10 Fashion Hacks to Look Polished and Put Together

Today, I want to talk about some of those small but important fashion hacks that we stylists have up our sleeves.

This is for you if you want to know how to look polished and put together without spending any money.

Shop your closet with me and see how a few tips can instantly make you look more stylish and chic.

1. French tuck

The French tuck can make you look more stylish immediately.

It involves tucking in your oversized shirt at the front and leaving the back loose. 

Start with a loose-fitting button-down shirt.

Button it to the waistline. 

Gather the front of the shirt together and tuck it into your waistband.

Let it drape a little at the front.

With a classic button-down, you get the best results with the tuck in the center front.

However with a jumper, blouse or t-shirt you can tuck in the middle or to one side.

2. Full tuck

Fully tucking in your top can look great if you do it right.

The two main issues are visible underwear or creating a lot of bulk below your waist.

Wear skin colored shapewear to smooth everything out and avoid an underwear line.

Control excess fabric with an elastic band. 

Tuck in the front of your shirt and gather the excess fabric into a tail behind you.

Secure it with the elastic and hide the tail inside.

Loosen the fabric just enough to allow you to tuck the tail into the top of your waistband.

3. Bra tuck

With heavier and stiffer fabrics such as a thick knit sweater, you can tuck your top into your bra.

You can tuck in the front or the back of your sweater - or both. 

Let the rest of the fabric drape nicely and adjust the length to your liking. 

4. Bra straps

It’s impossible to achieve a clean look when your bra straps are showing, whether you’re wearing a casual or dressy style.

Personally, I think the transparent, silicone straps look even worse than the fabric ones.

All you need is a large diaper pin to hold your straps together and keep them out of sight.

Just like that, your regular bra turns into a racer back one.

5. Underwear color

Lots of people make the mistake of wearing white underwear underneath a white outfit.

As you can see with my white top and bra, this makes the underwear more visible.

The best color to wear under almost any outfit is one that matches your skin tone.

6. Sweaters as scarves

Sweaters make the best scarves, adding color and texture. 

The classic, preppy tie isn’t my personal favorite, but it’s quick and easy to do.

To modernize your look and for extra interest, try tying it to one side and slightly off your shoulder.

Another cool way is to tie it across your body, from under your arm up to the opposite shoulder.

The vintage waist tie can also be used to cinch in a baggy top. The updated look is to tie it to one side instead of at the front.

This one has been all over social media recently. Just tuck the ends of your sleeves into your waistband.

For an even newer look, you could push them through your belt loops.

7. Pushed up sleeves

For those annoying days when your sleeves won’t cooperate and stay in place, try securing them with a thin elastic band and drape the top of the sleeves over the band to hide it.

Pushing or rolling up your sleeves can change your silhouette and the balance of your outfit and it’s something I love to do.

8. Matching metals

Without accessories, your outfit isn’t complete. But it’s important to know to what extent to match them.

Try matching metals instead, which is a more modern way to tie your outfit together.

For this outfit, I’ve matched my necklace, hoop earrings and belt buckle, and even the clasp on my bag. 

The result is subtle yet still put together and intentional.

9. Jewelry

Rewrite the jewelry rules by doing the opposite of what you probably do now.

Wear your statement necklace or layers of gold chains with your minimalist casual daytime look.

For evening, opt for a simple gold chain and stud earrings for an elegant and timeless result.

10. Belts

Knowing how to tie a belt brings more options to the clothes in your closet.

For example, take the end of your belt back through and under the belt to secure it.

A contrasting color belt brightens a black outfit and neatly divides the upper and lower body.

Avoid a wide belt with a high waisted skirt or pants if you’re short-waisted. Aim for at least a 2 inch (5 cm) space between your belt and your bustline.