Top 8 styling tips

I am sure there is lots of these articles out there with similar advice on how to level up your styling game. However, these are my top tips, the things I live by for myself and pass on to my clients. I believe styling is about you not only what you wear so I look at things a little differently. I am not going to tell you to overhaul your wardrobe as that’s not what I am about. My aim is to hopefully get you dusting off some old pieces in your wardrobe maybe find some new ones and go out with a look to suit you. Fashions come and go but style is timeless.

Number one – Learn your body shape:

Learning your body shape is a big step to being able to successfully style the right clothing for you. There are five main shapes, listed above. Different clothing suits different shapes. It also makes a big impact on how to accessorize, learning to extenuate certain parts of the body and work with your natural shape is the best to show off your figure. The biggest difference knowing your shape can make is it helps when buying clothing, sounds self-explanatory I know but different cuts and styles suit different shapes. For example, a slim fit suit will look better on a triangle shaped man because they tailor in so can be larger on the shoulders without swamping the middle, whereas a regular fit would be better on an apple shape as you get the tailoring more to the upper body and arms evening out the bodies shape. A woman with a pear shape may find a wrap dress less flattering and would better suit an outfit waited more heavily towards the waist and legs this is because wrap dresses cut right at the waist with the aim to extenuate the top with a pear the hips are your best feature so a tighter fitting dress or some trousers and a blouse may be a better fit. Knowing your body shape is the beginning of knowing your style, it helps narrow down choices before even entering the fitting room.

The best way to find your shape is simple, stand in front of a mirror in tight fitting clothing and compared to the shapes above which one best feels and looks like you. Be truthful with yourself there is no “best shape”. A massive thing to remember when looking at your body shape is that size does not change your shape. I am UK 14-16, and I have an hourglass shape, a common misconception is you have to be a size 6 to be an hourglass but as long as your waist is the smallest point and your chest and hips go out further then bingo, you’re an hourglass. With men finding your shape can be a little trickery but a great way to look at it is the upper body is looking more at the shoulders whereas for women it is the bust, so a triangle shape man means your shoulders are the widest part of your body and your hips are narrower.

So go for it have some fun give it a go get in front of that mirror and have a look, find your shape and if you can’t book in a style consolation with Daisies and Roses and we can get you sorted.

Number two – Know your colours:

So you’ve found your body shape now the next step is learning what colours best suit you this is very important in your journey into knowing how to style yourself, featured above are what are known in the industry as the seasonal colour pallets, but no it has nothing to do with the time of year you should wear them, most people fit into one of these four categories. When doing a full colour analysis on someone you find there is a primary palette, but I may pull from others as well. The colours that suit you will also be split into primary colours and secondary colours; a primary suiting colour is one that really goes with your undertones whereas a secondary suiting colour goes well but possibly more of a layering or patterned piece rather than a block colour. As just mentioned, colour analysis comes from starting with your undertones but what are undertones.

Undertones. There are four major undertones these are yellow, green, blue and red. You do find they will have a range within that colour such as your bright yellows your dark greens, goldens and pinks. Undertones don’t have anything to do with the colour of your skin you may find people with a darker skin tone do tend to suit similar colours and people with a lighter skin tone suit similar colours however pigmentation and undertones are not correlated, this can be due to other factors such as hair or eye colour. Knowing your undertones is important for knowing your colours as they correlate for example, I know I have pink and golden undertones which means I tend to steer away from very pale colours as they wash me out. I also remember the classic colour wheel so I tend to not wear things like bright green as they don’t sit very well against yellows and golden colours due to them being so close you might find that confusing because on a painting they would sit really nicely together as they blend but when it comes to undertones it is contrast you are looking for, if you blend with your undertones you’re going to wash yourself out. But don’t worry if you have green olive undertones it does not mean you can’t wear green it just means knowing the shades and tones that you can. This is where the seasonal colours come in. You can see in every single pallet above there is blue, but they are very different shades of blue so people with different undertones will suit different shades even if it is all the same colour. The best way to know your colours and your undertones is to get this professionally done this is a service offered at Daisies and Roses both in person and online if you are interest please follow the link in the website. You can definitely try and do it yourself but it’s going to take a lot of trial and error, the best way to know your undertones by yourself is simply to look at your skin it does take some training to get good at this, but humans are complicated no skin is one simple colour. If you are struggling to see your undertones a great way to get an idea is warmth some people have quite cool tone’s these people tend to have yellower undertones possibly pink if you have a warmer colour then you may be more golden and olive possibly into the reds people have more than one undertone most will find they have two. So, you’ve figured out your undertones woohoo. The best way now to know your colours is to work to the opposites if you have pale undertones you will suit darker colours dark neutrals and light brights whereas if you have warmer undertones, you often suit pale colours and neutral brights. Once you know your range go have a play get in that wardrobe you already own borrow things from other people or go into a shop and get into their fitting rooms with a range of colours you think might suit you don’t be afraid to try something different.

