mall. That top you already have 3 of that just so happens to be on sale now, is not why you came. Stick to the plan!
It helps to break up your shopping, and focus on a few items each trip. Our minds have a tendency to get overloaded when we have too much to consider. If blazers and pants are on your list, save blouses and sweaters for another day. You’re much more likely to find what you need when you’re not clouded by decision-fatigue.
18.DON’T BUY UNLESS YOU’RE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN
We’ve all had that feeling of trying something on and knowing with certainty that we had to have it. But sometimes that’s not always the case, and the clothes we find in the store end up being the best of what we can find.
If you find yourself weighing out the pros and cons of buying something, or convincing yourself that it’s the most suitable option at the store, it most likely isn’t going to get worn. That’s how we end up with so many clothes hanging in our closet with price tags attached.
When you’re unsure about an item, ask the sales associate to put it on hold for you. If you can’t stop thinking about it after two days, go back and try it again with fresh eyes. If you still love it, go ahead and buy it. At that point it won’t be an impulse purchase.
19.PLAN YOUR OUTFITS IN ADVANCE
Mornings come with a busy to do list, especially if you have children and early meetings. Automating your routine as much as possible is one of the easiest ways to eliminate decision fatigue and ensure you’re out the door on time. Just as you plan meals, you can also plan outfits so that you aren’t frantically searching for something to wear at the last minute. A strategy as simple as selecting your clothing the night before can save you an unexpected emergency in the morning. We also like the idea of blocking out a week’s worth of outfits on Sunday night so you can batch the task and make all of your fashion choices at once.
20.ALWAYS WEAR PROPER UNDERGARMENTS
Investing in good bras and shapewear cannot be overstated. If you’re having trouble finding your correct fit, look up an expert in your city or visit the lingerie section at a high-end department store like Saks or Neiman Marcus (their sales associates are highly trained in proper fit). Undergarments that smooth in all the right places, without creating lines, will help bring your outfits to life and guarantee that you feel more confident in your clothing.
