5 Common Style Mistakes
that make getting dressed harder!

Not just for the young

Style advice often appears to be for the young, the trendy or the affluent - but actually if you have a general eye for what you like and just want to feel comfortable rather than follow the in-crowd, all you need to do is by-pass the most common style mistakes.

You'll be on your way to looking good in no time!

It's easy to become attached to favourite pieces. You've worn them for years, they feel familiar and they may even hold happy memories.

But sometimes we keep clothes long after they have stopped doing us any favors. They may be faded, shapeless, dated or no longer reflect who we are now.

This often happens with clothes we wear around the house, they may be too tight or just simply baggy. Comfort matters, of course, but do ask youself; would I feel happy answering the door in this?

You don't need to give up comfort to look presentable. A few well-chosen casual or lounge pieces can help you feel relaxed and pulled together at the same time.

Letting go of old favourites is not always easy, but if they no longer make you feel good, it may be time to pass them on.

A wardrobe works best when it reflects the life you actually live.

Many of us buy for a lifestyle we used to have, hope to have or only occasionally have. Meanwhile, the clothes we really need for everyday life are often missing.

Think about your typical week. Do you need outfits for working from home, school runs, lunch with friends, errands, travel, family gatherings - in other words, do you have a casual lifestyle or do you need to dress for smarter occasions?

Are you prepared for the season ahead? If your wardrobe does not support your real routine, getting dressed can become frustrating.

Take a fresh look at your current wardrobe what you own and ask yourself whether it truly suits your current lifestyle. If there are obvious gaps, focus on filling those first.

Fashion changes constantly, but your coloring, shape and personal preferences are far more consistent.

That means not every trend, color, cut or fabric will necessarily suit you, no matter how appealing it looks on the hanger or in a photograph.

It helps to understand which colors flatter you most, which shapes work best for your figure and which styles feel most like you. Once you know that, shopping becomes much easier.

Instead of buying random pieces on impulse, try choosing clothes that work with what you already own. A wardrobe built with some thought behind it will always be more useful than one full of isolated purchases.

The aim is not to own more, but to own things that work well together and earn their place.

Everyone loves a bargain, but buying something just because it's reduced can be a false economy.

One of the most common style mistakes is settling for an item that's not quite right. The color is not your best, the fit is slightly off or the style doesn't really feel like you - but you buy it anyway because it's the best you can find at the time!

The same thing often happens with online shopping. Returning items can be inconvenient, but if something really doesn't fit properly or feel right, it's usually better to send it back than leave it hanging unworn in the wardrobe.

An item is not good value if you never wear it.

Better to own fewer clothes that truly suit you than a wardrobe full of compromises.

Perhaps the biggest mistake of all is thinking that style is about following rules.

Real style has much more to do with knowing yourself, understanding what suits you and feeling at ease in what you wear.

There is no perfect face, figure or formula. But when you begin to appreciate what you have, rather than focusing on what you think you lack, everything changes.

You become more selective; more realistic; more confident!

And confidence has a way of making even simple clothes look better.

Trust your own judgement. Pay attention to what feels right on you. Dress in a way that reflects who you are, not who someone else says you should be.

Because when you're spending hard-earned money, “it will do” really will not do!