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Dressing for comfort is important, everyone knows that. However, dressing in clothes and wearing styles that fit and flatter you doesn’t have to mean that you have to forgo the latest trends. It’s easy to get stuck in a style rut, but it’s also easy, as Taylor Swift says, to ‘shake it off’. Sometimes, you just need to take some risks with your style to give it a bit of a refresh. Give your look the update it needs with these tips on how to step out of your style comfort zone.
Throw out the rulebook
Fashion comes with a lot of rules, but that doesn’t mean you have to stick to them all. Don’t let anybody tell you that you’re too old, too young, too fat or too thin to wear certain styles. Being told that you ‘can’t’ wear something could be the reason that you shy away from so many different styles, never knowing what could be. Rip up the rulebook and just start trying things – you never know what it will look like on if you only wave the hanger in front of your face and then put it back!
Start the decluttering
One way to force yourself out of your comfort zone is to get rid of half your wardrobe (ethically and responsibly, of course). If your wardrobe is full of items that are either too big, too small or are damaged to the point of being unwearable – it’s time that they went to a better place. Go through your entire wardrobe and be ruthless – if it’s not been worn in a year then perhaps it’s time to get rid of it. You can recycle any clothing that you don’t want to re-sell at H&M and Zara to make sure items don’t simply get wasted. Decluttering your wardrobe can feel therapeutic, while also making sure you’ve got room in your wardrobe for some new clothes!
Start off slowly
Stepping out of your style comfort zone doesn’t have to lead to a dramatic change overnight. Doing so could leave you feeling self-conscious when the objective is to feel more confident and comfortable in your own skin. Experiment with different lengths and cuts at first, and if you tend to wear trousers/jeans – try a skirt or dress to see what sort of effect that has. Making small changes lets you try new things bit by bit so that you can discover new things that you like without spending loads of money on new clothes. Handbags are a great item to start mixing up your style, so take a look at how to style this season’s handbags to get an idea of looks you could be wearing this season.
Go for the chop
Hair is an important part of your look. But like your clothes, you can get stuck a bit of a rut with your hair too. A new ‘do could actually drastically change your style, instantly upgrading your wardrobe. If you’ve always had long hair, you could take a look at pixie hair ideas on TheRightHairStyles to get some inspiration for some cute crops you can try to refresh your look. If you want to go the opposite way, you could try adding extensions to your hair instead for a quick and easy upgrade.
Hunt around for inspiration
If you’re finding yourself sticking to the same looks day after day, then a little bit of #styleinspiration could be what you need to shake things up. There are some amazing fashion accounts to follow on Instagram to inspire you no matter what colour your skin is, how tall or short you are or what your weight is. Spend some time researching different street style, and you’ll be sure to find some ideas for things you’d like to try.
Try one bold colour
A colour pop is a fantastic way to add interest to an outfit, and could help you discover a whole new colour palette for your wardrobe. If bright colours aren’t normally your thing, start off small by choosing shoes in a nice bright colour or even your handbag, gradually building up to wearing tops, jackets and dresses in the colour. Pantone offer great insight into which colours are going to be on trend this year, so keep an eye out for some cool colours to try. Colour isn’t something to be afraid of, and you might even discover a new favourite.
See a personal shopper
A personal shopper is no longer just for the rich and famous. Stores like Topshop and Debenhams offer style sessions which will see you meet with a stylist who will pick out some items for you and give you options based on their expertise. Go in with an open mind and don’t give too much away about your usual style – the goal here is to try something different after all. Having someone pick out styles for you is a good way to try things you might not have tried otherwise, offering you some options you might not have considered in the past. If the thought of a personal shopper intimidates you, rope in a friend that you trust instead.
Do some research into the latest trends
If you’re looking for some inspiration, take some time looking at the latest trends. Fashion magazines, the ‘collection’ pages of clothing websites and style websites are ideal for helping you find some new styles to try. Spend a morning or afternoon having a good browse and try to make a list of five items you like the look of and would like to try – it’s a fun game to play that could lead you to find some great new items to add to your wardrobe.
Stepping out of your comfort zone isn’t easy, but there are subtle changes you can make to update your look. The main thing to remember about fashion is to always be yourself – look for styles that make you feel happy and comfortable to help you build your confidence.