Thinking about how I put together an outfit got me ruminating on how I add that final touch to a sartorial ensemble to make it stand out or really pull it all together. Here’s an illustrated list of a few tricks I use to garnish the drink, as it were. Comment to add yours!
Use jewelry to pick up a color or metal elsewhere in the outfit
Cuff pants for a different/more versatile length, or to give it a casual touch:
Roll or cuff sleeves to adjust for warmth/show off a bracelet
Roll blazer cuffs once or twice to show off contrasting liner or bracelet. You can also scrunch ’em up to similar effect
Leave hair down to use it as a contrast color to your outfit (I often wear my hair down with grey for that reason – the yellow tones help warm up the grey):
Put hair up to highlight a neckline or earrings (or to keep it out of your way):
Part hair in a new place to freshen up a tried-and-true outfit
Untuck the back of your shirt for a casual, cool vibe
Belt your natural waist to bring some interest to a solid color dress or tunic top:
Scrunch socks to add some volume/texture in the gap between pants hem and ankle boot
Extend cuffs past your topper and roll ’em back once to create drama and contrast between your shirt and your cardigan/blazer
Try out different scarf ties to get shawl/poncho/necklace/collar effects.
FYI, Caroline at UnFancy is great at demonstrating simple styling tricks like this. Nicole of The Spirited Thrifter can teach you how to throw an arm party (she’s also great at layering necklaces which I rarely do), and Dina of Dinatokio models some excellent ringage (as well as chokers). Susan of Une Femme d’Un Certain Age also does both necklaces and bracelets well. Janice of The Vivienne Files will help you think through coordinating jewelry without making it too matchy. Also visit Susan and Janice for scarf tips, or check out this old favorite video of 25 ways to wear a scarf featuring mindboggling visual logistics. If you wear a headscarf or a hair wrap, get thee over to Dinatokio NOW. I have never seen anyone style a hijab so creative-mazingly. She wears hers rather less conservatively than many people, which means a lot of her styles also work for hair/head wraps.
What are your favorite styling tips? Anything new here you’d like to try? Scroll down to comment!
