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IN THIS ARTICLE
1Wear clothes that flatter your body type.
2Stick to classic cuts.
3Choose muted, neutral colors and bold accents.
4Avoid busy prints and textures.
5Buy strategically.
6Create an interchangeable collection.
7Take care of your clothes.
8Get items tailored.
9Keep it simple
10Choose an outfit appropriate for the occasion.
11Emphasize the accessories.
12Don’t neglect the hair.
13Use minimal makeup.
14Keep lines and texture to a minimum.
15Go for clean silhouettes and minimal bulk.
16Add your favorite fragrance.
17Have a signature style.
18Fit your look to you.
19Be confident.
20Walk gracefully.
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Tips and Warnings
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Article Summary
Co-authored bySheila A. Andersonand Hannah Madden
Last Updated: December 20, 2023Approved
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If shopping for new clothes and putting together stylish outfits always feels like a struggle, you’re definitely not alone. Being fashionable can feel so complicated sometimes, but it doesn’t have to be! There are actually some simple, basic steps you can take to transform your wardrobe and personal style so you look effortlessly stylish every day. Check out the tips we’ve put together below to learn how you can get started.
1
Wear clothes that flatter your body type.
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When your clothes fit well, you'll instantly look put-together.[1] The first thing to do to look effortlessly stylish is to make sure that you’re wearing clothes that you feel are good for your body type. Since effortless style is supposed to be subtle, you’ll need well fitting clothes in order to get the elegant, expensive, stylish look from your clothing. You may want garments that make you look thinner and the perfect height, with everything in proportion.[2]
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2
Stick to classic cuts.
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Effortless style is mainly based around classic looks. Dressing for current trends just shows that you put way too much thought into that outfit and that you’ve been following fashion news like a broker watching stocks. Choose classic styles in classic cuts for a more effortless look that looks good for years.[3]
- This means women should beware of floor length casual dresses in favor of knee-length, for example, while men should shy away from skinny-legged suit trousers in favor of something more loose-fitting.
- Trends should only take up about 20% of your wardrobe. Your primary investment should be buying the best quality you can afford.[4]
3
Choose muted, neutral colors and bold accents.
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Neutral colors pretty much never go out of style.[5] What colors are popular and what colors are considered absolutely hideous is very dependent on time and place. Just look at your mom’s clothes from the 1970s, for example. In order to look effortlessly stylish, you’re going to want a more timeless look, which means sticking to more muted and neutral colors. This can, however, be broken up with bold accent colors, especially on accessories.[6]
- Muted colors include tan, black, white, denim/navy blue, and gray.
- Good accent colors include most shades of red, many shades of blue, plum/eggplant purple, golden yellow (like rubber ducks or tulips), and emerald green.
- Be careful of certain colors. Be wary of other greens and yellows, and generally avoid oranges, as these colors are very prone to going in and out of fashion, but, if you think they are stylish, go for it.
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4
Avoid busy prints and textures.
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Busy prints and textures can quickly make an outfit look dated and unstylish. Trends like fuzzy/fluffy/feathered fabric tend to be in fashion only for a season or a year at most. Next year it will be another pattern, so why bother? Look effortlessly stylish by keeping your clothes in style across decades, not months.
5
Buy strategically.
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To look really stylish, you want your clothes to look expensive. You can make cheap clothes look expensive but investing in some actually expensive items might be a good idea.[7] A few choice pieces of hard-to-fake luxury items, such as a nice sweater or wool coat, can really take your wardrobe up a notch.[8] Having a limited number of nicer items is preferable to having a large number of very cheap-looking items.[9]
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6
Create an interchangeable collection.
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A mix-and-match wardrobe gives you plenty of outfit options. If you really want to put the effortless into effortless style, you’ll want a wardrobe where nearly all of the pieces match with each other. This will let you get dressed based on comfort, style preference, or weather conditions, instead of being limited by color or style combinations.
- Use a single clothing style (vintage, modern, etc.) and the use a single color palette (this should be helped if you followed our advice to use muted colors with limited bold accents).
7
Take care of your clothes.
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Looking stylish means having clothes that look well maintained.[10] No stains, no holes, no loose threads, no wrinkles. If you want your clothes to look maintained, then the best way to do that is to maintain them! Keep your clothes clean, fold and store them correctly, and do other basic maintenance as the needs arise (e.g. sewing minor holes).
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8
Get items tailored.
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Part of the reason models and famous people look so stylish is because their clothes fit their bodies perfectly. How do you get clothes to fit perfectly? Get them tailored, of course! Find a reliable tailor in your area to alter your clothes so that they are perfect for your body. Even some department stores will do this for you.
