How to give your personal style a much needed makeover

As we get older, we change, we mature, and so does our style. Maybe something that you have in your closet does not fit you anymore, or you are just tired of seeing certain items in there, because they make you uncomfortable. Well, perhaps now is the best time to dive into your closet, get everything out, and purge everything you don’t necessarily need. While doing so, you can take time to actually think about your style and redefine! Here are some great tips on how you can give your wardrobe a much needed makeover.

When it comes to a makeover, always be open to change

Your style may not be yours any longer. Maybe your taste is different, or you put on some weight, so now you find yourself reaching for only a small percentage of your overall clothes collection. Makeovers are all about redefining, reinventing and reconsidering. Start with who you are, and who you want to present yourself as, and then go towards that goal. 

Don’t be afraid to try something new, a new trend that you wouldn’t normally go for, or a colour palette that you are unsure of. Push yourself to get out of your comfort zone and be more open-minded. Experiment, and try new things, as it will give you a clear image on what suits you and what does not, instead of just assuming or doubting. By knowing what will fit you, your confidence is likely to skyrocket! 

Get the best wardrobe makeover by knowing your body

Another important aspect of doing a makeover, is knowing your body. Not every piece of clothing is designed to fit every body type. If you are shorter, with short legs, midi skirts are not your friend, as they will make you look even shorter. If you are taller, with an elongated torso, turtle-necks will not suit you, as it may look like you are taller than you are. 

Whichever body type or shape you are, make sure you accentuate the best features. For that to be possible, you need to be true to yourself, and highlight all the flaws on your body, so you can hide them. Get a friend to join you, too! Two heads know better than one!

Don’t be afraid of bold jewellery

Jewellery can make or break an outfit. Therefore, many women opt not to use bold jewellery, but rather stick to plain ones, and play it safe. What better time to try out if you are a bold jewellery person than during a makeover! Whether that be a strong coloured necklace, an oversized ring, or earrings with long tassels, you won’t know it until you try it! 

Going by what the lecturers behind an innovative master’s degree in fashion design and business teach us, aesthetics is an immensely important part of fashion. So, please, do not overdo it! One bold piece of jewellery is more than enough. If you opt for a necklace, let it be the star of the show, and make your ring and earrings supporting acts. Similarly, if you want earrings to pop, don’t wear a necklace. 

Choose colours wisely

Having a well thought out style depends not only on the types of clothes you wear. It also mirrors a unified, well-connected colour palette that compliments your skin tone, complexity, and hair colour. Having a neutral base colours for your staple pieces, such as grey, black, or beige, allows you to bring in more colour with your accessories, or designer pieces. For example, a long, pastel blue coat will go perfectly with a pair of washed out, grey jeans, a grey jumper, and black (or white) boots. If you prefer to have your staples in beige, make sure your colour pieces match in one colour shade, like red, orange, or green. Try not to have more than three colour options in your wardrobe, as it may overwhelm you while choosing what to wear. 

Staple pieces + designer pieces = bingo!

To elaborate more on the subject of clothing pieces – when you want some closet makeover ideas, it is usually because your closet is cluttered with either too many staple pieces, or too many designer pieces that just don’t match. You need to make a good balance of the number of items in each category. Let’s say that the ideal number would be 70% staple pieces, and 30% designer pieces (or bold-coloured pieces) that you can easily mix and match. When you achieve that goal, getting dressed in the morning will be a breeze!
 
Also, try to have all your staple pieces in no more than two base colours – so, for example, have grey and black pieces, or beige and black, or black and white pieces. If, however, you love your bold colours, and enjoy having more than 4 colours on you at all times, disregard what we just advised, and go for it – with confidence!

Now that you know the basis for a wardrobe makeover, we hope you will easily find your style, your colour palette, and how to perfectly accentuate all your strengths. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jennifer Hahn Masterson is the Lead Content Strategist at Spread the Word Solutions, specialised in fashion, design and lifestyle.