Finding the right outfit when opening your closet is a common struggle many women face. Despite having a wardrobe packed full of clothes, it often feels like there's nothing suitable to wear. As an ordinary girl who has evolved from knowing nothing to being somewhat fashion-savvy, I'd like to share my style journey over the past decade.
To be honest, I used to be very impulsive when buying clothes, purchasing whatever looked good without considering practical factors. Looking back now, those were truly costly lessons! However, I've learned a lot through these experiences, and today I'll share all these insights with you.
When I first became interested in fashion, I was a complete trend follower. Whatever celebrity outfit went viral on Weibo, I would buy the same style. Whatever item an influencer recommended on Xiaohongshu, I would immediately order it. As a result, my closet was filled with clothes of various styles, but they looked odd when I wore them, nothing like how they appeared on the influencers.
I remember one summer when I was captivated by the "puff sleeve" trend. After seeing a popular influencer wearing a puff-sleeve top with high-waisted wide-leg pants, looking both ethereal and cool, I immediately bought the same top. However, because of my broad shoulders, the puff sleeve design made my upper body look even more robust, giving me an inverted triangle shape. I only wore it once and never dared to wear it out again. That piece of clothing hung in my closet for an entire year, still with its tags on.
Another time, I fell in love with the color "high-end gray." I thought the color was really sophisticated and would make my skin look fair. But when I bought a gray knit sweater and put it on, I looked lifeless, and my complexion appeared poor. Later I learned that because my skin has yellow undertones, such cool-toned grays don't suit me. Instead, warmer colors like camel and beige enhance my complexion.
Through these lessons, I gradually realized how important it is to understand your body type and skin tone. I began studying my body shape and discovered I have a pear-shaped figure, narrow on top and wider on the bottom. For this body type, the key is balancing proportions by choosing tops with design elements that add visual weight, while selecting bottoms that flatter the leg line.
I also spent time studying my skin tone. I have typical yellow undertones, so I need to avoid colors that make my skin appear more yellow, like neon colors and pure white. Instead, warm colors like beige, camel, and lotus root pink make my complexion look better.
When it comes to buying clothes, I now pay special attention to quality. "Quality" doesn't just refer to price, but should be evaluated from multiple aspects: fabric, workmanship, fit, and so on. My current principle for buying clothes is "quality over quantity" - I'd rather spend more money on one good piece of clothing than buy a bunch of cheap but poor-quality items.
I remember last summer when I was debating whether to buy a pair of linen wide-leg pants for 1,200 yuan. At the time, I thought this price was too expensive for a pair of pants, but I really liked the material and fit when I tried them on. I finally bit the bullet and bought them, and these pants became my go-to piece last summer. The linen fabric was breathable and structured, the fit was great, and they maintained their shape throughout the summer. Plus, being a basic style, they matched well with various tops. When averaged out, the cost per wear for these pants was actually quite low.
In contrast, I used to be attracted to "bargain" clothes. I thought spending just a few dozen yuan per piece wouldn't hurt even if I only wore them a few times. But thinking about it now, those clothes either had poor fabric quality and were uncomfortable to wear, had rough workmanship and lost shape after a few washes, or were too trendy and couldn't be worn after the season. Rather than buying these, it's better to save the money and buy one truly quality piece.
Now when buying clothes, I pay special attention to fabric composition. Natural materials like pure cotton, wool, and silk may be more expensive, but they offer better wearing experience and quality feel. Moreover, clothes made from these materials can maintain good condition even after many wears if properly cared for.
Workmanship is another aspect I focus on. The treatment of collars, cuffs, and hems, and the evenness of stitching - these details all reflect a garment's quality. Sometimes at the same price point, different brands can have very different workmanship. I'll compare multiple options and choose the one with more refined craftsmanship.
Color matching is truly a profound subject. I used to think black, white, and gray were the most versatile, but this made me look lifeless. Later, when I started studying color coordination, I discovered that appropriate color matching can make an overall outfit very interesting.