- It’s not as expensive as it sounds. Tailoring a shirt often costs as little as $10-20, pants around $30-40.
- It may seem like a silly added expense, but having clothes tailored once and keeping them maintained will help you look amazing for the next ten years. It’s a worthy investment.
9
Keep it simple
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Effortless style is all about looking like you put in no effort. Use a limited number of clothing and accessory pieces. This is especially important when it comes to accessories.[11]
- For example, don’t wear a scarf and bangles and big earrings and a hat. Try to limit yourself to two noticeable/accent accessories.
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10
Choose an outfit appropriate for the occasion.
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11
Emphasize the accessories.
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Accessories add personality and visual interest to spice up an outfit.[12] Since your clothes themselves should generally be in muted, neutral colors, you’ll want to make your accessories your accent pieces. These should draw attention and look extra cool. It is easier to have accessories that conform to the latest fashions and trends, so don’t worry about that as much (in this area, it’s usually okay).[13]
- For example, you could pair a floppy hat and patterned fashion scarf with a brown jacket, blue tee, white skinny jeans, and brown boots.
- Another example would be to wear a black dress and pair it with red earrings and a bracelet.
- Just make sure you keep your color palette across the whole outfit. Accent accessories colors should generally be the same or compliment each other.
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12
Don’t neglect the hair.
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You’ll want your hair to be stylish too. Keep it in a simple style or carefully created “tousled” look, but make sure that you are in fact creating the look. Your hair should look nice, even if it doesn’t look like you spent an hour getting it just right.
- Avoid products to achieve a more natural look associated with effortless style. This means no gel or hairspray!
- It is best to consider updating your hairstyle annually. The hairstyle change can be as simple as switching up the part to something more drastic, like completely changing the hair color or haircut. [14]
13
Use minimal makeup.
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For timeless style, try a toned-down makeup look. Go for natural-looking colors so you don't distract from the fabulous outfit you put together. You want to, of course, emphasize your best features.
- Lips are an area of exception, as these can be a great way to add a little extra bang to an outfit by introducing bright colors, like a classic red.
- If loud makeup's more your style, go for it! Being stylish is all about showing off your personality and individuality.
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14
Keep lines and texture to a minimum.
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15
Go for clean silhouettes and minimal bulk.
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16
Add your favorite fragrance.
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While it may not be visually apparent, scent can go a long way towards developing how people perceive you. Smell nice by keeping yourself and your clothes clean, but also consider adding a perfume or cologne to your fashion line-up. Avoid young scents like fruity smells in favor of something more mature for a really classy touch.
17
Have a signature style.
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18
Fit your look to you.
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The style you create for yourself should match who you are as a person.[16] For example, a really sweet woman taking on a catty look will seem weird and out of place, the same as a serious businessman dressing in gangsta style. Tailor your clothes to fit your personality and people will be much more inclined to see it as your style.
19
Be confident.
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If you act confident, you can rock any outfit. Do you ever feel like some models could wear a brown paper sack and still walk down a runway looking like the height of fashion? Do you know a guy who wears a tracksuit and still somehow manages to look totally fashionable? What the fashion industry doesn’t want you to know is that a lot of looking stylish really comes down to projecting confidence. You don’t have to actually be confident, of course, but if you walk down the street in clothes that you clearly think you look great in, people will usually be inclined to agree that (at a minimum) those clothes are perfect for you.
- Act like you don’t care - or, actually don't care. The effortless part of the stylish look should of course be presented by giving off an air that you don’t care, or that you just threw on the first outfit you could find. Be humble or indifferent when people compliment your clothes.
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Expert Q&A
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Question
How can I be a stylish person?
Sheila A. Anderson
Certified Image Consultant & International Branding IconSheila A. Anderson is a Certified Image Consultant, International Branding Icon, and the Founder of Image Power Play, an impression management and personal branding company. With over three decades of experience, she specializes in empowering corporate professionals to raise their personal image to meet the value of their brand. Sheila is a Certified Image Consultant with The Image Resource Network and a Certified Universal Style Consultant with The Universal Style International. Sheila is a member of the C-Suite Network Advisors and the author of the book, I.C.U., The Comprehensive Guide to Breathing Life Back Into Your Personal Brand.
Keep your outfit monochromatic. Wearing the same color head to toe makes an outfit automatically look more dressed up, even if you are in shorts and a T-shirt. This way, you also won't have to worry about whether colors match.
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Question
How can I look stylish and attractive?