Number three – Dress for the season:

I know this might sound really self-explanatory but if you want timeless style then there is nothing worse than not being dressed for the occasion. Fashion trends come and go style is forever and one thing that creates timeless style is being stylish in all seasons have you ever seen somebody stood of a bus stop and it’s raining and cold in winter and they are in shorts isn’t your first thought that it looks silly. As a Brit myself I know styling for the great British seasons can be a little bit more difficult than a place with harsher seasoned differences. Layering is a great key to this get yourself some timeless classic pieces that are multi-seasonal like jackets that are waterproof but don’t look like hiking jackets and invest in a good shoe spray to make most of your shoe’s waterproof. The simplest ways you can dress for the season is just by simply checking the weather before you go out then you will never be caught short in the wrong clothing, keeping a stylish umbrella in your car is also a great tip. This does also go the other way in that you don’t want to be wearing a thick puffer coat and hat in the middle of summer. Again, this is when layering can come in very useful, layering also has the ability to mix your colours and accentuate your shape. My personal favourite layering item is a denim jacket I have so many of them, they don’t just have to be blue, work your colours. Another top tip for dressing for the season is knowing your fabrics, fabrics make a massive impact to how comfortable you are going to be in different weathers, natural fibres are often the best to use as they are really long lasting and adapt really well to different seasons better than synthetic man-made fabrics such as polyester will. They are also more classic therefore giving a timeless style to your look, linen is really good for summer and can be layered to work for spring and autumn as well. Although normally seen as a warm fabric wool is really good for all seasons as it has properties that keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer because of its moisture wicking abilities. The reason natural fabrics work incredibly well is because their monomer make up is more complicated therefore has more movement and ability to distribute air evenly and heat evenly throughout your body. Using these tips look at your weather apps and make sure you dress of the season that you are in.

Number four – accessorise but not too much:

Accessories can make or break an outfit, that is important to remember when looking at which ones to put with your look. There is an old saying that says always take one thing off before you leave the house, because the likelihood is you put one too many accessories on. As much as that could be great advice sometimes you need a lot of accessories to coordinate and make a cohesive outfit learning which ones to wear may just be easier. There are three main areas of accessories; clothing accessories such as scarves, belts and legwarmers, jewellery such as necklaces, rings and watches and finally head accessories such as hats and headbands. Accessories do tend to come in and out with different fashion trends but there are still some timeless styling pieces and there is a way to always style these new trends. Belts are both a great fashion accessory and incredibly functional however they do need to be the right colour tan belts or dark colours such as green work well with jeans whereas black belts should be reserved for black trousers. Styling accessories is one of the best places to play around and find your unique style, don’t be afraid to shop your sections, I have a lot of accessories from the children’s section because I find that I enjoy their brighter colours. When it comes to jewellery people tend to lean towards either the silver colours all the gold colourings you can definitely mix-and-match but if you are looking to for a timeless piece keeping all your jewellery one colour is the way to go. I wear silver colouring mostly as I like it better and it compliments my skin tone. My jewellery top tip is to get yourself an adjustable chain for your necklaces so you can layer multiple pieces together and remember the same pendent doesn’t have to stay on the same chain all the time. Headwear is a great styling choice I’m a fan of headbands and caps however when it comes to hats this does play into the dressing for your season again as you don’t want to be wearing a bobble hat in the middle of summer or straw hat in the middle of winter however paired with the right season and coordinated to your outfit a hat can look very trendy and stylish. Charity shops are always full of hats and jewellery so if you aren’t quite sure what suits you pop into your nearest one and have a bit of a trial.

Number five – know your environment:

A lot of my top tips are about knowing things such as knowing you colours, knowing your body shape and knowing the season so continuing on that trend this top tip is about knowing the environment you’re going to be in, as different clothing and styles work with different occasions however, mini tip you should always be overdressed if unsure, because your look better bowling in a suit than wearing tracksuit bottoms at a five-star restaurant. The most unstylish thing you can do is look underdressed. So know your environment what I mean by that is when someone invites you out ask them what you’re doing or if they won’t tell you at least ask is it outside or maybe even ask the question what is the dress code what vibe are we feeling for this event and if somebody tells you you’re going hiking up a mountain it’s best not to turn up in a skimpy summer dress and heels, because one it won’t look very stylish certainly by the end and it’s going to be incredibly uncomfortable for you. The great thing about timeless style is you can look good anywhere and doing anything that does not mean that one outfit fits all, but it does mean that you should learn to dress for your occasion. I know that when I go to work as a personal stylist, I make sure I have an air of formality to me a classic elegance that is also very practical for putting in many steps, however when going out on a date night perhaps a dress will come out and maybe some heels. My final top tip for dressing for your environment is to understand that it is okay to have house clothes this goes hand-in-hand with my first tip of always over dressing not everything you own needs to be seen by everybody perhaps those old tracksuit bottoms or that dressing down can stay hung up in the wardrobe for this event. So next time you go out, think about what is it that I’m doing and how can I bring style to that event.

