How To Look Chic Year Round- A Complete Fashion Guide
Are you looking for a complete guide to fashion? Want to find the core pieces you need to build a chic and elegant wardrobe at any budget? This is the article for you.
Here you will find what to shop in all fashion categories to elegant dresses, swimwear, lingerie and even suit styles.
Happy shopping ladies!
what is fashion?
Let's start with the meaning of fashion. Have you ever actually thought about it? Well, The literal definition of fashion is "a popular trend, especially in styles of dress or manners of behavior". So, if you look at the literal meaning you can see that fashion is about style (a personal choice on how you wear your clothes), and trends (the current designs that our popular ), and lastly it is about a manner of behavior (how we act).
I've always believed fashion is about expression of one's self. If we are wild and adventurous with it we can be seen wearing bright colors and styling it uniquely or if we are a more conservative person then our attire can be the tried and true styles that the masses are wearing.
So which one are you?
My personal style
Personally I'm somewhere in the middle. I love classic minimal pieces in simple colors like black, white, and neutrals paired with fun accessories and styled uniquely. I love layering textures like leather and knits.
I try to focus on timeless elegant styling. I tend to air on the dressier side most days but I do love denim and athleisure for casual days. As for the fit, I like to take the more loose fitting approach and use a belt to draw in the waistline to make me feel feminine. My style is definitely a mix of growing up in Venice beach as well as living in places like London and Paris. A blend of casual southern Californian style and chic euro/Parisian style.
My personal style can span from leather jackets to ride my motorcycle in one day and a Chanel gown the next day. But what always tie it together to form my personal style is chic elegance, yes even on a motorcycle.
I also didn't grow up with a ton of money so I will always appreciate more affordable options as well as luxury pieces. Overall A mix of High/Low fashion is my favorite.
I think the most important part of fashion is to wear and style your outfits in such a way that it makes you feel empowered and authentic.
fashion favs
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guide to fashion:
dresses
This is probably my favorite type of clothing. Because dresses are so versatile and always make one look feminine. I love a midi dress with sandals for the day then just switch to a sexy heel later in the day. completely changes the look. Also dresses now a days come in all shapes and sizes. You have the floor length gowns than casual sun dresses. I wrote a few posts specifically on dresses for every style or budget of white dresses and another on black dresses.
Top tip: A slip dress is a must have in your closet, you can find (satin) versions fairly easily and they look amazing with tight sweaters under and over them (find more slip dresses here). They flatter all body shapes and come in all colors. You can shop a few choices I hand picked below.
dresses
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guide to fashion:
bottoms
Bottoms are another extremely versatile piece of clothing to focus on. There are so many options like shorts, skirts, slacks, and jeans. Then there is the fit, it could a wide legged pant, a high waisted short, or a maxi or mini skirt.
So many options to pair and play with. Personally I love a great pair of black skinny jeans or denim shorts any day.
That's pretty much part of the uniform if you live here in Venice beach, California.
A little tip my my grandmother taught me: If you're showing skin on top don't show it on the bottom. Of course I use this rule lightly but I think my grandmother had a good feel for elegance.
So, I usually will pair my pants with sexier tops and my shorts with a less racier top when I can.
I've always believed that leaving something to the imagination by not showing off all your gorgeous assets at once is vital to looking elegant.
pants
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shorts
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skirts
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the perfect midi skirt
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guide to fashion:
tops
With Tops, this is where women can really have a little fun. Over the years we really have had so many options become fashionable. In your closet there are the must haves of course.
Like a soft flowy button up blouse, a cute minimal tank top and no ones closet should be without a great white and black simple but well cut t-shirt.
I personally love shirts from calvin klein or james perse. For my flowy button ups I always buy mine at theory.
I love to pair my collared shirts with scarfs and bow ties to give it that hint of vintage coco chanel vibes.
I also love to wear my form fitting turtle necks under slip dresses in the colder months.
The Perfect Blouse
short sleeve
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long sleeve
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guide to fashion:
denim
Denim is one of the biggest areas of the fashion industry. It's taken apparel by storm and has no end in sight.
