How to Be Stylish

Download Article

Explore this Article

IN THIS ARTICLE

1 Wear clothes that flatter your body type.

2 Stick to classic cuts.

3 Choose muted, neutral colors and bold accents.

4 Avoid busy prints and textures.

5 Buy strategically.

6 Create an interchangeable collection.

7 Take care of your clothes.

8 Get items tailored.

9 Keep it simple

10 Choose an outfit appropriate for the occasion.

11 Emphasize the accessories.

12 Don’t neglect the hair.

13 Use minimal makeup.

14 Keep lines and texture to a minimum.

15 Go for clean silhouettes and minimal bulk.

16 Add your favorite fragrance.

17 Have a signature style.

18 Fit your look to you.

19 Be confident.

20 Walk gracefully.

+ Show 17 more...

- Show less...

Other Sections

Comments

Expert Q&A

Tips and Warnings

Related Articles

References

Article Summary

Co-authored by Sheila A. Anderson and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: October 24, 2024 Fact Checked

Download Article

If shopping for new clothes and putting together stylish outfits always feels like a struggle, you’re definitely not alone. Being fashionable can feel so complicated sometimes, but it doesn’t have to be! There are actually some simple, basic steps you can take to transform your wardrobe and personal style so you look effortlessly stylish every day. Check out the tips we’ve put together below to learn how you can get started.

Steps

1

Wear clothes that flatter your body type.

Download Article

1. When your clothes fit well, you'll instantly look put-together. The first thing to do to look effortlessly stylish is to make sure that you’re wearing clothes that you feel are good for your body type. Since effortless style is supposed to be subtle, you’ll need well fitting clothes in order to get the elegant, expensive, stylish look from your clothing. You may want garments that make you look thinner and the perfect height, with everything in proportion.
Advertisement

2

Stick to classic cuts.

Download Article

1. Effortless style is mainly based around classic looks. Dressing for current trends just shows that you put way too much thought into that outfit and that you’ve been following fashion news like a broker watching stocks. Choose classic styles in classic cuts for a more effortless look that looks good for years.

   • This means women should beware of floor length casual dresses in favor of knee-length, for example, while men should shy away from skinny-legged suit trousers in favor of something more loose-fitting.
   • Trends should only take up about 20% of your wardrobe. Your primary investment should be buying the best quality you can afford.

3

Choose muted, neutral colors and bold accents.

Download Article

1. Neutral colors pretty much never go out of style. What colors are popular and what colors are considered absolutely hideous is very dependent on time and place. Just look at your mom’s clothes from the 1970s, for example. In order to look effortlessly stylish, you’re going to want a more timeless look, which means sticking to more muted and neutral colors. This can, however, be broken up with bold accent colors, especially on accessories.

   • Muted colors include tan, black, white, denim/navy blue, and gray.
   • Good accent colors include most shades of red, many shades of blue, plum/eggplant purple, golden yellow (like rubber ducks or tulips), and emerald green.
   • Be careful of certain colors. Be wary of other greens and yellows, and generally avoid oranges, as these colors are very prone to going in and out of fashion, but, if you think they are stylish, go for it.
   

   Brystal C.

   May 13, 2023

   "This article explained some great tips! A really good tip that I learned is to just be you. You are the one who..." more

   Rated this article:
Advertisement

4

Avoid busy prints and textures.

Download Article

1. Busy prints and textures can quickly make an outfit look dated and unstylish. Trends like fuzzy/fluffy/feathered fabric tend to be in fashion only for a season or a year at most. Next year it will be another pattern, so why bother? Look effortlessly stylish by keeping your clothes in style across decades, not months.
   EXPERT TIP

   

   Alena Le Blanc

   Personal Stylist

   Alena Le Blanc is the Personal Stylist and the Founder of Le Blanc Label. Based in San Francisco, California, Le Blanc Label is the leading personal stylist brand for sustainable style transformations. Alena and her team specialize in seasonal wardrobe refreshes, closet edits, styling for special events, travel, photoshoots, and general personal needs. Alena has been featured in podcasts including EMPOWERED BY WMN, I Am Fearless, and Mind Power Meets Mystic. Alena received her BFA in Fashion and Apparel Design from the Academy of Art University.

