How to Elevate Your Wardrobe (In Three Items or Less!)
As a personal stylist, the most common question my clients come to me with is “how do I elevate my look?” As a sustainable stylist, I reject the idea that you need a bunch of new stuff to completely change up your look. In fact, I posit that you only need three, all of which can easily be found secondhand and tailored to your exact tastes. Let me explain.
1. Replace Your Jeans
It’s easy to get stuck in a rut of wearing a T-shirt and jeans (or leggings) everyday. So I hear. I don’t own any jeans (or leggings). But, I know firsthand how just a single item can get you out of the endless cycle of bland outfits with the least amount of effort. I call it: the jean replacement.
The jean replacement, like the perfect denim, goes with anything. You can dress it up or down, and it takes the same (if not less) effort to pair with any top in your closet. I’m quite partial to skirts, as they’re a cheat code to making even your comfiest t-shirt look super stylish, but, the possibilities are endless.
2. Find Your Signature Accessory
Anna Wintour and her sunglasses. Flavor Flav and his clock. Lenny Kravitz and his gigantic scarf. All the great (and okay) style icons of our time have a signature accessory. And you should, too.
For me, my go-to is a belt (if the outfit calls for it) and copious amounts of gold jewelry (because every outfit calls for it) so, of course, I wrote a guide to how to incorporate both (or either) into your wardrobe and overall look.
3. Add A Third Piece
Are you one of those people who can’t wait for cooler weather so you can finally start putting together outfits? I get it. There’s not too much to find inspiring about dressing for exceedingly warm weather, especially when you’re just trying to keep it simple to keep cool. Luckily, there is something you can add to any basic outfit to kick it up a notch without sacrificing comfort.
It’s the Third Piece, and no matter your style, it’s probably gonna be a button down.
Now, don’t get me wrong: your button down doesn’t have to be white, nor does it have to be any certain length or fabric. I love fitted gauzy button ups just as much as stiff oversized men’s dress shirts and own short sleeved and cropped versions as well as sheer ones and printed ones. No matter what, they’re always the perfect addition to the boring tank top and skirt I throw on to run errands in the dead of summer. Just make sure you opt for linen and/or 100% cotton when the sun is out. Save the silks, rayons and synthetics for cooler summer nights or for later in the year when you can get away with less breathable fabrics.
So, Newsletters Are Pretty Cool, Right?
I started the True Style Substack a little over a year ago, and, while I do have some (justifiable) delusions of grandeur, I never in a million years would’ve dreamed that I’d have thousands of you reading and resonating with my little style tips and ramblings.
My goal is to build a community, and so, with that in mind, I wanted to share some other awesome publications as part of a partnership with some awesome women who are also writing good words on the internet.
5 Things You Should Buy: While I am perpetually on a Less Buy journey (it’s like a No Buy, but not quite), Becky’s ode to “granny shoes” has got me craving a pair of comfy wedges.
Gloria: As I approach my 30s, finding respite from the constant churn of 22-year olds and their day-in-the-food-journal-OOTD-life videos has become like a second full time job. I call them Grown Up Words, and articles about the complexities of motherhood and expressing concern about the unsettling explosion of millennials and Gen-Xers going into real estate are just what I need to remind myself that everyone on the internet does not still get carded trying to buy beer.
Girls’ Night In: As an entrepreneur, sometimes it’s tough to force myself to wind down. Alisha and her thoughtful recommendations are perfect when I wanna turn my brain off but keep the juices flowing.
A Thing or Two: The name describes what it is! After you check out their podcast, definitely make your way to Claire and Erica’s newsletter for a thing or two that’ll make you tilt your head and go “hmm.”
Worn In, Worn Out: When I am looking for something to buy, my first instinct is always to support a small business, creator, or artist. Kitty’s themed compilations of curious objects sometimes make me wish I could bring myself to overconsume just this once.