How do I️ improve my style?

I️ think people have a misconception when it comes to improving their style. This misconception is that people think in order to have better style they need a whole new wardrobe or a huge shopping spree; in with the new and out with the old. Do not start here; what you have can be transformed into what is ideally trendy.

How? I️ literally have nothing.

Well, style is not about how many clothes you have, where you get them, or how new they are. It's about being able to work with what you have, add to it slowly, and put pieces together in multiple different ways.

So how do we do this?

First we have to understand the difference from what's trendy, basic, and then stylistic.

What's Trendy?

What is trendy is first created by designers and promoted by celebrities. Apparel companies then take these exotic runway trends and mold them to fit street wear. We first see trends become trends when celebrities promote them.

Understand that celebrities have good style because they have stylists helping them look as good as they do. So if you are disappointed in your style because your fav celeb looks better then you, know that it's probably true, only because they have a professional advantage. Also understand not everything celebs wear should be worn by the general public. Celebs have free range because they have the credibility to wear what they want. SOO the neon two piece they wore to Gucci is probably not a good choice to copy wearing to class.

So is there something bad with being trendy?

No following trends is a really good way to improve your style, I️ do it. The problem is, after the runway walks and the celeb promotions, fast fashion dials in and creates loads of what is considered trendy and can honestly become too trending. So the problem arises when being too trendy is confused with following trends. So be careful with fast fashion; some things work and others have a short lifespan. This is because fast fashion is a trend that is created quickly and dies quickly, which causes your closet to be filled with a bunch of lost causes. So try to refrain from the graphic T's that say "Los Angles' and buy a striped T that can work with a lot more and has a longer lifespan.

What do I️ buy that's just the right amount of trend?

1. start by finding the trend/trends you want to follow

2. follow your fav trend setter; mine is Bella Hadid, obviously because she's the main one featured in this post :) I️ also follow Brandy Melville and Urban Outfitter for a more specific fashion influence.

2. know sorta what your looking for when you shop. For example, this fall I️ knew plaid was gonna be a hit so I️ looked for a plaid skirt that had the right color combination to go with a lot.

3. research; know what's trendy if you don't already have an idea, instagram is so helpful. This will help you know what to look for when shopping, as well as show you what you may already have that you can work with

4. shoes are really big when it comes to trends. They make or break an outfit, so drop a little money on some consistent shoes that work with an everyday outfit. I️ genuinely wear my chunky combat boots, or white Air Force ones. I️ also have added fun shoes with color to incorporate some detail into an outfit. These are the go to shoes I️ own and live on.

Bought at Urban Outfitter

Bought at Free People

Bought at Nike

Boys; here are some idea of shoes that are spot on..

Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters

What's basic?

So when trends fade they also fall in a category of basic. When what is trendy is pick up by majority of the general public it becomes basic. A recent example of this is tube tops, which in your defense, I️ still wear and still love because they're incredible. There is another misconception I️ want to point out and clarify. Basic is understood to have a bad connotation when compared to someone's style, but in this case, basic does not equal bad. What is basic is still stylish and acceptable just seen more commonly. So genuinely, the term basic, when referring to style, is what is comfortable in a crowd. Makes sense, considering some things we see as basic are comfortable. For example, Starbucks is consider basic because it's coffee that is easy to drink. They offer so many option to satisfy an even non-coffee drinker.

Coffee shops are consider trendy because they focus on the crafting aspect of coffee; flavors of the roast and not really the milk and sugar; which to many people, myself included, black coffee is an acquired taste that takes some getting use too. The same goes for style. If a style is basic, it is because majority of the population you are surround by is wearing the same thing because most people, including myself, like fitting in. So we start to observe what others around us are wearing in order to achieve this fitting in thing. A personal story of mine accrued in 7th grade. I️ realized Miss Me Jeans were something all the Texas girls had, so when I️ moved to Texas, I️ HAD to have them too. Now imagine my moms face when I️ told her I️ NEEDED a pair of these 150 dollar jeans in order to make friends. So why did my mom let me get such expensive jeans as a 7th grader? Well, she understood the role of fitting in; we all have been there.

So to wrap this section up, what allows you to blend in with a crowd is commonly know as basic. Doesn't mean you have bad style but if you want to improve your style, learning to stand out and be adventurous with your wardrobe is important, while also keeping it cool with these basic elements so you're not standing out too much.

So what basics should I️ have?

1. go to black and blue jeans

2. a plain white and black T-shirt

3. long sleeve plain T's

5. Neutral solid sweaters

6. a flannel/ button down

7. black turtle neck

8. denim shorts

9. black and grey sweats

10. crop tops (girls)

11. tube tops (girls)

Girls:

Boys:

What is stylistic?

Okay finally what is stylistic? We have to combine both elements of trendy and basic in order to hit that perfect note of style. Like before, I️ said trends die but they also come back. Understanding this is so important because you can reusing things that have been in your closet for some time; having the newest things is not the key. Style is about working with what you have and adding statement pieces and details that work. Style is also following trend as well as observing trends. I️ do this by following my favorite celebrities, musicians, and stores. I️ see what I️ like and work from there. You have to identify your style in order to build upon it.

Okay I️ already do this but still don't get it?

If style is not easy for you that's okay. But like everything, in order to get better at something you have to practice/study it. So find what you like and mess with it. In order to get the outfit I️ want, I️ have to mess with it, sometime longer then I️ should. I️ will try things that might go terribly wrong but might end up working perfectly. Being able to piece things together is very important because it allows you to use one piece with a variety of other things. This transforms your, thought to be, small wardrobe into a very useful wardrobe. Again, getting good at this is about doing some research; the easiest research, that is mindless, is any social media platform. You will naturally be drawn to something while scrolling. Now try if for yourself.

Lots of love,

HB