Unless someone else chooses your clothes for you, you are your own fashion designer and stylist. You’re in charge of making important and sometimes tough decisions about what goes in and out of your closet and which components will make up your outfits for the day.
Being your own stylist can be a lot of fun, especially since there’s no pressure to dress anyone but yourself. All the same, it can also be a chore on days when you have no idea what to wear.
When the going gets tough, how about getting inspired by some words of wisdom from the very people who made stellar careers out of influencing the ebb and flow of fashion trends? Below are some styling tips from fashion designers that can help you get through this tough situation and see yourself and your wardrobe in a new light:
“Buy less, choose well, make it last.”
– Vivienne Westwood
English fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, one of the architects of the 1970s punk fashion movement, offered this advice to people who were still in the process of putting their wardrobe together. The same rings true today: you’ll have an easier time choosing what clothes to wear if, in the first place, your wardrobe already consists of clothes that are chosen well.
Aside from evaluating a prospective purchase’s inherent qualities, think of how the piece will fit with the rest of the items in your wardrobe. Understanding its place in your collection will ensure that you’ll be able to use it on its own and in combination with your other clothes for as long as possible.
“I wanted to dress the woman who lives and works, not the woman in a painting.”
– Giorgio Armani
Italian designer and red carpet fashion mogul Giorgio Armani is well known for marrying luxury with practicality. His words can be a good starting point if you want to achieve both qualities in your day-to-day style.
If you can’t decide what to wear, think about your activities for the day and the clothes that are best suited for such tasks. For workouts, for example, consider wearing leggings for women and a stretchy, supportive top that will match your level of activity. After narrowing down the type of clothes that will let you move the way you want to, you can then pick the workout clothes that best reflect your mood and self-image for the day.
“Style is something each of us already has, all we need to do is find it.” – Diane von Furstenberg
Early on in her career, Belgian fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg popularized the wrap dress and turned it into an iconic piece of women’s clothing. Wrap dresses have been around for a long time and can be traced all the way back to the Shang dynasty. However, Furstenberg invented her own interpretation of this style and ran away with it.
Finding your own style can be a lengthy process, but it’s something that you can work on every day. By trying something new, which can be as simple as tying the sash of your wrap dress in a different way, you can discover what works best for you and what doesn’t. There’s no right or wrong answer for what someone’s personal style is supposed to be like and what will ultimately look good on them, and that’s precisely where the joy of fashion lies.
“Fashion should be a form of escapism, and not a form of imprisonment.”
– Alexander McQueen
Consider fashion trends as guidelines, not rules. If you’re nervous about breaking the rules a little bit to express yourself, think back on these words from British fashion designer Alexander McQueen.
Fashion rules are there for a good reason, and following them has helped a lot of people look and feel good. That said, they don’t exist to impose limits on how you express yourself. Just because everyone’s into a particular trend doesn’t mean that you have to follow it wholesale. Don’t be afraid to push the boundaries, even by just a little. Feel free to carry a style that is truly your own, and don’t hesitate to add your own spin to your outfits.
“The dress must follow the body of a woman, not the body following the shape of the dress.”
– Hubert de Givenchy
The human body changes naturally with age and major life events, and the way you style yourself should account for that. Just like the French fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy, remember that clothes are made for the body and not the other way around. Embrace your changing body by styling it in such a way that honors its many different capabilities, transformations, and possibilities.
“I want people to see the dress, but focus on the woman.”
– Vera Wang
American fashion designer Vera Wang, who initially made a name for herself by working on bridal dresses, offered these choice words on the importance of wearing your clothes and not having your clothes wear you. Take note that your clothes are a reflection of how you see yourself and how you want others to see you. If you want to seem confident, charming, and memorable, you need to feel and believe these things yourself, and your selection of clothes should help you convey these feelings.
When dressing up feels like a chore, look to the masters for inspiration. Whether it’s for a formal event or something as simple as an outing with friends, these tips can help you come up with an outfit that reflects your style and encourages you to be your truest, happiest, and most comfortable self.
