Great Style - It’s in the details
By Bridgette Raes
This morning I was on the subway and as usual, I was checking out my fellow subway riders to see what they were wearing. I am often interested in what makes people choose what to wear on any given day. Sometimes I like what people have chosen to wear and other times; well, I am not always so inspired. Yes, I have said it before, I am always working.
One thing I have noticed is that the difference between someone having great style and not-so-great style is in the details of their outfit. It really is those small defining characteristics that so heavily influence how we personify our individuality.
The truth is that few of us think about the details. In most cases, if we can get ourselves out the door with matching socks and a top that doesn’t have a stain on it we consider it a good day clothing-wise. To be burdened with thinking about the finer details of an outfit can seem like the biggest hassle to take into consideration. However, there is not a single person out there who doesn’t want to feel confident that they look good. So while it may seem like a pain to think about the finer details of an outfit, this truly is, in most cases, all it takes to go from dull to diva.
#1 - How to add some pizzazz
Remember that carelessly throwing on a shirt and a pair of pants does not an outfit full of pizzazz make; at this point you have merely set the foundation. What makes an outfit look great is how you “finish the look.” So how do you do this? The next time you get dressed by simply throwing on a pair of pants and a top, look in the mirror at your outfit and identify the places where you can add some pop.
Start from your head and work downward. Look at your neck area. Can you add a colorful necklace? If not, will an eye-catching pair of earrings work instead? Move down to your chest area, will a pin or brooch do the trick? Looking at your waist, do your pants have belt loops where you can add a pop color belt or scarf at your waist? Next look at your wrists, do you have a fun bracelet that works with the outfit? Look at your feet, would a great pair of signature shoes work better than the boring pair you normally wear? Lastly, would a more eye-catching handbag really pull this outfit together?
Keep in mind that you don’t want to accessorize all of these points at the same time, but these are the points where you should be looking to add some excitement. If you wear a stunning pair of statement earrings then you wouldn’t add a novelty brooch or eye-catching necklace, because that is just too much pizzazz in one general area. You want to split up your accent points, because if they are too clustered up it can become distracting.
#2 - What is your signature?
A great way to add pizzazz to your wardrobe is to find your signature element. When trying this make sure it enhances you, and doesn’t become a conscious practice immersed in effort. If you are pulling an outfit together and then have to work to force your signature statement into your outfit whether it works or not, then you are on the road to disaster.
I have a client who is known for the great funky glasses that she changes based on her outfit choice for the day. Another client of mine is known for her handbags. I don’t think I have ever seen her with the same handbag twice. These signature statements work for both of these clients because my glasses client chooses glasses styles that work with her overall look for the day. Her glasses are an extension of her total look and as a result, they enhance what she is wearing vs. being a glaring blemish that overshadows everything else. The same is true for my handbag client, who has a personal affinity for handbags. When she chooses a handbag, she makes sure that it compliments her overall outfit.
Always remember, the signature statement of your style (the thing that you want to become known for) should always enhance your overall style not be something that overshadows everything else. Your signature element should never look forced.
#3 - Duplicate yourself
Another way to add pizzazz to your wardrobe in a way that enhances you is to duplicate yourself. What this means is to find an element of your physical characteristics that you really like, and find a way to duplicate this in your wardrobe. For example, you may be someone who has a truly distinct eye color. Is there a way that you can find colors in the way of accessories or clothing that duplicates that particular color, thereby enhancing a physical attribute that you really like? Or do you have really curly, full hair that you would like to enhance? A suggestion would be to choose clothing that is more textured or with more surface interest, thereby enhancing your signature curls.
Find a part of your physical self that you really love, and think of a way that you can duplicate it in your wardrobe.
#4 - Make it easy
Many of my clients don’t accessorize because they don’t know how, and they feel that adding accessories to their wardrobe introduces an element that will take extra time. Accessorizing does not have to be a hard task; actually, it is quite easy.
To figure out what accessories you need in your wardrobe, look at the clothing in your closet and identify the colors that you wear frequently. For example, I recently worked with a client who had a lot of green and pink shades in her wardrobe. While there were other hues in her closet, these were the two main colors. She was very daunted by buying accessories, so I suggested that she look for jewelry in different shades of greens and pinks. In addition to those colors I suggested that she also buy some jewelry in natural tones because she had a lot of shades of brown as her neutral base.
Having some clear direction is going to make shopping for accessories easier. The other thing about accessories is that you don’t need many. You can repeat accessories quite often, so your collection doesn’t have to be large at all. It will be much easier to accessorize if you have a few things in the right color palette. When this is the case you simply grab the right accessory colors for the outfit that you are wearing, and if you buy accessories based on your wardrobe colors, this should be an easy task.
#5 - Leave a lasting impression
Your ultimate goal when getting dressed is to be memorable — for all the right reasons. Everything that you choose when accessorizing should be an enhancement, not a detractor. The best way to know if you are enhancing is if people frequently tell you that you look good, rather than telling you how much they like your top, or shoes, or any other article you are wearing. Sure, it is nice to get a compliment on a great pair of shoes or a great necklace. But if people too frequently point out your clothing or accessory choices vs. noticing and commenting on your overall look, it may be worth asking whether it is you or your clothing that is making more of a statement.