Number six – shop your sections:

A decent chunk of my wardrobe is from the men’s department, and why does that have to be a bad thing get comfortable with yourself shop across your sections. This gets easier as you learn things such as your shape because it is a fact you are just simply not going to fit right in some clothes from the opposite section however if you really love something there is the potential to get things altered to fit you so don’t discount it. My favourite thing to get from the men’s department is my denim jackets I have to roll the sleeves up a little bit because I’m only 5 ft 4 but I like the oversized look on me and how they hang off my shoulders. Gender is a construct anyway so you may as well have some fun with it. The same when it comes to sizing if you like the item and it fits you the size of it nor the gender it was intended for should matter, you can get some really fun pieces just by shopping your sections. This can also work in your favour for layering as typically ladies’ tops tend to be a tighter fit so if that’s what you’re looking for then go for it. Ladies clothing also tends to have a little bit more colour in it so if that suits your colours and you want to show off your newfound colour pallet it might be a great place to start. As mentioned in an earlier tip about accessories I shop the children’s section for some of mine, okay I don’t fit their clothing however things like hair products and hats I love the fun look to them and if you do fit their clothing why not style it. Style is about being comfortable in what you wear you are the designer of your own style to mix it up a little bit.

Number seven – shoes, shoes and more shoes:

For timeless style your outfit matters from head to toe so picking out the right shoes can make or break your look. Picking the perfect pair of shoes has to tick a few different boxes you need to remember dress for your occasion and your environment so the shoes are practical for what you are doing, the perfect pair of shoes has to also be very comfortable because how are you going to be elegant if you’re in pain on your feet, so as much as a pair of dagger heels might look incredible if you can’t walk in them they just won’t work. There are a few staples everybody should have in their wardrobe when it comes to shoes. A good pair of trainers, a pair of boots, a summer shoe, an everyday shoe and a going out shoe with this as the foundations you have a pair of shoes to match every occasion don’t be afraid to mix and match just because you’ve got a pair of boots doesn’t mean that they have to be reserved for winter, try styling a pair of boots with a dress it can look amazing. Having a pair of everyday shoes is the most useful one to have you want something that will go with almost everything is comfy and practical my favourites are probably my converse they are so easy to throw on and they don’t need too much effort they always finish an outfit off right. It is also important to get shoes that are good for your feet no matter your age as this will see you being able to wear your favourites for longer, shoes are always worth the investment.

A big no-no for the shoes is for them to look scruffy and I am not saying you have to buy a new pair of shoes every month but there are some great ways to keep your shoes looking nice and fresh, getting a good protector spray is the perfect place to start meaning that your less waterproof shoes can withstand a lot more weather options, some shoe shops offer this at purchase to get a special coating done in their stores so always ask about it. Be comfortable washing your shoes you wouldn’t wear a dress four times and keep putting it on chuck those trainers in the washing machine take the laces out and if they’ve got removable insoles take them out too, pop them in a pillowcase you can get shoe washing bags as well but an old pillowcase works just as well and put them in your washing machine you be amazed the difference it will make. Just always make sure you check if the fabric can go in the washing machine as things such as leather or suede may need special products. Shoes are also one of the perfect items to shop your sections and shop your companies you be amazed at the incredible shoes that are hiding in companies you may consider “too old” they tend to boast some fun patterns. So go exploring see what you’ve got and maybe clean an old pair to bring them back to life. Don’t ruin that perfectly style outfit at the wrong pair of shoes.

Number eight – confidence:

Although this is the last in the list, I would say it is almost the most important. Confidence, this may sound quite self-explanatory and maybe not like a styling tip. However, more often than not style is not what you wear it’s how you wear it, when I talk about timeless style words that come to mind are things like elegance, class and sophistication these are not just the clothes it also comes from how the item is worn and how the person is perceived that is wearing it, your style choice is yours, there are no rules into what style has to be my top tips are to help create your own style. Fashion trends have rules style doesn’t one of the greatest things about style is it can be uniquely yours if you love what you wear you will look better in it. So go for it if you want to wear those bright colours and that funky print embrace what is you with your outfit and wear it with confidence when you are confident and comfortable in an outfit you walk higher your posture will be better this is the you, you need to create timeless style. We have all been there you put on a dress that just doesn’t sit the way you wanted or a pair of trousers that hug all of the wrong places you avoid looking in mirrors you slouch over to hide what you don’t like that’s not style even if someone tell you, you look amazing it doesn’t help. On another person that dress or those trousers could be the perfect style because they love where it hugs, and they love the style of that dress. This is why style has to be yours and you have to exude confidence. You are the main character in your life act like it. Get that item out of the wardrobe you’ve never had the confidence to wear and wear it with confidence feel comfortable in your own skin. To be confident in your clothing you have to be confident in yourself learn to love your body and exude confidence in every way and look I’m as aware as anybody that loving your body isn’t always easy but hopefully by using some of these top tips on learning your shapes and learning your colours by building that style wardrobe of  dreams you will begin to grow your confidence you will begin to show your confidence and your style will rise.

The secret to great style is to feel good in what you wear.

Thank you for reading my top tips on style I hope I’ve inspired you and taught you something you didn’t know already if you can even take one tip from this article you’ll be boosting your style.

And if you want help on your styling journey, click the services link on the website and I will get you booked in.

Written by

Chloe Smith (Daisies and Roses)

18/04/2025