The Best Style Secrets - By InStyle.
Following the tips from the InStyle book: Let's go!
Discover your style. The new secrets of style.
Determining whether you are minimalist (less is more), romantic (more is more), or something in between is the first crucial step in achieving satisfaction with fashion.
The secret to a fabulous look starts with identifying your personal style. Then you need to select the clothing pieces that truly suit you. The good news is that deciphering your style not only brings long-term benefits but also provides immediate satisfaction because it's fun. Seriously! Here's how to start: Set aside a weekend afternoon. Gather all your favorite magazines and cut out pages with inspiring looks or women who, for you, embody good taste. Leave aside the ball gowns and cocktail dresses and focus on everyday pieces and looks. Next, make a detailed list of twelve of your favorite clothes and accessories. Analyze both the list and the magazine clippings and ask yourself some questions: Do you have a casual style and prefer jeans and jackets with flats? Or perhaps you have a bohemian vibe and love flowing peasant shirts, long skirts, and boots? Or do you simply fall in love with everything romantic, like pastel shades, ruffles, and chiffon? Do you prefer trends or timeless classics like pencil skirts, cardigans, and pumps? Are you the type who loves tailored pieces for work but relaxed looks for the weekend? The important thing here is to be honest with yourself and focus on the looks you like best. Write down your preferences to define your style succinctly (for example, sophisticated feminine elegance or laid-back hippie style). Now comes the hard part: staying true to that defined style. Eliminate from your wardrobe the pieces that don't fit the criteria. Anything you're unsure about should be discarded, including those pieces you only feel comfortable wearing occasionally. Pieces that don't fully flatter you? They should also be discarded. Why so rigid? Because the women who became icons of impeccable and timeless style had the ability to know what worked for them and what made them feel good, and they remained true to their formula, no matter what happened. Following these fantastic examples teaches us to be more disciplined about how we dress every day.
Basic Style Concepts - Dressing well involves more than just knowing what you like. Here are three essential criteria for finding a piece of clothing you'll want to own.
Fit: A good fit means that clothes follow the curves of the body (showing them off without clinging to them) and that all the details—lapels, pocket flaps, slits, seams, and pleats—are aligned. Clothes that pull or fold not only look sloppy but also give the impression that the person is heavier. The same goes for pieces that are too loose. In the following chapters, you will learn what a tailor can do for you and that even small details—such as adjusting the hem of a skirt, the length of a jacket, or the width of a sleeve—can make a big difference in your overall appearance.
Fabric: The two most important qualities to consider in a fabric are weight and movement. If a fabric is too stiff, it can appear boxy; if it's too thin, it can accentuate every imperfection; if it's too shiny, you can add bulk. Fabrics like wool crepe, wool and microfiber blends, cotton or wool gabardine, cotton with silk, and some synthetics are generally good options. A touch of elastane also helps (3 to 5% is usually sufficient). Remember that matte fabrics are more malleable than shiny ones. Contrasting textures (like tweed and silk) also add visual interest to the look.
Proportion: Of course, everything can be perfect, but if the proportions aren't right, the final result won't be what you expected. Enhancing your silhouette isn't just about camouflage and distraction – it's also a matter of balance. The length of your legs in relation to your torso, the width of your shoulders in relation to your hips: all of this matters. Fortunately, these details are easy to visually manipulate to your advantage.
Tricks to lengthen your silhouette from head to toe: One of the most effective tricks to use proportion to your advantage is to choose looks that are "short over long" or "long over short." For example, a cropped blazer over a knee-length blouse defines the waist and creates the illusion of lengthening the lower body. On the other hand, a long blazer with skinny jeans or a tunic over a shorter pencil skirt, above or at knee length, creates a look with the upper part longer than the lower part, with a slimming effect from head to toe.