Secrets to looking chic, always.
In a beauty obsessed society, how you look matters. But appearance goes way beyond your dress size, whether or not you have the perfect pout (natural or otherwise enhanced) and the brand and price tag of your blue jeans.
What matters most is how well put together you are and how you carry yourself.
As is often the case, the devil is in the details. Before dismissing the following tips as common sense, consider the last time you really inspected your clothing or got dressed leisurely, making sure your entire outfit was in tip top shape. Read no to learn how to be one of the most chic and smartly dressed persons out and about.
Check clothes regularly and in natural light for stains. Getting ready in dim early morning light, you likely won’t see stains unless they are really prominent. But a stain is a stain and by midday, everything is extra illuminated. There is no greater distraction when talking to someone than a stain on the front of their shirt or dress. Carrying around a stain removing pen in your handbag is also a good idea.
After laundering, check clothes for tears and mend immediately or keep damaged items apart from wearable clothes. Pay attention to seams and especially hems; they are notorious for being compromised by errant toes while pulling clothing on.
Press or steam clothes after laundering. Wearing rumpled clothing is the ultimate sartorial sin. Unless your position is that you absolutely do not care about anything, including yourself, take the extra time to remove unsightly creases. Invest in a steamer as this is quicker and more gentle than an iron. I keep an upright steamer in my bathroom and after showering while i’m waiting for my face mask to work its magic, I use those few minutes to steam my outfit. When I step out to greet the day I can hold my head high knowing I’m walking the stylish straight and narrow.
Reject the idea that you need to buy new clothes every season. As long as your clothes are clean, well fitting, undamaged and unwrinkled, there is still life left in them - even if the color was more brilliant in days gone by. So what if your previously brilliant navy blue linen shirt is now the color of washed denim? Wear it with pride! Either embrace the weathered shade or dye it to return it to its glory days. Fabric dye is readily available at craft stores and the process can easily be done in a plastic basin.
If you don’t have a best friend, get a lint remover and keep her close. When wearing black clothing, or a fabric like wool that loves to attract lint, do a quick once over with a lint brush before you leave the house. It’s also a good idea to carry a small lint roller in your purse for touch ups as the day progresses. The same goes for pets owners or those with shedding hair. I often observe people wearing black sweaters the backs of which are covered with strands of hair. Maybe they don’t realize it is even there, but everyone else does, and it makes them look unkempt. For wool and cashmere clothing that is prone to pilling, check areas where a handbag may rub against you and remove any pills to maintain your polished look.
Polish your shoes an keep them clean. For leather shoes, a quick wipe with a wet cloth is good to remove any dust. Every now and then, a polish and shine will keep the shoes in good shape and have you looking in top shape.
Do you have any tips to share on how you keep yourself looking chic?