Trends come and go. From corsets to ruffles to bellbottoms to bucket hats, styles evolve and make comebacks as years pass. It can be exciting if you love fashion, or it can be confusing if you’re not too fashion-forward. In the end, what works best is not following trends, but creating your own individual style that is timeless and personal. So, here are a few tips that every woman should know to build their wardrobe.
Organise your closet
Before you get on to buying new clothing items, the first step would be to organise what you have. Throw away what is worn out, donate what is not wanted, check what is wearable, and organise everything neatly to see what is left. This way, you’ll know what you’re lacking and what you have, because as girls, we like shopping for new clothes, but sometimes we don’t wear them. Instead, we keep them for an occasion that never comes and the item just sits in the closet collecting dust. Unless you really love that piece of dress or are actually going to wear that pair of pants, perhaps you should consider getting rid of it. What we should do is keep what – as Marie Kondo would say – sparks joy.
Know what styles work for your shape
Women come in different shapes and sizes. Some are curvier, some have broader shoulders, and some have narrow hips. No two women are exactly the same. A popular way of describing women’s body shapes is by geometrical shapes – inverted triangle, heart, spoon, hourglass, and rectangle. Knowing what your body shape is will help you choose the right style of clothing.
For example, the inverted triangle. This would mean shoulders broader than the hips, giving off a more athletic-looking figure. Those with this shape can look amazing in peplum tops or dresses as they give a curvier or an hourglass silhouette. Whereas those with a heart-shaped body or have a bigger chest but smaller hips might want to give more focus to their bottom halves and avoid frills for their tops to not look too top-heavy.
If your hips are wider than your shoulders and/or bust, then you have a spoon shape. So, details on the top and simplicity for the bottom would be ideal, such as a top with ruffles and an A-line skirt. As for those with hourglass figures, well, you guessed it, they have a smaller waist as compared to their similarly wide bust and hips. High-rise bottoms and outfits with belts can accentuate their defined figures.
Lastly, the rectangular body shape which has similar measurements of bust, waist, and hips. Although it is a rather straight figure or is traditionally seen as less feminine due to the lack of curves, the advantage here is that you can play up whichever asset you wish. A peplum top to create curves, a high-waisted pair of jeans to create the illusion of longer legs, or a belted dress to cinch that waist. The world of fashion is your oyster.
Understanding what works and doesn’t work will give you ideas on how to balance top and bottom. If you’re not too sure what exactly suits you, trial and error is your answer.
Choose colours that suit your skin tone
Generally, anyone can wear any colour of clothing. It is just a matter of preference. However, while there is no right or wrong answer here, there are certains shades or colours that can brighten up your look or wash you out depending on your skin tone. Typically, skin tones range from warm to cool, and wherever you lie on that scale, there is a category of shades and colours that look particularly great on you. So how do you tell if your skin tone is on the warmer or cooler side?
Those with warmer skin tones have a yellowish, olive, or brownish undertone. They tan easily and don’t usually get sunburnt due to the melanin in the skin. Earthy colours suit warm skin tones. Yellow, green, brown, red, and orange will help bring out the natural tone and give a certain glow. Gold accessories match well too.
As for those with cooler skin tones, they have pinkish or rosy undertones. They do not get tanned easily and are more likely to get sunburnt or turn red under the sun because of the lack of melanin. In this case, blue-ish shades suit them. Blue, pink, purple, and bright green, would be their best friends. Silver and rose gold accessories will be a better choice than yellow gold.
If you’re still not too sure which skin tone you have, you can always just put the fabric on the inner side of your arm and see if the colour goes well with your skin tone.
Own basic items
It is a good idea to have some basics in your closet. Sometimes, less is more. You don’t need a huge wardrobe, but a few basic clothing items which can work as statement pieces of your general outfits.
First off, a shirt. You can never go wrong with cotton shirts Singapore. If you prefer a stretchier material, then a polyester shirt might be for you, or perhaps a shirt made of honeycomb material cloth for more air permeability as it can be quite hot in Singapore. Simple and casual, you can wear a shirt anywhere and be comfortable.
Another basic item to have is a jacket. Bomber, denim, leather, windbreaker. There are many types to choose from. Depending on your choice, you could look more casual, rugged, or feminine, as a jacket oftentimes brings your whole look together.
Last but definitely not least, a pair of jeans. A classic. Good for casual outings, good for dinners, good even for smart casual events to a certain extent. Finding a pair with a good fit will be your best investment yet as denim lasts a long time and does not go out of style.
Now that you’ve learned all these tips, it’s time to get cracking and get your look together.
