Change Your Personal Style
These 9 fashion mistakes are ruining your style. Below are some of the most common style mistakes people are guilty of making.
Stop making these mistakes and change your personal style.
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Fashion Mistakes You’re Probably Making & How To Fix Them | Video
9 Fashion Mistakes
1. Buying Something You Liked On Someone Else.
If you bought something you saw someone wearing on Pinterest or Instagram but it’s not someone with similar coloring or a similar body type to you. When you like something that you’ve seen on either a visual platform or a person walking down the street check to make sure they have a similar body type and coloring to you. That will help you know whether or not that item will also work for you.
I’ve stepped into a lot of closets with people that have bought something because they saw it on an influencer or they saw a friend wearing it. When it’s in their closet though, it doesn’t really work for their body type. That influencer or friend may have been five foot seven but they are petite. Also when you’re seeing something on a visual platform, people don’t realize the lighting that goes into the photo. There are special styling tricks to make things look perfect in a photo that may in real life not translate.
One of my best personal styling tips is if you’re going to buy something that you saw somebody else wearing, make sure they have a similar body type and similar coloring to you. Also, make sure you can return it. You don’t want to buy anything that you can’t return.
2. Purchasing An Item On Sale In The Wrong Size.
Another common fashion mistake most of us are guilty of is buying something on sale that isn’t the right size. Whether you think it’s a great deal or whether it’s an item of clothing in your ideal size but not your current size, this usually doesn’t work.
Erin Busbee of the fashion blog Busbee writes, “When we beeline for the sales, we often overlook style and fit, which should be more important than price. So, be strategic and think about what you need in your wardrobe and what you might be missing from your basics checklist.”
This same principle applies to shoes as well. Years ago I was in love with a pair of designer heels that were out of budget. When they went on sale they only had a size smaller than my normal shoe size left. I convinced myself that I could make them work. I bought them and couldn’t return them because they were final sale. Sadly I never wore them because they didn’t fit. They were too small and uncomfortable. My personal styling tip is to only buy your current size even if it seems like the best deal.
There is one exception to this rule. If you’re buying a special piece like a one-of-a-kind vintage item or a wedding dress that you are in love with. If a size bigger is available, you can have the piece tailored as long as it’s something without a lot of detail like embroidery or sequins. You want to skip those pieces because they will not be as easy to tailor perfectly and they will be expensive.
3. Occasion Buying.
Buying items for special occasions just a few days before is the next mistake to avoid. You don’t want to be shopping last minute for these pieces because chances are it’s going to be really hard to find an item that you absolutely love. Chances are you’ll end up buying something because you need it as opposed to because you love it.
Busbee states, “If you have any big events or trips on your calendar, be sure to plan ahead! Waiting until the last minute causes impulsive decisions. And, let’s be real, how many times do you buy the perfect piece at the last minute?? There’s too much pressure! It’s rare that an impulsive purchase is the best option I think it’s better to buy an item that you love before you have an event.”
When you find an item you love, buy it. That way you won’t be stressed looking for something to buy days before. I do the same thing with pieces that I love. I don’t want to be scrambling the day before looking for something. If I find something that I love and it’s classic, even if I don’t have anything planned I’m going to buy it.
4. Spending Your Wardrobe Budget On Trends.
Trends come and go that’s what trends are. They’ll be in for a season and rarely they’ll last for more than a season. That’s why you don’t want to be spending your money on trends. If there are one or two trends that you want to try and have fun with and you have the extra budget then go for it. But you should already have your foundational wardrobe pieces in place first. You want to avoid filling your whole closet with trend pieces. I wouldn’t recommend spending more than five to ten percent of your wardrobe budget on trends. Instead use your budget to invest in fewer, higher quality items that you love, that are classic, and that will last.
Scarlet Amber of In An Elegant Fashion writes, “Only buying trends is one of the biggest fashion mistakes you can make… Trends can often be a waste of money because they might not actually suit your style or body shape. They may also not be generally flattering, practical, or appropriate.”
5. Focusing On Quantity Over Quality.
This next fashion mistake relates to the last one. Focus on quality over quantity when it comes to your wardrobe. Having fewer high-quality pieces will actually allow you to have more wardrobe options. I promise. If you have fewer classic items in your closet that are high quality and that you love, you will have more outfit possibilities than if you had multiple closets where you had lots of low-quality pieces that are just “ok”.
If you need help knowing where to begin, I always recommend starting with a capsule wardrobe.
