The Difference Between Wearing And Styling
We love to help our clients learn how to add those finishing touches that add sophistication and intentionality to any look. Note that we are not necessarily talking about things you buy to accomplish this! Today, we want to talk to you guys about the difference between wearing and styling.
What Is The Difference Between Wearing And Styling?
Picture this. You get up in the morning and choose a cute sweater and a great pair of jeans to wear for the day. You add your favorite earrings and a fun bracelet stack. BUT, have you really styled your outfit? You are dressed and even accessorized. That is getting close to the idea of styling your outfit. But to be honest, it isn’t getting you all the way to that polished, put together look you are going for. In other words, you are wearing your clothes, but your look isn’t necessarily fully styled.
So then, what IS the difference between wearing clothes and actually styling them? Wearing is what you put on, but styling is how you make it stand out. Many of us overlook the smaller, finer details of an outfit. These small tweaks are the ones that create that final, polished look we all crave. The best part? Small tweaks can make a huge impact with minimal effort! We want to share some of our favorite details that elevate your look to intentional, sophisticated, and polished!
- Tuck your top in, whether than be a full tuck or French tuck (otherwise known as a half tuck).
- Add a third piece like a jacket or coat, belt, scarf, or sweater over the shoulders.
- Push up your sleeves.
- Pop your collar.
- Layer necklaces or stack rings.
- Add a belt.
Now for the fun part. Our stylists have taken before and after pictures of some looks for you guys. We hope that these pictures give you a really strong idea of the difference between wearing and styling… And we hope you will incorporate some of them when you get dressed tomorrow!
Tuck In Your Top & Push Up Your Sleeves
Starting off simple… Tucking in your top is one of the easiest steps you can take to elevate your outfit. It not only makes you look more put together, but it also defines your waist!
Katie’s Knit Bomber Jacket & Faux Leather Joggers Look
Here’s that simple trick of tucking in your top again. Katey also pushed up the sleeves of her lady jacket here. There is something so feminine about showing a little wrist in the dredges of all the winter layers! Plus, that’s how you get to show off your fun wrist candy! The result is a much more polished vibe.
Katey’s Lady Jacket & Black Pants Look
Another example of how pushing up your sleeves and doing a quick front tuck at the waist makes all the difference…
Katie’s Blazer & Sweatshirt & Jeans Look
Add A Belt & Some Pattern
There are several steps Katey took to style her look here. She added a button-up shirt underneath her sweater. While you certainly could go with a simple white button-up shirt… We love that Katey chose a striped button-up instead for added dimension. Furthermore, this striped button-up has a ruffle both on its collar and its cuff, which adds a flirty feminine flair to the look. She tucked her sweater and button-up shirt in and put on a belt. And we do of course like the black pumps in the left hand picture. But look at how the animal print adds another layer of texture and dimension to her look!
Katey’s Sweater & Black Jeans Look
Katie has refined her look here by styling the sweatshirt in a way that reveals the cuffs and hem of her striped button-up shirt. And while we of course love the sneakers on the left… Notice how a pair of heeled booties elevates a casual look, if that’s your goal!
Katie’s Sweatshirt & Jeans Look
Take the extra minute to tuck your sweater in and add a belt to define your shape, thus preventing the dreaded “frumpy” look. And think of the belt like icing on the cake here – it completes a classic, chic look. Another way to complete a look is via layering like Katie has done on the far right. She added a faux suede trench coat to her look for depth and texture… And a pair of animal print flats for some pattern! These two things take a pretty basic look and make it much more interesting!
Katie’s Polo Sweater & Jeans Look | Katie’s Trench Coat & Polo Sweater & Jeans Look
The simple yet incredibly impactful effect of tucking in and belting…
Katie’s Sweater & Black Jeans Look
A Few More Examples
At this point, you can probably spot the tips and tricks on your own! Katey popped her collar, tucked in her tee, added a belt, and cuffed and pushed up her sleeves!
Katey’s Utility Jacket & Jeans Look
Notice the striped button-up shirt peeking out at the cuffs and waistline of the sweater!
Katie’s Sweater & Button-Up Shirt & Jeans Look
If you get warm during the day and need to take off your sweater, drape it over your shoulders rather than tying it around your waist. It’s a much more sophisticated vibe.
