Six Ways to Spruce up a Simple Outfit

August 11, 2020 / Source: The Bizz USA
By Isabelle Sitchon; Edited by Pallavi Vemuri and Haarika Kalahasti

          Beep beep! It’s morning! Sunshine streams through your window, and a quick glance in the mirror reveals a mess of hair sitting on your head. You pick up your phone to scroll through Instagram, but you realize that it’s not 7:30--it’s actually 8:30, and you’re late! Immediately, you rush to your closet to throw on the only clothes that haven’t been thrown in your laundry hamper--a t-shirt and jeans. As you hurry out the door, you remember that you had a meeting today. How are you going to attend in such a casual outfit?

          We’ve probably all been in a similar situation. No need to fret! With a little bit of effort, you can make your outfit look like you just walked out of the New York Fashion Week. Here are some quick and easy tips to make a plain outfit a little more lively:
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1. Play with the style! If you feel as if your outfit looks a little drab, change up the style! For example, you can unbutton the bottom of a dress shirt and tie it up, or loosely tuck in the front of your sweater to define your waist. It can even be as simple as cuffing the bottom of your jeans. These subtle touches can really bring a whole different dimension to your outfit. 
2. ​Accessories, accessories, accessories! You can never go wrong with a few accessories. Give a little dazzle to your outfit by wearing your favorite necklace! Go for a watch and add a handbag or fanny pack for additional flair. You could also top off your outfit with a bucket hat or beret. Play around with your accessories to figure out what’s best for your look!
3. Strut that heel! To make the sidewalk your runway, your outfit should include shoes that make a statement, while also complimenting your attire. Feeling a little bold? Put on a pair of heels or boots! When wearing a simple outfit, shoes such as Doc Martins and square pumps can elevate your style. However, shoes can make or break your outfit; you should consider how well they match with your clothes. A chunky pair of Nike Air Forces with dark skinny jeans may look good on your friend, but it might not suit your style. A pair of mom jeans may not complement those short-cut boots you bought recently. Find out what fits your fashion and be confident in your walk!
4. Fix that bedhead! Wearing a cute hairstyle always adds a little bit of flavor to your overall appearance. The hairstyle can be as effortless as a bun, or as fancy as a french braid. Your hair should fit the overall theme of your outfit. If you’re going for a more youthful look, tie your hair into twin tails or space buns. If you’re going for a mature style, settle for a half-ponytail or a beach-wavy hairstyle. Simply brushing out your hair and adding cute hair accessories can really spice up your look!
5. Layer up! If you’ve done your laundry this week, consider experimenting with layering. There’s no absolute rule to matching and layering clothes--you just have to explore! The goal of layering your clothes is to add more volume and depth to your outfit. Although it may seem difficult to pull off a turtleneck and tank-top combination like an Instagram influencer, it’s easier than you think.  Even sporting a regular denim jacket with a plan t-shirt really adds volume to your outfit! Here are some suggestions:
   1. Contrast tight-fitting attire with looser attire! You might wear a tight long sleeve shirt underneath a baggy graphics tee, or a loose dress shirt with a tight camisole top.
   2. Whether you’re donning a pastel palette or a monochrome look, a set color theme really ties your whole outfit together. Keep it to 1-4 colors at most!
   3. Speaking of monochrome, remember to style different textures together. Dressing in one color may look flat if you’re sticking to a single type of clothing. Try incorporating lighter and darker shades of the color you’re going for into your attire, or mixing in a wool sweater with denim black jeans.
   4. Don’t layer too much! Wearing too many layers can make you look out of proportion and wouldn’t be comfortable for your day ahead. Make sure all your pieces are beautifully showcased!
6. Get Glam! Blending in some basic blush or wearing a dramatic red lip on your face makes such a difference to your outfit. You can wear makeup that compliments your outfit, such as a neutral eyeshadow or soft blush, but don’t be afraid to express your creativity through your makeup! Bold makeup looks have been a reappearing fashion trend. On TikTok, many brilliant makeup artists are pairing up amazing makeup looks with stunning outfits. Whether you decide to go for a daring makeup look or a natural makeup look, make a statement with your outfit!

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