6. No Shopping List.
Going shopping without a shopping list is like going to Target for one or two items and walking out with $300 worth of stuff. When you don’t know what’s in your closet and what’s missing, spend some time decluttering your wardrobe and organizing your closet in an edit. Figuring out the pieces that would be useful to add to your wardrobe will alleviate stress and save you money and time. Don’t go shopping until you have a shopping list.
I recommend prioritizing essential wardrobe pieces from a capsule wardrobe. Once you have filled the missing gaps in your closet, then go shopping without a list. If you ever step in front of your closet and say to yourself “I have nothing to wear”, do not shop until you’ve come up with a shopping list of the items you are missing to get dressed easily.
7. Wearing Something Safe Over Something You Love.
When you’re wearing something safe versus something that you love, you are losing out on a moment to embrace self-expression. If you’re wearing something that’s safe because you’re afraid of negative opinions, I would challenge you to wear things that you feel amazing in. Even if it’s something that I’ve recommended you shouldn’t wear. If you feel great in something, that is the number one rule to follow no matter what anyone else says or thinks. You want to feel great in what you put on because what you wear affects how you feel, and how you feel affects how you engage in the world. Your clothes should make you confident. Clothes shouldn’t be used to hide who we are from the world. If what you’re wearing isn’t authentic to who you are then I would say that’s a fashion mistake you’re making.
8. Not Getting Dressed For The Day.
I have been guilty of this next mistake, especially in the last couple of years. I’m guessing most of you have also made this fashion mistake more recently. It’s not getting dressed for the day. I understand that life has been different in the last two years and dressing up has consisted mostly of loungewear and athleisure wear for most of us. But, if you want to step into your life it’s important to dress for your day. It’s important to put on something that you love and encourages confidence. Make sure that you feel good in what you wear and not that you’re still in pajamas. Dressing for your day or the day you want to have will help you in the long run.
In An Elegant Fashion states, “Dressing up nicely is a form of self-care, self-love, and self-respect which you should do regularly for yourself. Of course, you need to decide what dressing up for you means and how often you need it. But doing this frequently can give you a confidence boost and when you’re feeling confident, the whole world will see it too.”
9. Not Balancing Outfit Proportions.
The final styling mistake that I see people make is not balancing outfit proportions. What this means is if you’re wearing a tight-fitted top you want to avoid styling it with a tightly fitted bottom. If you’re wearing an oversized top, skip pairing it with a baggy bottom. I see people do this all the time and it just doesn’t look put together. When your whole outfit is oversized, you look sloppy and bigger than you are. If your outfit is tight from head to toe, then it can look inappropriate. Style a flowy blouse on top with a fitted bottom like a pencil skirt or legging. Balancing your outfit proportions, helps you elevate your personal style.
Hope these Personal Styling tips help you stop making these 9 mistakes to change your personal style.
9 Fashion Mistakes & Personal Styling Tips | Video
FAQs & Expert Tips
What Fashion Mistakes Make You Look Older?
12 Common Fashion Mistakes That Make You Look Older
- Wearing clothes that are no longer in style.
- Dressing too young for your age.
- Only wearing clothes and shoes because they are comfortable.
- Hiding your shape behind oversized clothing.
- Wearing cowl neck sweaters.
- Mom jeans. They are only “cool” if you’re not a mom.
- Bermuda shorts.
- Combining too many statement pieces in your outfits.
- Dressing too old.
- Shopping at stores your daughter shops at.
- Wearing sweater sets.
- Not having a classic style.
Related: “3 Simple Habits That Will Make You A Better Shopper“
More Fashion Mistakes Ruining Your Style
18 Fashion Mistakes To Stop Making Now
- Buying fast fashion.
- Not having a capsule wardrobe.
- Being unclear about what your personal style is.
- Wearing an outfit that isn’t flattering for your body type.
- Focusing on trend items instead of investment pieces.
- Having a cluttered closet where it is hard to find things.
- Not taking care of your clothes.
- Buying pieces only because of the brand.
- Wearing too many patterns.
- Not knowing what’s already in your closet before you shop.
- Having clothes that are not good quality.
- Wearing too many accessories.
- Focusing on quantity over quality.
- Not making needed alterations to your clothes.
- Skipping steaming or ironing your items.
- Convincing yourself to buy an item that you don’t really love.
- Not purchasing closet essentials.
- You don’t know how to french or half-tuck your shirts.
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