   

   Alena Le Blanc
   Personal Stylist

   "Quiet Luxury" is a fashion trend that values quality and craftsmanship over flashy designs. The trend emphasizes minimalism and timeless pieces of the highest quality. Examples of quiet luxury include a well-made cashmere sweater, a perfectly tailored blazer, or a simple white cotton shirt.

5

Buy strategically.

Download Article

1. To look really stylish, you want your clothes to look expensive. You can make cheap clothes look expensive but investing in some actually expensive items might be a good idea. A few choice pieces of hard-to-fake luxury items, such as a nice sweater or wool coat, can really take your wardrobe up a notch. Having a limited number of nicer items is preferable to having a large number of very cheap-looking items.
Advertisement

6

Create an interchangeable collection.

Download Article

1. A mix-and-match wardrobe gives you plenty of outfit options. If you really want to put the effortless into effortless style, you’ll want a wardrobe where nearly all of the pieces match with each other. This will let you get dressed based on comfort, style preference, or weather conditions, instead of being limited by color or style combinations.

   • Use a single clothing style (vintage, modern, etc.) and the use a single color palette (this should be helped if you followed our advice to use muted colors with limited bold accents).

7

Take care of your clothes.

Download Article

1. Looking stylish means having clothes that look well maintained. No stains, no holes, no loose threads, no wrinkles. If you want your clothes to look maintained, then the best way to do that is to maintain them! Keep your clothes clean, fold and store them correctly, and do other basic maintenance as the needs arise (e.g. sewing minor holes).
Advertisement

8

Get items tailored.

Download Article

1. Part of the reason models and famous people look so stylish is because their clothes fit their bodies perfectly. How do you get clothes to fit perfectly? Get them tailored, of course! Find a reliable tailor in your area to alter your clothes so that they are perfect for your body. Even some department stores will do this for you.

   • It’s not as expensive as it sounds. Tailoring a shirt often costs as little as $10-20, pants around $30-40.
   • It may seem like a silly added expense, but having clothes tailored once and keeping them maintained will help you look amazing for the next ten years. It’s a worthy investment.

9

Keep it simple

Download Article

1. Effortless style is all about looking like you put in no effort. Use a limited number of clothing and accessory pieces. This is especially important when it comes to accessories.

   • For example, don’t wear a scarf and bangles and big earrings and a hat. Try to limit yourself to two noticeable/accent accessories.
Advertisement

10

Choose an outfit appropriate for the occasion.

Download Article

1. You'll look like you fit right in when you dress for the occasion. Over-dressing is a sure sign that you put way too much thought and effort into how you’re dressed. Don’t wear a fancy dress for grocery shopping, and don’t wear a long gown when a cocktail dress will do, for example.

11

Emphasize the accessories.

Download Article

1. Accessories add personality and visual interest to spice up an outfit. Since your clothes themselves should generally be in muted, neutral colors, you’ll want to make your accessories your accent pieces. These should draw attention and look extra cool. It is easier to have accessories that conform to the latest fashions and trends, so don’t worry about that as much (in this area, it’s usually okay).

   • For example, you could pair a floppy hat and patterned fashion scarf with a brown jacket, blue tee, white skinny jeans, and brown boots.
   • Another example would be to wear a black dress and pair it with red earrings and a bracelet.
   • Just make sure you keep your color palette across the whole outfit. Accent accessories colors should generally be the same or compliment each other.
Advertisement

12

Don’t neglect the hair.

Download Article

1. You’ll want your hair to be stylish too. Keep it in a simple style or carefully created “tousled” look, but make sure that you are in fact creating the look. Your hair should look nice, even if it doesn’t look like you spent an hour getting it just right.

   • Avoid products to achieve a more natural look associated with effortless style. This means no gel or hairspray!
   • It is best to consider updating your hairstyle annually. The hairstyle change can be as simple as switching up the part to something more drastic, like completely changing the hair color or haircut.

13

Use minimal makeup.

Download Article

1. For timeless style, try a toned-down makeup look. Go for natural-looking colors so you don't distract from the fabulous outfit you put together. You want to, of course, emphasize your best features.

   • Lips are an area of exception, as these can be a great way to add a little extra bang to an outfit by introducing bright colors, like a classic red.
   • If loud makeup's more your style, go for it! Being stylish is all about showing off your personality and individuality.
Advertisement

14

Keep lines and texture to a minimum.