(c) 2005 Bridgette Raes Style Group
Signup for our weekly newsletter where we not only offer weekly style article written by Bridgette Raes, but also include Style Q&A, Upcoming events, advice from our resident "What To Do Girl", organizing, beauty and financial tips by visiting http://www.bridgetteraes.com/
This morning I was on the subway and as usual, I was checking out my fellow subway riders to see what they were wearing. I am often interested in what makes people choose what to wear on any given day. Sometimes I like what people have chosen to wear and other times; well, I am not always so inspired. Yes, I have said it before, I am always working.
One thing I have noticed is that the difference between someone having great style and not-so-great style is in the details of their outfit. It really is those small defining characteristics that so heavily influence how we personify our individuality.
The truth is that few of us think about the details. In most cases, if we can get ourselves out the door with matching socks and a top that doesn’t have a stain on it we consider it a good day clothing-wise. To be burdened with thinking about the finer details of an outfit can seem like the biggest hassle to take into consideration. However, there is not a single person out there who doesn’t want to feel confident that they look good. So while it may seem like a pain to think about the finer details of an outfit, this truly is, in most cases, all it takes to go from dull to diva.
#1 - How to add some pizzazz
Remember that carelessly throwing on a shirt and a pair of pants does not an outfit full of pizzazz make; at this point you have merely set the foundation. What makes an outfit look great is how you “finish the look.” So how do you do this? The next time you get dressed by simply throwing on a pair of pants and a top, look in the mirror at your outfit and identify the places where you can add some pop.
Start from your head and work downward. Look at your neck area. Can you add a colorful necklace? If not, will an eye-catching pair of earrings work instead? Move down to your chest area, will a pin or brooch do the trick? Looking at your waist, do your pants have belt loops where you can add a pop color belt or scarf at your waist? Next look at your wrists, do you have a fun bracelet that works with the outfit? Look at your feet, would a great pair of signature shoes work better than the boring pair you normally wear? Lastly, would a more eye-catching handbag really pull this outfit together?
Keep in mind that you don’t want to accessorize all of these points at the same time, but these are the points where you should be looking to add some excitement. If you wear a stunning pair of statement earrings then you wouldn’t add a novelty brooch or eye-catching necklace, because that is just too much pizzazz in one general area. You want to split up your accent points, because if they are too clustered up it can become distracting.
#2 - What is your signature?
A great way to add pizzazz to your wardrobe is to find your signature element. When trying this make sure it enhances you, and doesn’t become a conscious practice immersed in effort. If you are pulling an outfit together and then have to work to force your signature statement into your outfit whether it works or not, then you are on the road to disaster.
I have a client who is known for the great funky glasses that she changes based on her outfit choice for the day. Another client of mine is known for her handbags. I don’t think I have ever seen her with the same handbag twice. These signature statements work for both of these clients because my glasses client chooses glasses styles that work with her overall look for the day. Her glasses are an extension of her total look and as a result, they enhance what she is wearing vs. being a glaring blemish that overshadows everything else. The same is true for my handbag client, who has a personal affinity for handbags. When she chooses a handbag, she makes sure that it compliments her overall outfit.
Always remember, the signature statement of your style (the thing that you want to become known for) should always enhance your overall style not be something that overshadows everything else. Your signature element should never look forced.
#3 - Duplicate yourself
Another way to add pizzazz to your wardrobe in a way that enhances you is to duplicate yourself. What this means is to find an element of your physical characteristics that you really like, and find a way to duplicate this in your wardrobe. For example, you may be someone who has a truly distinct eye color. Is there a way that you can find colors in the way of accessories or clothing that duplicates that particular color, thereby enhancing a physical attribute that you really like? Or do you have really curly, full hair that you would like to enhance? A suggestion would be to choose clothing that is more textured or with more surface interest, thereby enhancing your signature curls.
Find a part of your physical self that you really love, and think of a way that you can duplicate it in your wardrobe.
#4 - Make it easy
Many of my clients don’t accessorize because they don’t know how, and they feel that adding accessories to their wardrobe introduces an element that will take extra time. Accessorizing does not have to be a hard task; actually, it is quite easy.
To figure out what accessories you need in your wardrobe, look at the clothing in your closet and identify the colors that you wear frequently. For example, I recently worked with a client who had a lot of green and pink shades in her wardrobe. While there were other hues in her closet, these were the two main colors. She was very daunted by buying accessories, so I suggested that she look for jewelry in different shades of greens and pinks. In addition to those colors I suggested that she also buy some jewelry in natural tones because she had a lot of shades of brown as her neutral base.
Having some clear direction is going to make shopping for accessories easier. The other thing about accessories is that you don’t need many. You can repeat accessories quite often, so your collection doesn’t have to be large at all. It will be much easier to accessorize if you have a few things in the right color palette. When this is the case you simply grab the right accessory colors for the outfit that you are wearing, and if you buy accessories based on your wardrobe colors, this should be an easy task.
#5 - Leave a lasting impression
Your ultimate goal when getting dressed is to be memorable — for all the right reasons. Everything that you choose when accessorizing should be an enhancement, not a detractor. The best way to know if you are enhancing is if people frequently tell you that you look good, rather than telling you how much they like your top, or shoes, or any other article you are wearing. Sure, it is nice to get a compliment on a great pair of shoes or a great necklace. But if people too frequently point out your clothing or accessory choices vs. noticing and commenting on your overall look, it may be worth asking whether it is you or your clothing that is making more of a statement.
(c) 2005 Bridgette Raes Style Group
Signup for our weekly newsletter where we not only offer weekly style article written by Bridgette Raes, but also include Style Q&A, Upcoming events, advice from our resident "What To Do Girl", organizing, beauty and financial tips by visiting http://www.bridgetteraes.com/
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