As someone who truly enjoys the art of getting dressed, I’ve realized that not everyone shares that enjoyment and can sometimes feel frustrated by putting together an outfit. This post is meant to be a guide to help you with understanding the basics of getting dressed in hopes that as you continue to apply these steps, it’ll become easier (and fun!).
Are you going for chill/casual, edgy, feminine/girly? A combination of some (or all) of these elements? Understanding the vibe you’re wanting your outfit to give off is the first step in making it easier to put together your look. Instead of trying to throw pieces together from what you have in your wardrobe, you already have somewhat of a style direction which will allow you to narrow down your search.
In some cases you may have multiple focal pieces. But in others, you may just have one. Is the attention on the top, bottom, the dress, maybe the shoes or even the purse? This identification helps to eliminate getting overwhelmed too quickly with trying to figure out every item you’re wearing at the same time.
Now this is where you will begin to round out your look. If the focal piece was the top, you can start figuring out what bottom you want to go with that fits your Step 1. Don’t be afraid to take your time with this step (I like to plan my outfits the day before if I know I will be strapped for time the following day).
Try different things on to get a better understanding of your likes and dislikes when it comes to clothing. It’s something that I still give myself the freedom to do even as someone who dresses up frequently. I’ll experiment and usually I know when I absolutely love something, or if I feel like it’s “meh” for me.
Probably my favorite steps in this entire breakdown. I always tell people to never underestimate the power that accessories play in your look. They can make an outfit go from drab to fab like I documented in this TikTok video. Accessories are where you can really add a lot of character to an otherwise simple and basic look. Similar to step 3, you want to play around with different accessories styles (minimal vs. loud jewelry), belts, scarves, headbands, etc. All these different pieces can really amplify a look and can even be the focus of your look if you choose!
I have an undying love for shoes, so this is probably my favorite step out of them all. Similar to accessories, your shoes can really help to round out your entire look. I like to think of shoes as icing on a delicious baked cake — it literally just makes it better!
For the most part, the type of shoe you wear can determine the vibe (see how we brought back step 1) of your look. For example, a simple thong heeled sandal looks amazing paired with a wide leg jean, a fitted tank, and an oversized blazer. But so does a pair of ankle boots, and so do sneakers! Each of these shoe pairings sparks a different image in your mind about where you might be going, right?
You spent all that time putting your look together…OWN IT! Be confident in knowing that what you put together looks good. Honestly when you look good, you feel good. And when you feel good, no one can tell you otherwise.
I hope this step by step guide on putting together an outfit is helpful! Fashion is meant to be enjoyed, so have fun with it!
Until next time…
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