Anything Fun

Oscar Wilde used to say that fashion was something so hideous that it had to be changed once every three months. His acerbic wit aside, it’s true that fashion, not style, is what’s constantly changing. While some people run around chasing the latest trends and attempting to rock a season’s popular look that just might not work for them, the real stars of the fashion world know to focus on something much more elusive: style. Because it’s timeless style that makes icons, not grasping at trends, and having a solid understanding of what isn’t fleeting and what is makes a huge difference between having a look that lasts and needing a new wardrobe every year.

It’s not about the money. So you don’t have a walk-in closet and a disposable income of five figures to spend each time the season changes. That doesn’t mean you need to be running around in a burlap sack, honey. Regardless of your budget, it’s possible to find clothes that are stylish anywhere and everywhere. From thrift stores to designer stores, there’s always at least one garment in your size that’s classy, timeless, and chic. Learn to hunt for those pieces, and you’re pretty much promised a look that’s stylish.

Size has nothing to do with it. Of course it’s easier for a skinny woman to find something at the local boutique, but just because you aren’t a size zero, it’s no excuse to not find something to dress well in. Don’t allow your height or weight to give you permission to bow out of the race for style. Confidence and well-fitting clothes are the secret to success for so many women, and you don’t have to have Mick Jagger’s figure to get ahead in this world, ladies.

Don’t let yourself go. So you’re single, or working from home, or staying at home with the kids. Sure, you can sit there all day in yoga pants and eat Cheetos, but eventually, it’s going to catch up with you and you’re going to start to feel ugly. Even if you’re not attending a black tie gala, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put a little thought into what you wear each day. Style and fashion are just as much about how you feel as how you actually look, so make sure that you choose clothes that make you feel great every day, not just on special occasions.

It’s not actually that hard to dress well, it just requires knowing what to buy. And really, all you need to buy are a few things. It will take less than five hangers in your closet to have the cornerstones of a great wardrobe. One for a snappy dress shirt, one for a cardigan, preferably cashmere, one for a stylish and timeless pair of black pants, and one for the quintessential little black dress. These are the articles of clothing by which all other articles of clothing are measured, and putting in a little bit of an investment on them all will give you limitless returns. It’s also much easier to build and mix and match outfits based on some seriously solid base items.

Aside from basic items, the most important choice you have to make is shoes. Shoes are the wild card to an outfit, the piece that can make you feel sexy and incredible or, if chosen poorly, allow you to fade into the background. Never underestimate a great pair of shoes. It is best to have a couple of reliable pairs, depending on the level of formal for your outfit. You’ll be strutting your stuff with an even bigger smile on your face if the right pair of shoes are on your feet.

More than anything else, take this advice and figure out how to apply it to yourself and your own fashion. While reading tips in a magazine or getting advice from a trusted friend is great, the most important voice you have when it comes to your own look is yourself. Only you know what’s right, or what’s going to make you feel confident and powerful. Even with basic elements of style, what really brings someone’s aesthetic all together is their own sense of self, so don’t get rid of yourself when looking for a good outfit or look. It’s important to find a way to be stylish while still being yourself, as the people who turn the most heads manage to stay unique.

Real style is finding a way to express your personality and flatter your body type all at the same time.