By Robert Ruiz
Have you ever looked at someone you know and wondered how they always seem to look more elegant than everybody else around them? Everybody knows a woman who looks fabulous even in the most casual outfit, or a man who is always immaculately styled. How do they pull off that effortless style? You might think that they look good because they invested in designer clothes, but that's not necessarily true. The secret to looking good is knowing what suits you, and dressing for the occasion. Here are some of the secrets to looking stylish in whatever you wear:
Know Your Body Type
If you are candid with yourself about what your reflection shows you, it is much easier to buy clothing that flatters the shape of your body. For instance, suppose you are a woman with broad shoulders and slim hips. If you were a female with such a body type, you might want to choose clothing that emphasizes your hips while drawing the eye away from your broad shoulders.
Similarly, a woman with a more curvaceous body and rounder tummy might feel more comfortable in a dress with an empire waist, which fits closely under the bust before flaring out at the waist and hips. This would draw the eye to the fuller bust while taking the focus away from the thicker waistline.
Always consider what parts of your body you wish to accentuate when purchasing clothes. Also, think about the parts of your body you would rather people didn't look at. Doing this will ensure that you wear clothes that suit your body type.
Think About Your Skin Tone and Coloring
The colors and patterns you choose to wear can look good or bad, depending on your skin tone. As a general rule of thumb, people with paler skin tones look best in more muted colors such as navy blue, grass green, pink, peach, beige, and even brown. People with darker skin tones look better in vivid colors such as white, red, purple, bright green, and yellow. They also suit most pastel shades. Almost everybody looks good in black. However, black is also a color that should be mixed with other shades to brighten your outfit up just a little.
If you are unsure about what colors suit you, pay attention to what people around you say. If someone says you look good when you happen to be wearing blue, listen to them. Buy clothing that is blue more often. Similarly, if someone tells you that your gray sweater makes you look pale and washed-out, it might be a color you should avoid from now on when shopping for clothes.
Take Your Measurements
Clothes that are too big for you are unflattering. The same thing is true about clothing that fits too tightly. Clothing that fits well does not hang off your body, but at the same time, it allows you to move freely and without constraint.
If you want clothing that fits you well, you will need to know your measurements. You can take your measurements with a tape measure and write them down. You will want to measure your head circumference, neck, upper arm, bust or chest, waistline, hips (for females), and inseam, which measures the distance from your crotch to your lower ankle. Your measurements may change over time, so you may want to record some of them again if you've lost or gained weight.
Buy The Correct Clothes Size
Some people like to go out and purchase clothes that they think will fit a few months from now, once they have managed to shift a few more pounds. This is a mistake. It is better to buy clothes that fit now and use them rather than wasting money on clothes that may simply end up collecting dust in the back of your closet. Similarly, if you find some of your clothes now fit too loosely, you will need to buy new ones. You can take any clothing that doesn't fit but is still in good condition to charity stores, or give them to people you know who might appreciate them.
Stick To Your Brand
Finding a brand of clothing that generally suits you can help when it comes to choosing outfits that look great. Different brands have different sizing for each 'standard size'. If you are lucky enough to find a brand you know looks good on you, you should stick to it wherever possible. Try not to mix and match clothing items from different brands unless you are completely sure they look good together. It is better to buy the shirt that goes with the pants from the same brand if you can.
Have you ever looked at someone you know and wondered how they always seem to look more elegant than everybody else around them? Everybody knows a woman who looks fabulous even in the most casual outfit, or a man who is always immaculately styled. How do they pull off that effortless style? You might think that they look good because they invested in designer clothes, but that's not necessarily true. The secret to looking good is knowing what suits you, and dressing for the occasion. Here are some of the secrets to looking stylish in whatever you wear:
Know Your Body Type
If you are candid with yourself about what your reflection shows you, it is much easier to buy clothing that flatters the shape of your body. For instance, suppose you are a woman with broad shoulders and slim hips. If you were a female with such a body type, you might want to choose clothing that emphasizes your hips while drawing the eye away from your broad shoulders.
Similarly, a woman with a more curvaceous body and rounder tummy might feel more comfortable in a dress with an empire waist, which fits closely under the bust before flaring out at the waist and hips. This would draw the eye to the fuller bust while taking the focus away from the thicker waistline.