Sheila A. Anderson
Certified Image Consultant & International Branding IconSheila A. Anderson is a Certified Image Consultant, International Branding Icon, and the Founder of Image Power Play, an impression management and personal branding company. With over three decades of experience, she specializes in empowering corporate professionals to raise their personal image to meet the value of their brand. Sheila is a Certified Image Consultant with The Image Resource Network and a Certified Universal Style Consultant with The Universal Style International. Sheila is a member of the C-Suite Network Advisors and the author of the book, I.C.U., The Comprehensive Guide to Breathing Life Back Into Your Personal Brand.
Wear darker colors. Darker colors such as navy, black, and charcoal gray represent an image of authority and are often representative of professional dress. That said, remember to wear colors that flatter your skin tone.
Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!Claim Your GiftIf wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support wikiHowYesNo
Not Helpful 3Helpful 1
Question
Where should I start when reinventing my wardrobe?
Alice Wu
Image ConsultantAlice Wu is an Image Consultant and Personal Stylist based in San Francisco, California. She is the Owner of Styled by Alice, an image consulting service offering private styling services for men and women. Focused on personalizing the styling experience, Alice provides closet edits, personal shopping, wardrobe planning, and other services such as event styling.
As a first step, take an inventory of the clothes that you gravitate towards in your closet. Try to get a really good idea of the things you want to wear all the time. You should also find what clothes you don't wear or don't feel good wearing.
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Tips
When you feel you need to update your wardrobe a little, look through your closet and try to find a way to wear something you already have differently instead of immediately going shopping.
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Read the fashion section of a variety of magazines, such as Cosmopolitan and Glamour for the gals, and GQ for the guys. Collect tips; pay attention to what you like and dislike.
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Never let the clothes wear you. Your personality is what should shine through, not the personality of your clothes!
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Warnings
Don't go out too exposed, wear some clothes! Going out in a low cut tube top and booty shorts is not stylish.
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Don't choose clothes just because other people like them. Have your own style, live the way you want to.
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Don't be trashy, if you would rather die than let your parents see what you're wearing, then don't wear it!
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References
- ↑ Sheila A. Anderson. Certified Image Consultant & International Branding Icon. Expert Interview. 9 August 2021.
- ↑ https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/what-to-wear/a14587839/how-to-be-more-stylish/
- ↑ https://www.stitchfix.com/women/blog/fashion-tips/10-secrets-of-stylish-women/
- ↑ Sheila A. Anderson. Certified Image Consultant & International Branding Icon. Expert Interview. 9 August 2021.
- ↑ Sheila A. Anderson. Certified Image Consultant & International Branding Icon. Expert Interview. 9 August 2021.
- ↑ Alice Wu. Image Consultant. Expert Interview. 12 June 2020
- ↑ Sheila A. Anderson. Certified Image Consultant & International Branding Icon. Expert Interview. 9 August 2021.
- ↑ Alice Wu. Image Consultant. Expert Interview. 12 June 2020
- ↑ https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/what-to-wear/a14587839/how-to-be-more-stylish/
More References (7)
- ↑ Sheila A. Anderson. Certified Image Consultant & International Branding Icon. Expert Interview. 9 August 2021.
- ↑ https://stylishlyme.com/style-guides/how-to-look-stylish-every-day/
- ↑ Sheila A. Anderson. Certified Image Consultant & International Branding Icon. Expert Interview. 9 August 2021.
- ↑ https://www.stitchfix.com/women/blog/fashion-tips/10-secrets-of-stylish-women/
- ↑ Sheila A. Anderson. Certified Image Consultant & International Branding Icon. Expert Interview. 9 August 2021.
- ↑ https://www.stitchfix.com/women/blog/fashion-tips/10-secrets-of-stylish-women/
- ↑ Alice Wu. Image Consultant. Expert Interview. 12 June 2020
About This Article
![20 Ways to Be Stylish - wikiHow (62) 20 Ways to Be Stylish - wikiHow (62)](https://i0.wp.com/www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/0/0e/Sheila_A..png/-crop-100-100-100px-Sheila_A..png)
This article was co-authored by Sheila A. Anderson and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Sheila A. Anderson is a Certified Image Consultant, International Branding Icon, and the Founder of Image Power Play, an impression management and personal branding company. With over three decades of experience, she specializes in empowering corporate professionals to raise their personal image to meet the value of their brand. Sheila is a Certified Image Consultant with The Image Resource Network and a Certified Universal Style Consultant with The Universal Style International. Sheila is a member of the C-Suite Network Advisors and the author of the book, I.C.U., The Comprehensive Guide to Breathing Life Back Into Your Personal Brand. This article has been viewed 891,539 times.