Download Article

1. Mixing patterns well is incredibly difficult. Throwing the wrong patterns together can make you look more chaotic and less elegant. It’s okay to have one item in your outfit have a pattern or texture, but keep it limited to one.

15

Go for clean silhouettes and minimal bulk.

Download Article

1. Keep layers to a minimum and avoid chunky items or other items that add a lot of bulk. These will make you appear chubbier and less streamlined and stylish. Oversized sweaters have a time and place, but tend to go in and out of fashion to a certain extent, so be careful.
   EXPERT TIP

   

   Alena Le Blanc

   Personal Stylist

   Alena Le Blanc is the Personal Stylist and the Founder of Le Blanc Label. Based in San Francisco, California, Le Blanc Label is the leading personal stylist brand for sustainable style transformations. Alena and her team specialize in seasonal wardrobe refreshes, closet edits, styling for special events, travel, photoshoots, and general personal needs. Alena has been featured in podcasts including EMPOWERED BY WMN, I Am Fearless, and Mind Power Meets Mystic. Alena received her BFA in Fashion and Apparel Design from the Academy of Art University.

   

   Alena Le Blanc
   Personal Stylist

   Build a minimalist wardrobe that never goes out of style. Minimalism thrives on classic silhouettes, clean lines, and high-quality fabrics. Invest in items like tailored blazers, white button-down shirts, and flowing linen skirts. Timeless and versatile pieces are building blocks for an effortlessly elegant style.
Advertisement

16

Add your favorite fragrance.

Download Article

1. While it may not be visually apparent, scent can go a long way towards developing how people perceive you. Smell nice by keeping yourself and your clothes clean, but also consider adding a perfume or cologne to your fashion line-up. Avoid young scents like fruity smells in favor of something more mature for a really classy touch.

17

Have a signature style.

Download Article

1. Keep your clothes in a theme in order give yourself a signature style. This is a look that people will associate with you and will make you seem more stylish, even if they don’t necessarily like your clothes.
Advertisement

18

Fit your look to you.

Download Article

1. The style you create for yourself should match who you are as a person. For example, a really sweet woman taking on a catty look will seem weird and out of place, the same as a serious businessman dressing in gangsta style. Tailor your clothes to fit your personality and people will be much more inclined to see it as your style.

19

Be confident.

Download Article

1. If you act confident, you can rock any outfit. Do you ever feel like some models could wear a brown paper sack and still walk down a runway looking like the height of fashion? Do you know a guy who wears a tracksuit and still somehow manages to look totally fashionable? What the fashion industry doesn’t want you to know is that a lot of looking stylish really comes down to projecting confidence. You don’t have to actually be confident, of course, but if you walk down the street in clothes that you clearly think you look great in, people will usually be inclined to agree that (at a minimum) those clothes are perfect for you.

   • Act like you don’t care - or, actually don't care. The effortless part of the stylish look should of course be presented by giving off an air that you don’t care, or that you just threw on the first outfit you could find. Be humble or indifferent when people compliment your clothes.
   

   Angelina Jolie, Actress & Humanitarian

   Having a compelling personal style is about being authentically yourself. "I think we all know boldness when we see it. Nothing makes me smile more than when I see someone being fully themselves, with their own individual style and character, whatever that is."
   
Advertisement

20

Walk gracefully.

Download Article

1. In order to look stylish, you’re also going to want to look elegant and coordinated. This means not falling down if you’re wearing heels. Being graceful should be easier for guys, but is still important so don’t neglect it.

Comments

• 

  Abby F.

  Jan 12, 2018

  "I appreciate how you guys emphasized being confident and comfortable. My grandmother is always trying to get me to..." more
• 

  Monique Adam

  Jan 25, 2018

  "I have always struggled with feeling good about my clothes. This article has really helped me to understand how to..." more
• 

  Eden Brown

  Jun 2, 2017

  "The talk about confidence helped me."

More reader stories Hide reader stories

Share your story

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

• Question

  How can I be a stylish person?

