Following the tips from the InStyle book: Let's go!
Discover your style. The new secrets of style.
Determining whether you are a minimalist (less is more), a romantic (more is more), or somewhere in between is the crucial first step toward achieving fashion satisfaction.
The secret to a fabulous look starts with identifying your personal style. Then, you need to select the pieces of clothing 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 is fun. Seriously! Here is how to get started: Set aside a weekend afternoon. Gather all your favorite magazines and cut out the pages with inspiring looks or women who, to you, embody good taste. Put aside gala dresses and cocktail gowns and focus on everyday pieces and looks. Next, make a detailed list of twelve of your favorite clothing items and accessories. Analyze both the list and the magazine cutouts and ask yourself a few 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 for everything romantic, like pastel tones, 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 laid-back 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 relaxed hippie style). Now comes the hard part: staying true to that defined style. Remove from your wardrobe the pieces that do not fit the criteria. Everything you are in doubt about should be discarded, including those pieces you only feel comfortable wearing once in a while. Pieces that don't totally flatter you? They should also be discarded. Why such strictness? Because women who have become icons of impeccable and timeless style had the ability to know what worked for them and what made them feel good, and they stuck to their formula no matter what. Following these fantastic examples teaches us to be more disciplined with how we dress on a daily basis.
Style Basics - Dressing well involves more than just knowing what you like. Here are the three essential criteria for finding a piece of clothing you will want to own.
Fit: A good fit means that clothes follow the curves of the body (showing them without clinging to them) and that all details — lapels, pocket flaps, slits, seams, and pleats — are aligned. Clothes that pull or bunch not only look sloppy but also give the impression that a person is heavier. The same applies to 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 look for in a fabric are weight and movement. If a fabric is too stiff, it may look boxy; if it is too thin, it may show every imperfection; if it is too shiny, it may add volume. Fabrics like wool crepe, wool blends and microfiber, cotton or wool gabardine, cotton-silk blends, and some synthetics are generally good options. A touch of elastane also helps (3 to 5% is usually enough). Remember that matte fabrics are more pliable than shiny ones. Contrasting textures (like tweed and silk) also add visual interest to the look.
Proportion: Of course, everything can fit perfectly, but if the proportions are not correct, the end result will not be what you expected. Enhancing your silhouette is not just about camouflage and distraction – it is 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 in your favor.
Tricks to lengthen the silhouette from head to toe: One of the most effective tricks for using 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 part of the body. On the other hand, a long blazer with skinny jeans or a tunic over a shorter pencil skirt, above or at the knee, creates a look with a longer top over the bottom, with a slimming effect from head to toe.
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