6 STYLE GOALS FOR THE NEW YEAR
Photography: Stephanie Ramson
*Affiliate links and shop widgets are used to produce this blog post.*
After reflecting on the past year, or decade, we typically come away with ways we want to improve ourselves now that we have a “fresh start.” We make resolutions about everything from eating habits to who we spend our time with, but how often do those goals include making better choices when it comes to your clothes? Believe it or not, how you dress, shop, and view your clothes impact your life more than you’d realize and can potentially be holding you back from being your best self.
I’m going to share my top style tips with you, in hopes that it will help you feel more confident while expressing your best self through how you dress and shop.
1. Get To Know Your Body & Your Measurements (Especially Your Bra Size)
Before you can even think about developing your style, you must know your body type. Where do you carry more of your weight? What are your best physical features? Is there a part of your body you try to hide? Do you have a lot of curves, a little bit, or none at all? Is your torso long or short? What fits look best on your body? Do you even know?
I learned what works best for me by trial and error, and finding out my measurements. (If you have no idea where to start and need a little assistance, please e-mail me at modestlyexposed@gmail.com. ) I discovered that I should stay away from dresses that don’t have a shape, meaning they are straight all the way down. I do this because I have wide hips and a small waist and those dresses accommodate the widest part of my body, aka my hips, giving the illusion that my waist has disappeared. If I do purchase a dress like this, I pair it with a belt around my waist to accentuate my hourglass shape.
Knowing your measurements allows you to determine your body type and helps you make more informed decisions when shopping. For instance, when shopping online, have you noticed the tab by the sizes that says, “size guide?” It helps you choose which size you should purchase based on your measurements. We won’t always be able to try on items before purchasing them, with more and more companies going the direct to consumer route, e-commerce is essentially unavoidable. One of the most user-friendly fit guides I’ve come across is from one of my favorite brands, Lively.
Lively is a lingerie brand that specializes in comfort and functionality, and the majority of their business is online. Their fit guide walks you through how to measure yourself to ensure you’re getting the perfect fit.
Having the appropriate underwear is the foundation of any outfit, especially for women who have bigger boobs. A lot of women believe that Victoria’s Secret is the “right” underwear because of brand recognition and the price, but the brand’s focus is mainly on sex appeal rather than functionality. So many women end up spilling out of their tops because the bra they are wearing is cut too low, not to mention it doesn’t support the girls or their back.
Again, all of this comes down to knowing your body and what will allow you to accentuate all your wonderful features.
(Oh, If you do decide to check Lively out, use the code: AMB-kaylynvial for $10 off your first purchase!)
2. Find A Tailor
I’m not the first one to tell you that everyone’s body is different. As much as we’d like to believe it’s true, one pair of jeans cannot fit every body type perfectly. The same applies to other articles of clothing. Have you ever tried on a pair of pants, where they fit you in the waist but are too loose at the bottom? Or is it the opposite? Were they an inch or two too long? Did you put them back where you got them and leave the store?
What if I told you, that you didn’t have to do that anymore? The secret to looking expensive and having great style is to tailor your clothes, and yes, it’s actually affordable! Alterations can range anywhere from $10-$50, depending on the material, how it’s cut, if there are buttons or zippers, etc..
Let’s say you purchase a nice pair of jeans at a thrift store and get them tailored, they are still less than what you would have paid at retail value. Not to mention, you have custom jeans which will guarantee you will wear them regularly!
On my street alone, two places offer alterations, not to mention, I can name a handful of people in my life that know how hem or can make alterations as well! Heck, it’s 2020, maybe your style goal is to learn how to sew so you can do it all yourself!
3. Wash Your Clothes Less
Washing your clothes every time you wear them, causes the fabric to wear faster and will shorten their life span. Going a little longer between washes will make them last longer, allows you to save money on your water bill, and it’s environmentally friendly.
To take it a step further, switch to cleaner products, I use Tide Pure, a plant-based alternative to toxic cleaners. It keeps my clothes looking nice and it’s better for the planet.
