How To Dress Better: Tips That Make Every Outfit Better

Many of us struggle with how to dress better. When it comes to styling your clothes instead of simply wearing them, balancing an outfit comes up a lot. What exactly does it mean to “balance your outfit”? I’ll share how you can completely transform your outfits and make it easier to put together looks you feel good in.

If you ever put on an outfit in the morning, only to feel like something is off, there could be several reasons for it. It might be the fit, the style doesn’t reflect you, or even something you can’t pinpoint. However, knowing how to balance your outfits can completely change how you feel and allow you to dress better.

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Sometimes, when we hear about balancing outfits, it can mean adjusting proportions or pairing bold statement pieces with more neutral foundation pieces. But balance can mean many different things. One way to think about balance is by considering the contrast between fitted and flowy pieces. Recently, oversized styles have been popular, with loose fits on both the top and bottom. If that feels like your personal style and you love wearing those silhouettes, then stick with what works for you! This is all about discovering what makes you feel your best, and practicing new outfit combinations to help you refine your style.

In general, a great way to balance outfits is by pairing a flowy or loose-fitting top with a more structured or fitted bottom. Without contrast, wearing volume on both the top and bottom can overwhelm your frame, regardless of your body shape. A proportional contrast creates a more intentional and polished look.

This is also why I love adding structured layers. A jacket can provide structure and keep you from getting lost in a loose top. Similarly, if you wear an oversized sweater, try pairing it with slimmer bottoms. At this stage in my life, I’m less concerned about following trends and more focused on feeling good in my clothes. Creating this balance helps define your shape and prevents your frame from being overwhelmed by your outfit.

2. Add A Tuck

Another way to create balance in your outfits is by adding a half tuck or French tuck. This works well if you’re wearing a top that’s boxy, long, or flowy. A half tuck, or a full tuck if that suits your style, helps define your waist and enhances the proportions of your outfit.

If you have a longer torso, or an average-length torso, wearing a long top untucked can exaggerate the length of your torso and make your legs appear shorter. If you love that look, go for it! But as someone who is 5’4” and on the petite side, I prefer to create the illusion of longer legs, which is why I opt for a half tuck instead of leaving my top untucked.

On the other hand, if you have a shorter torso and want to create the illusion of length in your torso, consider tucking into mid-rise or low-rise bottoms rather than high-waisted ones. High-waisted bottoms shorten the torso while lowering the waistline elongates it.

Wherever you place your tuck: at your natural waist, slightly higher, or lower into your bottoms, determines where your waistline visually appears. This is why, with some of my clients who have a shorter torso or are petite and want to elongate their top half, I recommend layers that hit at their natural waist or are slightly cropped. Longer layers can make the legs appear shorter, throwing off the balance of an outfit.

3. Style Casual With Dressy

Another way I love creating balance in outfits is by mixing casual and dressy pieces. This is why I love having a strong foundation in my closet, like a capsule wardrobe that aligns with my unique style. It makes mixing and matching so much easier because most of my pieces can be dressed up or down depending on how I style them.

Think about ways you can pair your dressier pieces with more casual ones. I personally love wearing dresses with sneakers. It’s comfortable and stylish and makes my dresses more wearable for daytime. Another easy way to create this balance is by styling a silk or silk-like blouse, something you might usually save for a night out, with a pair of jeans and flats. This approach gives you so many more ways to style dressy tops for everyday wear.

Another tip for balancing outfits is incorporating statement pieces into more neutral looks. If you have bold or colorful items that you love but don’t wear often, try pairing them with neutral layers, shoes, and accessories. This makes your outfit feel more cohesive and easier to wear.

You can apply the same principle to statement silhouettes. Maybe your statement piece is the shape, like a voluminous sleeve or a pleated skirt with lots of width. In that case, balance the volume with a more streamlined, classic piece.

4. Bring In Your Personal Style

Another way to bring more balance to your outfits is by considering your personal style. Most of us resonate with more than one style type, blending different elements that feel authentic. Start looking at your wardrobe through the lens of your personal style.

If an outfit feels overly romantic but you also love minimalist style, try grounding the look with a sleek, minimalist jacket. If your style is both edgy and minimal, balance a leather moto jacket with a simple white t-shirt. These small adjustments can help create harmony in your outfits and make them feel more like you.

As with anything, practice is key. That’s how I improved at styling outfits, curating my wardrobe, and figuring out what works for me. Try setting aside 30 minutes each week to experiment with your closet. Play with a few of these balancing techniques and see what combinations feel best. Learning simple ways to balance your outfits will take you from just wearing your clothes to styling them in a way that feels intentional and put together.