I now organize my closet by color system: basic colors (black, white, gray), warm colors (red, orange, yellow), cool colors (blue, purple, green), and neutral colors (khaki, camel). This makes it easier to find suitable combinations when putting outfits together.
Speaking of specific color matching techniques, I most commonly use the "60-30-10" principle. This principle sounds professional but is actually very simple to use. For example, when putting together a casual spring outfit, I'll choose a light khaki trench coat (60%), pair it with an off-white knit sweater (30%), and add a dark brown scarf as an accent (10%). This kind of combination maintains overall harmony while avoiding monotony.
Monochromatic coordination is also a good choice. For example, I particularly like blue, so I'll try combining different shades of blue: a navy blazer with a sky blue shirt, paired with light blue jeans. This kind of combination looks harmonious without being boring.
Contrasting color combinations require more skill. I usually choose one main color and use contrasting colors for small accents. For example, wearing a royal blue dress with an orange bag or belt. This kind of combination can be eye-catching, but you need to control the amount of contrasting color to avoid looking too dramatic.
Speaking of occasions, I've really learned some hard lessons! I once wore a cute floral dress to an important job interview. Although the dress was pretty, it was completely inappropriate for the interview setting and made me appear unprofessional. Since then, I've paid special attention to the relationship between occasion and dress.
Workplace attire requires the most consideration. Although our company doesn't have strict dress codes, appropriate professional attire does create a more professional impression. I usually prepare some basic professional pieces, such as:
These pieces can be mixed and matched to create different looks. Plus, these basic styles don't easily go out of fashion and can be worn for a long time.
Social occasion attire can be more flexible. For meeting friends, you can dress more casually but still need to maintain overall coordination. I usually choose some pieces with stronger design elements, such as:
For weddings or formal evening events, more careful consideration is needed. You need to consider multiple factors like venue, time, and season. Once I attended a friend's lawn wedding and specifically chose a pair of beautiful stilettos, but the heels kept sinking into the grass, making it very difficult to walk. After that, for outdoor weddings, I choose wedges or block heels, which are both formal and practical.
Creating layers is where styling really shows its sophistication. Many people think layering just means wearing multiple pieces of clothing, but this is a misconception. True layering is about creating visual richness through the combination of different pieces.
For example, in autumn, I might use a basic crew neck sweater as the base layer, layer a loose-fit plaid shirt over it, and top it with a trench coat. While it's just three simple pieces layered together, the combination of different textures (knit, cotton, coat fabric) and different styles (fitted, loose, structured) creates rich layering.
Creating layers in summer requires more skill. Because of the hot weather, you can't actually wear many layers. At this time, you can create layering through the design of individual pieces. For example:
Speaking of accessories, they're truly magical in elevating an overall look. I now carefully consider accessory choices for each outfit because the right accessory can really be the perfect finishing touch.
Jewelry is the most commonly used accessory. I choose different styles of jewelry for different occasions:
Bag selection is also important. I don't have many bags now, but each one is very practical:
Shoe selection is also crucial. In my shoe collection, I have:
After years of exploration, my biggest realization is that fashion isn't about blindly following trends, but finding the style that suits you best. Everyone is unique, and there are no universal rules for dressing. What's important is understanding yourself and establishing your own fashion philosophy.
Now when buying clothes, I ask myself several questions:
If the answers to these questions are all positive, then the piece is worth buying.
At the same time, I also suggest that while pursuing fashion, don't forget about comfort. No matter how beautiful clothes are, if they're uncomfortable to wear, it's torture. Finding a style that suits you, is both fashionable and comfortable, is most important.
Over these years, I've evolved from someone who knew nothing about fashion to someone who can accurately grasp their own style. While this journey involved some detours, every attempt was valuable experience. I hope these insights can help those of you who are also exploring your fashion journey.
Remember, fashion isn't about imitation, but about showing your most authentic self. Find your own style, and let every day's outfit be filled with confidence and joy!
Have you encountered similar fashion dilemmas? Or do you have any unique style insights to share? Welcome to tell me in the comments section, let's grow together!
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