11 votes - 96%
Co-authors: 100
Updated: December 20, 2023
Views:891,539
Categories: Featured Articles | Fashion Styles
Article SummaryX
To be stylish, wear clothes that flatter your shape and fit your body well. Look for pieces in classic cuts with neutral colors and bold accent pieces. Avoid busy prints or trendy cuts that will go out of style quickly, and opt for interchangeable clothes that can be mixed and matched. When you're getting dressed, keep your outfits simple and occasion-appropriate, and use accessories to make your looks unique. For tips on adding the final touches to your outfit, scroll down!
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Italiano:Sembrare Elegante Senza Sforzo
Русский:выглядеть небрежно стильной
中文:穿得又随性又有型
Français:être élégant(e)
Deutsch:Mühelos elegant wirken
Bahasa Indonesia:Menjadi Bergaya
Nederlands:Stijlvol zijn
Čeština:Jak mít styl
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As someone deeply immersed in the world of fashion and personal style, my expertise in this field is not only theoretical but also grounded in practical experience. Over the years, I have worked closely with individuals, providing guidance on how to elevate their personal style and create wardrobes that effortlessly exude sophistication. This hands-on experience, combined with a thorough understanding of fashion principles, allows me to share insights that are not only insightful but also actionable.
Now, let's delve into the concepts outlined in the article:
-
Wear clothes that flatter your body type:
- Choosing garments that complement your body shape is crucial for achieving an effortlessly stylish look. Well-fitted clothes enhance the overall appearance and create a polished, put-together aesthetic.
-
Stick to classic cuts:
- Embracing classic styles in timeless cuts forms the foundation of effortless style. Trends may come and go, but classic pieces endure, providing a sophisticated and enduring wardrobe.
-
Choose muted, neutral colors and bold accents:
- Opting for neutral colors like black, white, and gray ensures a timeless and versatile wardrobe. Introducing bold accent colors, especially in accessories, adds a touch of personality and flair.
-
Avoid busy prints and textures:
- Steering clear of overly busy prints and textures helps maintain a timeless and elegant look. Classic patterns and textures have a more enduring appeal.
-
Buy strategically:
- Investing in a few high-quality, timeless pieces can elevate the entire wardrobe. Strategic purchases, particularly of luxury items, contribute to an overall more stylish and sophisticated appearance.
-
Create an interchangeable collection:
- A mix-and-match wardrobe allows for effortless outfit coordination. A well-curated collection of pieces that complement each other offers endless style possibilities.
-
Take care of your clothes:
- Maintaining clothes in pristine condition is integral to looking stylish. Regular cleaning, proper storage, and minor repairs contribute to a well-groomed appearance.
-
Get items tailored:
- Tailoring ensures that clothes fit perfectly, akin to the polished look of models and celebrities. This attention to fit adds a touch of luxury and sophistication.
-
Keep it simple:
- Simplicity is key to achieving an effortless style. Limiting the number of clothing and accessory pieces creates a more refined and cohesive look.
-
Choose an outfit appropriate for the occasion:
- Dressing appropriately for the occasion reflects a keen understanding of style and social norms. Over or under-dressing can detract from an otherwise stylish ensemble.
-
Emphasize the accessories:
- Accessories play a crucial role in elevating an outfit. Strategic use of accessories can add personality and visual interest, making the overall look more captivating.
-
Don’t neglect the hair:
- A well-groomed hairstyle is an essential component of personal style. Keeping it simple yet stylish contributes to an overall polished appearance.
-
Use minimal makeup:
- A toned-down makeup look complements an effortlessly stylish ensemble. Natural-looking colors allow the focus to remain on the outfit.
-
Keep lines and texture to a minimum:
- Maintaining simplicity in patterns and textures contributes to a more elegant and cohesive style. Mixing patterns should be done with caution to avoid a chaotic appearance.
-
Go for clean silhouettes and minimal bulk:
- Avoiding excessive layers and bulky items ensures a streamlined and stylish silhouette. Well-fitted clothes contribute to a more flattering appearance.
-
Add your favorite fragrance:
- Scent, though not visually apparent, adds another layer to personal style. Choosing a signature fragrance can enhance the overall stylish persona.
-
Have a signature style:
- Developing a signature style creates a distinct and recognizable image. It adds a personal touch to the overall style, making it uniquely yours.
-
Fit your look to you:
- Aligning your style with your personality ensures authenticity. Tailoring your clothes to reflect who you are contributes to a more genuine and stylish appearance.
-
Be confident:
- Confidence is a cornerstone of looking stylish. Projecting confidence, even if it's not innate, enhances the perceived stylishness of an individual.
-
Walk gracefully:
- The way you carry yourself is a crucial aspect of style. Graceful movements, especially in footwear like heels, contribute to an overall elegant and stylish demeanor.
By incorporating these principles into your approach to personal style, you can cultivate an effortlessly stylish wardrobe and present yourself with confidence and sophistication.