Common Fashion Mistakes Women Make & How To Fix Them
Today, I want to talk about styling and fashion mistakes that age you or make you look out of proportion.
Luckily these are all easy to fix, once you’ve embraced a different way of looking at your closet.
Check out my thoughts on these mistakes that will show you how to look polished and elegant at all times.
1. Invest not shop mindshift
The biggest mistake you can make is not to think about your wardrobe as an investment, and this is especially important as we get older.
Don’t buy emotionally and impulsively, such as going for a pair of killer heels that don’t fit your lifestyle or an amazing top that doesn’t go with anything else you have.
Buying this way ensures you have a cluttered closet that doesn’t represent you, so that you always feel you have nothing to wear.
2. Not knowing where to invest and where to skimp
A perfect example of a piece you should invest more in is a blazer, because it’s the focal point of your outfit. This applies to outerwear in general.
With a quality blazer, you’re guaranteed to look exceptionally polished, all the time.
You can save money on what you put underneath it.
You also want to invest in good quality shoes, because they have an effect on your physical health as well as your looks.
You don’t need many pairs. Just buy a few, wear them a lot, and replace them regularly.
3. Neglecting quality
A higher price tag doesn’t necessarily mean better quality.
A great quality blazer will be well-lined. Pay attention to details like the buttons, and check that the lapels and pockets are all laying flat.
You’re looking for a combination of fit, form and fabric as the major determinants of the quality of a garment, or any other item.
Since you’re paying more for them, spend time and look at them from all angles to make sure there are no gaps, loose threads or poor stitching.
4. Not updating your staples
I always stress the importance of having a good foundation to your wardrobe but if those items are dated, that’s how you’re going to look and feel.
For example, the current trend is for a touch of masculinity and oversized garments and you need to incorporate that aesthetic in your wardrobe.
That doesn’t mean wearing something that looks ridiculous on you. If the blazer is looser than you really like, roll up the sleeves and cinch in the waist with a belt, for example.
That way, you make it work for you and your personal style.
5. Not knowing how to accessorize
In the photo on the left, I’m not wearing any accessories at all and the look is subdued and feels flat.
I added a gold bangle and simple hoop earrings, and a plain belt with a gold buckle. Adding a scarf and sunglasses completes the outfit.
However it’s possible to go too far with accessories.
When I swapped out the earrings for a statement pair and added a multi-color purse, my style was unbalanced.
When in doubt, take one or two accessories off.
6. Not balancing the proportions and volume
Dressing for your body shape should include your proportions.
The “ideal proportion” we’re trying to emulate is that your upper body should be one-third of your total body length, excluding your head.
The first rule is to wear a lighter color on the body part you want to accentuate or look larger and a darker color on the area you want to reduce.
The wide white pants emphasize the width of my hips and the dark top shortens my upper body even more. It’s simple enough to swap the colors, which automatically lengthens my torso and reduces my hips.
You can also manipulate your waistline by moving it up or down to achieve a better proportion.
The high rise pink pants finish far too close to my bust and make my upper body look squashed.
An easy fix is to simply untuck the top, which automatically draws the eye down and lengthens my torso.
You need to take account of volume as well.
You can see how the look on the left makes me look out of proportion, swamping my lower half while my upper body is minimized, while the voluminous white shirt on the right creates a balanced look with the narrow pants.
7. Not mixing high street and high end
Focus your spending on the high end designer pieces in classic styles for the foundation of your wardrobe. But don’t be afraid to mix in high street buys for items like t-shirts and blouses.
Make sure they’re of a high enough quality not to detract from your more expensive pieces.
Keep the colors complementary rather than clashing as well, so you can create more outfits from them.
These are some of the most common fashion mistakes I see women making. I’ve made them all myself as well, of course!
Common fashion mistakes
Which of them stand out for you? Do you recognize yourself in any of them?
Please let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
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