4. Steam Your Outfits
Even though my style leans towards the French mentality of effortlessly chic, it only looks chic because I put in the effort. Before any photoshoot or important event, I steam each piece of clothing. I will admit my own style goal for the year is to pick out and steam all my outfits every night. It makes such a difference to the clothes and instantly creates a more professional aesthetic.
I have two Rowenta stand-up steamers, as well as a $20 Joy handheld steamer from Target, and seriously, they are my best friends when it comes to completing a look. They save you time if you aren’t able to bust out the iron and are just as efficient. A steamer doesn’t just eliminate the wrinkles, it will also allow you to wash your clothes less frequently because it sanitizes them.
5. Invest In Better Clothes (If You Can)
I want to start this one off by saying, I understand that not everyone can budget to invest in their clothes by shopping at ethical brands that have a higher price point, and that’s ok. You can still find exceptional pieces at thrift and consignment stores. If you can save money, research quality brands and then spend more on staple pieces that will last you for years, you will end up spending less than you would if you are constantly buying cheaper poorly made clothes at retail price. This also cuts down on the consumer mindset of we need more and creates less of a need for fast fashion.
I understand that some prices may be intimidating, but when you think of what’s beyond that individual item of clothing, such as living wages for the workers that produced the clothes, living wages for those who work in the stores, the quality of the fabric, etc., doesn’t it make sense that it wouldn’t be so cheap? Which would you wear and take better care of, a top that costs you $30 from a trustworthy brand, or a top that costs you $5 from Walmart?
6. Shop Ethically
More expensive doesn’t always mean more ethical though, and thankfully there are great resources that tell us how brands rank in terms of sustainability and labor rights, such as the Good On You App. Good On You App rates brands based on their sustainability and ethics when it comes to labor and animal rights. Other great resources that are available are blogs by passionate people like All Awear and The Good Wear!
So why shop sustainably? The fashion industry is known for being one of the biggest contributors to polluting the environment, as well as using forced labor and unsafe working conditions to produce the clothes. If we mean what we say that we care about ALL people, as well as the environment, we should act like it. Fashion Revolution is an organization that offers in-depth information on the issues that stem from the current fashion industry and how to take action.
A simple, cost-effective step towards sustainability is to shop at thrift and consignment stores. Instead of spending $5 on a top at Forever 21 (RIP), you can purchase a similar top at a thrift store and not contribute to fast fashion.
You can find unbelievable items in your local clothing consignment stores. My first time in the Richmond location of Buffalo Exchange, I found a vintage Oscar de la Renta top and an Alexander McQueen top with tags still attached, all for under $50. If you don’t know luxury fashion designers, that probably doesn’t sound that impressive to you, but trust me, that’s unheard of.
Even if you aren’t interested in discovering distinguished designer pieces, you are still able to find exceptional items at a reasonable price, while saving them from a landfill that pollutes our planet.
If you would like me to list some of my favorite ethical brands in a separate post, let me know in the comments!
Having a personal style is a direct way to inform those around you, who you are and what you value. If you are uncomfortable with your body, it will show, because you will probably feel the need to hide under baggier clothes that have a lot of stretch to them. You’ll lie to yourself and say that you don’t look good in “normal clothes” or that “normal clothes” don’t fit you. It’s not true, but maybe you just need a little help, because you don’t know how to dress your body type or where to shop.
The same goes for people who value comfort, I promise you sweatpants and leggings are not the only comfortable material in the world. I styled a friend in a silk skirt and a sweater, and she was just as comfortable, if not more comfortable than in her pajamas, but she looked so chic!
When you are insecure or scared of the unknown, you are less likely to step out of your comfort zone, and this is true in other areas of your life but it will be reflected in what you wear. If you are scared to move away from your comfort zone, can you really be growing towards and presenting your best self?
I hope you know that I’m not great at all of these either, I’m still trying to better my habits and style all the time! Let’s do it together and start this decade off right, by changing the way we think about ourselves and our clothes!
Which of these style tips seems the most and least intimidating?