While fashion is supposed to be something we have fun with, picking pieces that are both on-trend and figure-flattering can be a daunting task when there’s so much choice on offer.
To help you out, we’ve created a list of golden style rules that every woman should follow.
TIP 1 – A stitch in time…
Pictures: iStock.
Picture the scene: You slept through your alarm and are going to be late for work unless you leave the house in the next ten minutes. You pull on your trusty scoop-neck midi but the structured blazer you planned to wear it with is nowhere to be seen.
Aware that you’re at risk of making your boss angry, you grab the nearest jacket – only to realise that it doesn’t work with the rest of your ensemble when you’ve already left the house.
A little bit of organisation is all you need to stop this stressful scenario from occurring. Spend a quiet Sunday sorting through your clothes while watching old movies.
This can be as simple as separating your workwear and weekend attire or hanging your coats and going out dresses in a designated section in your wardrobe.
TIP 2 – It’s in the jeans
Scouring stores for jeans that suit your shape can be a demanding task. But it really is worth persevering, regardless of whether you’re after a baggy boyfriend cut or traditional straight-legged style.
You might have to try on what seems like a hundred pairs but the right ones will provide a base for so many looks – think soft sweaters and ankle boots at the weekend or starched shirts and heels in the office.
TIP 3 – Go for the classic
While we’d all love to have a walk-in wardrobe with endless rails of pricey clothes and accessories, we have to be realistic enough to know that this is unlikely to happen unless we wake up tomorrow as Jennifer Aniston.
Our solution? Spend more on items you know won’t date to ensure your outfit always looks en pointe. For instance, a well-cut leather jacket or designer tote can take budget buys from retail to designer-look in seconds.
TIP 4 – Add a pop
Although we’re aware that black is a slimming shade, don’t allow this to stop you embracing pieces in brighter shades. While we’re not asking you to swap your dark skinnies for a fuchsia pair, a pop of colour here and there can totally transform an outfit.
Get started by snapping up smaller items such as a bold belt, bag or heels.
TIP 5 – Boost your confidence
You don’t want to be caught unprepared in an unexpected downpour or feel flustered when you’re invited to a last-minute gathering, do you?
A speedy slick of lipstick or a spritz of fragrance can provide a quick confidence boost.
TIP 6 – Make amendments
It’s no secret that clothes that are tailored to fit your proportions perfectly look far better than ones that aren’t. A tailor can easily add darts to shirts and dresses to highlight your waist or take a couple of inches off the bottom of your trousers to make them the correct length.
So the next time you dismiss an outfit in the changing room because it’s a little too big around the middle, ask yourself whether it could be amended to flatter your figure.
TIP 7 – Handle with care
This might seem obvious but a quick look at a label will stop you from spoiling your delicate new silk blouse that clearly states it’s ‘dry-clean only’.
TIP 8 – Comfort is king
Have you ever purchased heels so high that you’re too scared to wear in case you topple over? We have. While towering stilettos possess the power to elongate your legs, there’s no point buying a pair you know will never see the outside of your house.
Courts, wedges and block-heeled shoes can be just chic as sky-high spiked styles. Flats including loafers, ballerina pumps and brogues are another great alternative that can be styled up for a night out.
TIP 9 – Finishing touches
A statement necklace will swiftly take a look from day to night, while a well-placed cuff is great tactic for slimming arms. A hat can just as easily add a little extra oomph to an outfit.
But accessories also have another benefit: They’re a great way to demonstrate your knowledge of seasonal looks and trends without having to splash out whole new wardrobe.
TIP 10 – Get your uniform
Curious to know why some celebrities feature more heavily on best-dressed lists than others? It’s simple – they’ve spent time honing their own ‘uniform’.
A get-up that draws attention to her trim waist, Jessica Alba’s often seen wearing crop tops with A-line midi skirts on the red carpet, while busy working mum Reese Witherspoon is regularly snapped rocking skinnies with a tailored jacket and heels as she dashes between meetings.
And rarely pictured in anything other than body-hugging fishtail creations at premieres and awards ceremonies, Sofia Vergara is another A-lister who’s worked out her own fail-safe fashion formula.
