10 Style Tips Every Woman Should Know
The style tips that make all the difference to your look. From jean shopping to keeping your closet tidy, we share our top fashion tips...
Although 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.
Want to take stress out of your Monday to Friday morning routine? Spend a few hours compartmentalising your clothes on a rainy Sunday so that you know exactly where all of your office outfits are.
That way you'll avoid turning up for an important client breakfast wearing separates that just don't work together.
Another of our tips? Don't shy away from wearing bold colours. A well-placed pop of pink, green or blue can totally perk up a plain outfit.
Opt for an eye-catching belt, necklace or scarf if you're not ready to purchase a coat in a primary shade.
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Have you ever wondered why celebrities like Reese Witherspon and Helen Mirren never seem to get it wrong whether they're walking the red carpet at a glitzy awards ceremony or dashing between meetings?
They know the importance of one of our other style rules; develop your own uniform. Shopping trips will be so much more satisfying (and successful) once you've identified the key pieces that suit your shape and personality.
Our carefully crafted list of style rules to follow will also outline the importance of checking labels for washing instructions, explain why it's good to have a skilled seamstress on speed dial and will discuss why you should never buy sky-high shoes that you can't walk in.
We'll even tell you why it's worth trying on a hundred different styles of jeans before purchasing a single pair.
Keep on reading to find out what else we cover in our list of style rules to live by...
Know what you have and where it is
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 than 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're on already on the train. A little bit of organisation is all you need to stop this stressful scenario from occurring. Spend a quite Sunday sorting through your clothes while watching old films. 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.
Spend time looking for the right pair of jeans
Scouring stores for jeans that suit your shape can be an arduous 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.
Don't be scared to experiment with colour
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.
Get to know a seamstress
It's no secret that clothes that are tailored to fit your proportions perfectly look far better than ones aren't. A seamstress 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.
Always have an umbrella, perfume and a great lipstick
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.
Pay attention to washing instructions
This might seem obvious but a quick look at a label will stop you from spoiling your delicate new silk blouse that clearly states its dry-clean only.
Don't buy shoes you can't walk in
Have you ever purchased heels so high that you're too scared to wear incase 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 see 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.
Accessories are your best friend
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.
Find your own signature style - and stick to it
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 full skirts that flatter her tiny waist is fashion favourite Helen Mirren. She's even admitted to twirling on the red carpet because it makes her waist look even smaller - canny!
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