How to look stylish when naturally you’re not!

[Bennettfan]

If you’re not somebody who finds it easy to look put together, but have found techniques/approaches that help - what are your top tips? I’ve always loved fashion, admired clothes. Feel much better when I feel I look smart. But have always struggled, hair not quite right somehow, clothes not quite right, feel a bit scruffy. Every month I buy a few new clothes and when I hit ‘pay’ I sort of think that finally my wardrobe will work. But it never does and the next month I’m buying more things trying to find the elusive solution to looking stylish/elegant/put together. Any tips?

One of the slimmest people I know looks like a flowerpot man.

Gutted. You're one of my S&B favourites.

Never meet your idols etc.

@TaborlinTheGreat , being slim shouldn't be the be-all and end-all for looking good
It's not, but it helps.

When we say clothes are 'flattering', we mostly mean they make us look slimmer
I don't, but I would use it to mean clothes that don't emphasise 'flaws'.
For myself (inverted triangle), I find wide bottoms unflattering, because they draw the eye downwards and out, the overall effect is to make me look shapeless.
Similarly, someone with an hourglass figure might be wearing something unflattering if she was wearing a loose shapeless garment.
The weight of those two individuals has not been mentioned.

I have no idea what this means. I’m saying it’s nonsense to state that being tall and thin and only wearing dresses or jumpsuits are prerequisites to being stylish. Why does that make you feel gutted?

Too many people on here are equating stylish with being model thin and dressing entirely in neutrals.

And I say that’s bollocks.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie ,I’m saying it’s nonsense to state that being tall and thin and only wearing dresses or jumpsuits are prerequisites to being stylish.

Who has said that these are pre-requisites to being stylish?

I can think of stylish people who are stylish but aren't tall, thin, wearers of dresses or jumpsuits.

Anyway, to answer the OP’s question a little- and I make no claims to being stylish or well dressed but do get a lot of comments on my clothes:
Make sure things fit
Make sure things are ironed
Red lipstick and a nice bag are good to make quite plain/dull outfits feel a bit more done
Comfortable, clean shoes that you can walk in are better than hobbling in heels if you can’t walk in them
All black outfits can look good, especially with a mixture of textures
I like a bit of print but mixed with plain- clashing prints are very difficult to pull off
A good biker jacket will take you to many places

But this isn't what the thread is about.

I have to ask what "an intentional trainer" is?

One that makes the wearer hop with more purpose than poise, being just the one?

Did you watch Gavin and Stacey? In one of the first episodes Doris says Stacey can let Gavin have a kiss a cuddle, a cheeky finger. A bit like that.

(I have no shoes but quite a few trainers. It was a tongue in cheek reference to me thinking about what pair goes best with my outfit, not just pulling on the first pair I find)

If your feeling lost about what suits you maybe use pinterest to create a folio of how you want to look, then book an appointment with a personal stylist. It may be that how you want to look won't actually suit you though! Working out what suits you is key (still trying here)

Me and Em trousers. They are very expensive but flattering and fashionable.

I have also recently invested in some make up lessons and sorted my eye makeup. This is for very serious days only🤣

I am naturally chaotic and indifferent.

Great advice here @Bennettfan

I'd add :

Good haircut, learn to blow dry and bit (i have the babyliss big hair
Eyebrows done
Buy a steamer - Russell hobbs 2 in one is excellent
Lipstick- Lisa Eldridge red has been a great find for me
Wear stuff that makes you look hot/feel good. I always think, would i have worn this when dating? If not, then I think it's too functional and im not likely to wear much
Try not to be attracted by colours, and instead also look at the fit. I have gorgeous coloured stuff but realistically doesnt suit my shape so just sits there
Look for the entire outfit, not just one part (so for work, im in linen wide trousers, tight scoop top, a blazer and cool trainers) whereas in the past, id have only got one bit then been lost with the rest
Small bit of jewellery
Decent shoes or trainers- my children recently told me i ruin great outfits with my horrible shoes! So im now keeping that one in mind!

One easy tip I always give people (I work in fashion) is to try a tonal look - wearing all one colour or different tones of a colour. Instantly helps your outfit feel intentional and chic. Try tones of creams/browns/butter yellow/navy/blush depending on what suits you.

Wrong thread obvs :-) reported

T-shirts make me look scruffy. Cotton collared shirts look so much better. Ironed, obviously! Bright clean white with jeans and fun earrings or patterned ones with a cardigan or tank over if it's cold.
Anything made of jersey just makes me look and feel rubbish.

I have watched G&S, but I’m none the wiser tbh, except I that realise that you mean 👟. My first thought was a waist trainer, perhaps as it was listed next to “belt”. Complex.

I was stuck in the same cycle of buying bits that never quite worked together. What helped me was picking a few standout pieces I actually love and then building around those slowly. Also, buying less, but better. I check FARFETCH now and then for quality basics or statement items that don’t fall apart after a couple wears. It’s helped me stop wasting money on filler clothes and finally have a wardrobe that feels more "me".

Place marking

Agree with everything here. Where do you buy your tight scoop neck tops please? A lot of tops are crew necked which i really don't like. Its a scoop or a V neck for me

@Azuresky68 I have some from H&M purely because they deliver for free and its convenient/cheap.