Always consider what parts of your body you wish to accentuate when purchasing clothes. Also, think about the parts of your body you would rather people didn't look at. Doing this will ensure that you wear clothes that suit your body type.
Think About Your Skin Tone and Coloring
The colors and patterns you choose to wear can look good or bad, depending on your skin tone. As a general rule of thumb, people with paler skin tones look best in more muted colors such as navy blue, grass green, pink, peach, beige, and even brown. People with darker skin tones look better in vivid colors such as white, red, purple, bright green, and yellow. They also suit most pastel shades. Almost everybody looks good in black. However, black is also a color that should be mixed with other shades to brighten your outfit up just a little.
If you are unsure about what colors suit you, pay attention to what people around you say. If someone says you look good when you happen to be wearing blue, listen to them. Buy clothing that is blue more often. Similarly, if someone tells you that your gray sweater makes you look pale and washed-out, it might be a color you should avoid from now on when shopping for clothes.
Take Your Measurements
Clothes that are too big for you are unflattering. The same thing is true about clothing that fits too tightly. Clothing that fits well does not hang off your body, but at the same time, it allows you to move freely and without constraint.
If you want clothing that fits you well, you will need to know your measurements. You can take your measurements with a tape measure and write them down. You will want to measure your head circumference, neck, upper arm, bust or chest, waistline, hips (for females), and inseam, which measures the distance from your crotch to your lower ankle. Your measurements may change over time, so you may want to record some of them again if you've lost or gained weight.
Buy The Correct Clothes Size
Some people like to go out and purchase clothes that they think will fit a few months from now, once they have managed to shift a few more pounds. This is a mistake. It is better to buy clothes that fit now and use them rather than wasting money on clothes that may simply end up collecting dust in the back of your closet. Similarly, if you find some of your clothes now fit too loosely, you will need to buy new ones. You can take any clothing that doesn't fit but is still in good condition to charity stores, or give them to people you know who might appreciate them.
Stick To Your Brand
Finding a brand of clothing that generally suits you can help when it comes to choosing outfits that look great. Different brands have different sizing for each 'standard size'. If you are lucky enough to find a brand you know looks good on you, you should stick to it wherever possible. Try not to mix and match clothing items from different brands unless you are completely sure they look good together. It is better to buy the shirt that goes with the pants from the same brand if you can.
Don't Be a Slave to Trends
Trends come and go. There will be some trends that you will suit. There will also be trends that don't look the best on you because they are not meant for your body type. Skinny jeans, for example, are named as they are for a reason. In the same way, boob tube style tops require a bust to fill them. Following trends that suit your body type is fine. Just avoid buying clothes that won't flatter you just because everybody else is wearing them.
Dress For the Occasion
Looking good in your clothes is also about considering your environment before you go somewhere. It would be a mistake to turn up to a house in the muddy countryside wearing platform shoes and a white halter neck dress, for example. Similarly, you wouldn't turn up to a formal dinner event wearing a tracksuit that is designed for the gym. Always consider where you will be going, and what the official or unofficial dress code might be, when you are deciding on what to wear.
Be Confident
Looking good in your clothes is ultimately about more than making sensible purchases. You will suit your clothes more if you have good posture. Your posture will improve naturally if you believe in yourself and hold your head up high. Act as though the outfit you are wearing today was made for you alone, even if you have to fake it until you make it.
No False Promises
Making use of the tips offered in this article isn't going to turn you into a supermodel unless you already happen to look like one. However, trying out a few of the suggestions will make you look better in your clothes and feel more self-assured. Everybody deserves to look and feel good in the clothes that they are wearing. What's more, the tips you have read here today might just make your next clothes shopping experience more positive and enjoyable.
Robert Ruiz runs and owns Under Construction Fitness Apparel, Eclectic Urban Wear, Sensual Ambition, Host of I Am Cancelled Podcast, Former Host of Urban Thoughts Podcast, High management positions in the fitness industry for over 15 years, former owner of Gate Keepers Answering Service, Former owner of www.sportsjunkiecenter.com and more......