  

  Sheila A. Anderson
  Certified Image Consultant & International Branding Icon

  Sheila A. Anderson is a Certified Image Consultant, International Branding Icon, and the Founder of Image Power Play, an impression management and personal branding company. With over three decades of experience, she specializes in empowering corporate professionals to raise their personal image to meet the value of their brand. Sheila is a Certified Image Consultant with The Image Resource Network and a Certified Universal Style Consultant with The Universal Style International. Sheila is a member of the C-Suite Network Advisors and the author of the book, I.C.U., The Comprehensive Guide to Breathing Life Back Into Your Personal Brand.

  

  Sheila A. Anderson

  Certified Image Consultant & International Branding Icon

  Expert Answer

  Keep your outfit monochromatic. Wearing the same color head to toe makes an outfit automatically look more dressed up, even if you are in shorts and a T-shirt. This way, you also won't have to worry about whether colors match.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 4 Helpful 8
• Question

  How can I look stylish and attractive?

  

  Sheila A. Anderson
  Certified Image Consultant & International Branding Icon

  Sheila A. Anderson is a Certified Image Consultant, International Branding Icon, and the Founder of Image Power Play, an impression management and personal branding company. With over three decades of experience, she specializes in empowering corporate professionals to raise their personal image to meet the value of their brand. Sheila is a Certified Image Consultant with The Image Resource Network and a Certified Universal Style Consultant with The Universal Style International. Sheila is a member of the C-Suite Network Advisors and the author of the book, I.C.U., The Comprehensive Guide to Breathing Life Back Into Your Personal Brand.

  

  Sheila A. Anderson

  Certified Image Consultant & International Branding Icon

  Expert Answer

  Wear darker colors. Darker colors such as navy, black, and charcoal gray represent an image of authority and are often representative of professional dress. That said, remember to wear colors that flatter your skin tone.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 4 Helpful 6
• Question

  Where should I start when reinventing my wardrobe?

  

  Alice Wu
  Image Consultant

  Alice Wu is an Image Consultant and Personal Stylist based in San Francisco, California. She is the Owner of Styled by Alice, an image consulting service offering private styling services for men and women. Focused on personalizing the styling experience, Alice provides closet edits, personal shopping, wardrobe planning, and other services such as event styling.

  

  Alice Wu

  Image Consultant

  Expert Answer

  As a first step, take an inventory of the clothes that you gravitate towards in your closet. Try to get a really good idea of the things you want to wear all the time. You should also find what clothes you don't wear or don't feel good wearing.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 2 Helpful 13

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Reader Videos

Tips

• Never let the clothes wear you. Your personality is what should shine through, not the personality of your clothes!
  Thanks

  Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
• Read the fashion section of a variety of magazines, such as Cosmopolitan and Glamour for the gals, and GQ for the guys. Collect tips; pay attention to what you like and dislike.
  Thanks

  Helpful 4 Not Helpful 1
• When you feel you need to update your wardrobe a little, look through your closet and try to find a way to wear something you already have differently instead of immediately going shopping.
  Thanks

  Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1

Show More Tips

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

• "It's good to look effortless, but you still want to put some effort into picking out a nice outfit. Make sure you're conscious about what you picked out, not just grabbing randomly!" - Ophelia Q.
• "Always be yourself and work on cultivating your own style. Try to avoid copying others so your look is truly unique." - Noriko R.
• "If you have a simple shirt that you want to elevate, try styling it with an eye-catching necklace or a bracelet." - Pat P.

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Advertisement

Warnings

• Don't choose clothes just because other people like them. Have your own style, live the way you want to.
  Thanks

  Helpful 15 Not Helpful 1
• Don't go out too exposed, wear some clothes! Going out in a low cut tube top and booty shorts is not stylish.
  Thanks

  Helpful 14 Not Helpful 3
• Don't be trashy, if you would rather die than let your parents see what you're wearing, then don't wear it!
  Thanks

  Helpful 12 Not Helpful 4

Advertisement

You Might Also Like

How to

Look Preppy

How to

Become Fashionable

How to

Change Your Style

How to

Be Stylish While Being Casual

How to

Crossdress

How to

Dress Sexy but Casual (with Outfit Ideas for Women)

How to

Fix a Gaping Neckline (With or Without Sewing)

How to

Look Androgynous: Fashion & Style Tips

How to

Dress With No Bra

How to

Dress Smart Casual (Females)

How to

Wear a T Shirt with a Blazer

How to

Dress Like a Guy

How to

Wear a Fanny Pack

How to

Wear a Lungi

Advertisement