How to Wear What You Already Have and Look Great

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You want to look and feel great, but you don’t want to spend more money. Or you already have an overflowing closet and nothing seems to look good.

I’ve spent more time than I’d care to admit to shopping for clothes and shoes. Way more money than I’d like to admit to as well! Before I met my husband, I subconsciously thought that whatever new outfit I was buying was going to get me a loving, fulfilling relationship. Here are the things I’ve learned about looking and feeling good that have little to do with buying more clothes.

Embrace You: Whatever your size is, it’s wonderful. Or even if you think it isn’t (or even if your doctor says it isn’t!) dress like you’re the perfect size. Things that don’t fit well don’t look good, so buy the bigger size if you need to. Even if you WILL lose the weight. The current you deserves to look good. And when you lose that weight, you can either go shopping or have it taken in. But in the mean time, you’re worth it NOW.

Give Yourself a Waistline: A belt is a phenomenal thing. Or a well-tailored dress or shirt. Don’t over tighten the belt. Just loose enough to create a waistline, be comfortable, but draw a line. Maybe the belt should be over your cardigan or tunic. Play with it a little and see what you like.

Accessorize: A little. Coco Chanel said “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” Which is a great rule if you generally wear a lot of accessories. But most of us could probably go with the opposite: before you leave the house go put one accessory on. Have some go-to’s that work with many outfits.

Color: Black is great. It’s slimming, endures stains, goes with anything and can be dressy or casual. Other neutrals too. But a little color adds dimension to you, your look, your attitude. It doesn’t have to be bright, but it can be. Choose a color that flatters you. I love pastels, but they wash me out. Bolder colors flatter me more. And colors affect your mood. Wearing yellow can actually make you happier. Give it a try.

Layer: Add a leather jacket, a blazer, a scarf, a vest, something. Besides accessories, layers make you seem more put together. Layers can de-emphasize those problem areas without making it look like you’re hiding something.

Show a little less Skin: You’ll likely never regret being a bit more covered. First, there’s the rule that if you’re going to show some cleavage, cover your legs and vice versa. But even beyond that, covering more is never going to give you trouble. It will make you feel good, like the complete package instead of objectified.

Get a Tailor: Or learn some basics. Tents don’t flatter you. A nicely tailored pair of pants does wonders for your butt. Tailored isn’t too tight, it’s the perfect fit. Perfect for you. Hem your pants. Too long just ruins them quickly and looks rushed. It probably means having a flats pair or pants and a heels pair of pants, but it’s worth it.

Take Care of Your Stuff: Shine your shoes. Clean your handbag, inside and out. Shave your clothes (my pants always need it between the legs, and sweaters usually need a little tender loving care.) Wash them like their label says to wash them. Mend tears.

Exude Confidence: You know how girls used to walk around with books on their heads to practice good posture? It makes you look confident. Stand up straight, put your shoulders back, and look up instead of at the ground. Confidence improves every look.

Smile: You really are never fully dressed without a smile. Positivity looks attractive.

You and I, we don’t need more stuff to look amazing! Wear what you already have and look great!