Rightfully so denim is incredibly durable and can be worn in so many fits. I wear denim a few times a week, Especially my overalls.
I know they aren't the most elegant thing but when I'm out running errands or painting its so fun to just throw those on and feel like a kid again.
The toughest thing about denim is that it is a must have but it can be the hardest to shop for.
Mainly because certain denims don't have any stretch and without any stretch it is unforgiving to certain shapes.
With denim you need to know which brands suit your personal shape, you should try on several brands and find the ones that fit you like a glove.
TOP TIP:
I'm normally not a fan of department store as they can be overwhelming but when it comes to denim shopping they are the place to go.
What you want when shopping for denim is quantity and the department stores always have countless options of great brands. A few of my favorite Denim brands are naked and famous (japanese denim and has zero stretch), vintage Levi's, Rag and bone, and All saints.
denim jeans
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more denim
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Guide to fashion:
Outerwear
Coats, Jackets, fur or faux, So many choices. When it comes to outerwear you should Always aim for quality and if you can I would try to get a more quality piece for this area of your wardrobe. Outwear especially your winter coats can last for years and if you buy a classic cut it will stay in style for years. For great coats and jackets I love brands like Reiss, Holland and cooper, Maje and Sandro to name a few.
coats
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jackets
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guide to fashion:
suits/tailoring
Tailored fashion for women is really important to achieve a sophisticated look. It can really make a women look powerful when a piece like a well-fitted blazer is tailored to your specific body type. Tailored fashion should make you feel confident and comfortable. If you're not sure how to find a good-fitting blazer, ask a salesperson for help or consult a tailor. I personally get all my structured clothes altered at a professional alterations place. There is nothing like a pair of slacks that drops perfectly to the floor or a suit jacket that hugs the figure in all the right places. This can usually only be achieved with minor alterations, which I highly recommend.
slacks
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The Perfect Blazer
blazers
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Guide To Fashion: Undergarments
When it comes to under garments like underwear, bras, and lingerie it is very important to pay attention to the materials since they are directly on the skin and can show thru thinner clothing.
For lingerie (on the more pricier side) I love "Le Perla" and for underwear and bras I've started wearing "skims" because they have a lot of great seem less options.
You should always have a good selection of seem less nude colored undergarments without lace or frills so the material doesn't show lines or colors thru your silk blouses or leave pantie lines for the bottoms.
This is a huge faux-pas in fashion and really takes away from an elegant outfit. What you wear under your clothes is just as important as what you wear over top of it.
lingerie
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more lingerie
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stalkings
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underwear
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guide to fashion:
swimwear
When it comes to swimwear there are a few really great brands like Montce, Aqua-Bendita, and Rosa Cha that make elegant but sexy suits.
With swimwear I think its important to chose whats flattering to your specific form not what is on trend.
I prefer a more elegant approach to swimwear so I lean into one pieces and bikinis that are a little cheeky but have a classy cut to them overall.
one pieces
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bikinis
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cover ups
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shop MY Outfit
guide to fashion:
snow clothes
Snow fashion is one of my favorite styles of clothing. It can be a bit of a challenge to look chic while also being in the snow. So, it's important to know what brands fit well and what brands are good enough quality to actually keep you warm.
I love brands like Moncler, Bogner, Goldbergh, and Perfect moments for well fitted stylish pieces. Also for undergarments for the snow I always opt for merino wool pieces.
They are the warmest and they dry fast under your snow clothes. For boots you cant go wrong with Moon boots.
They come in all colors and materials and they are by far the comfiest cutest snow boot around. I personally have a few colors and styles, I highly recommend them.
snow pieces
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That’s it! We’ve covered all the fashion basics you need to know in order to look chic and stylish this season.
Whether you’re shopping for a whole new wardrobe or simply want to just update your current look, these pieces will have you looking your best.
Leave a comment below and let me know what other essentials I should add to the list. And be sure to share this post with your friends – they’ll thank you for it!
This was a post about how to look chic year round with this complete guide to fashion.
By Ryan Starr
