Styling yourself can be very difficult at first. Finding things that you like can feel easy, but finding things that truly suit you can be tricky. You may love a certain item, but once you try it on, something might feel off about it. Maybe it was the fit… maybe it was the color or style? These things can be solved once you become more particular about the way you choose clothes.
Cut
Start with the Cut. Find the silhouette that you favor. Do you like baggy clothes or do you favor form fitting clothes? Depending on what kind of garment it is, there are pretty clear guidelines for me when I choose my clothes. Tops are straightforward, pants are more difficult. For tees I like to have a thick collar and have the length reach my waist. I prefer a standard width instead of a boxy or slim cut. I have not experienced having a shorter sleeve length but I would prefer to keep it that way. With most jackets and hoodies, I prefer a waist length too. Cold weather jackets can be longer, more like a mid-thigh/knee length. A way to tell if something does not fit correctly is to see how the shoulder seam fits you. If it is not aligned with the edge of your shoulder, you should probably go for a different size. Pants can have lots of variance depending on the style you choose, but make sure you find the correct waist size and length for you. Ideally, you should be able to wear your pants without having to wear a belt. If you really want your clothes to fit a certain way just bring your stuff to a tailor to get them altered – or cut them yourself!
Color
Find your color. Choosing the colors that look best on you can take a while to dial in, but pays off later. Building a color cohesive wardrobe is one of the most fun parts of the clothing game for me. I aim to find items that I can mix and match with other things I already have to maximize the amount of wear. Personally, I have many black bottoms and denim bottoms. I keep them simple so I can have more flexibility with the colors and patterns of my tops.
If you are starting to build your wardrobe, I would say black on black clothing is the easiest to pull off. There is an abundance of black clothing everywhere so it should not be too hard to find great stuff. Earth tones are simple to follow and usually look good when put together, but avoid matching tops and bottoms – matching sweat sets is not the vibe (respectfully you can do better than essentials). Mixing green, grey, blue, khaki, and black creates a clean look with a lot of options. This is usually the path of those who favor denim or vintage wear. Clothing with patterns can clash so I try to keep that to a minimum. Personally I do not wear bright clothing pieces together. It is either one or the other for me, but some people wear both well and do a good job.
Bonus Consideration – Find textures you feel good in. For example, I avoid corduroy and furry/mohair garments. Too hot/itchy for me. Maybe I might grow towards those later.
Style
Find your style. You will always have a style that is unique to you, but you may gravitate towards a certain category of clothing, whether it be streetwear, vintage, designer, etc. It is good to have a ‘look’ that you can work towards when developing your closet. Taking inspiration from social media can be a gift and a curse. If you let it influence you too much, you might start getting things because they are trending, rather than because you genuinely want it. Alternatively, it can be such a great tool at viewing such different varieties of clothing.
People always look great in whatever style they choose when they are comfortable and confident in their clothes. Do not worry too much, go with your gut!
Overall, try not to get lost in trying to find the ‘best’ version of a certain thing. There are so many variations of the same item, so you might actually limit yourself by looking for the ‘best of the best’. It all comes down to your preferences and what you feel good in. Have fun!