Style the outfit, don’t just wear it

This piece of advice is one I’ve just learned more about myself (mostly thanks to fashion TikTok): There’s a massive chasm of difference between wearing an outfit and styling it. Throwing on an outfit is easy, but deciding whether to tuck in a shirt, crop a top, or button a blazer is the hard part.

If you have hair that can be styled, think about how it will add to your look—if your outfit has strong shoulders or your torso is mostly covered, you may want to sweep your hair up or back to allow the emphasis to remain on the outfit. If you’re wearing something that’s rather exposed up top, then cascading hair can romanticize it, or provide a little cover where needed.

Make-up is another great way to bring the entire outfit together. Think about the overall vibe you want to achieve: Do you want something vampy and sexy? Consider darker eye makeup with punky smudges. Do you want something easy? Focus on your skincare, make your skin look flawless. Do you want to zhuzh up a simple outfit? There’s color, glitter, and more to play with.

Styling your outfit is the final step in the fashion trials, and it’s arguably the hardest thing to do. I still struggle with it.

Is there any fashion advice you’d want to add? Let us know in the comments below. And remember, I’ve offered my services to style you for this event, so reach out to me here, via email, or on Twitter (X) if you’d like my personalized advice.

See you at the show!