JOANNE WATKINSON
03 Caption white Ribbon hard return to get line to follow ARE YOU WEARING YOUR CLOTHES OR STYLING THEM?
Ever admire an outfit on Instagram or in real life but then when you head to your own wardrobe and try and recreate it, it just doesn’t come together? Even if you believe you have all the right elements – top, blazer, jeans, it just doesn’t have the same look or impact?
In the words of musical great, Lauryn Hill, girlfriend, let me break it down for you again.
Replicating an outfit you spotted on another person requires us to manage our own expectations, especially if you’re buying the exact same item, starting with your breasts. If the person you are inspired by has a totally flat chest and you were blessed with a larger cup size, the way their jacket hangs is going to be entirely different to how yours does.
We also have to take into consideration any height difference because of trousers and jean lengths. Even if it’s a dress or a skirt, the hem will sit in a different place on your leg if they are five inches smaller or taller than you. Getting the proportions right is everything, regardless of whether you dreamed up the outfit yourself or not.
Proportion can often be the difference between a good and a bad outfit, and I’m not talking about wearing everything oversized. Good proportions can shift a look from dated to modern. Remember when tight T-shirts were a thing? T-shirts so tight the outline of your (Wonder) bra was visible? The modern silhouette is less restrictive, more chill. Applying that relaxed approach to your styling will instantly make you look more modern. A good rule of thumb is that blazers shouldn’t be restrictive and jeans shouldn’t cut off your blood supply.
Now let’s talk nuances. Nuances are the things that take a basic-looking outfit to a great outfit. On social media it’s known as “wearing your clothes vs styling your clothes”. You see someone in a great outfit: a white tee, blue jeans, black blazer and loafers, but look at the details. Is the T-shirt slim or oversized? Tucked or left hanging? The jeans, are they pale or light wash? Straight or wide leg? High-waisted or low-slung? Where do they finish on her ankle? Is she wearing a belt? Is her blazer single or double breasted?
Oversized or tailored? Can you see her socks? Is her bag cross body or hand held? What about accessories and jewellery, subtle or chunky?
They say the devil is in the details, and as you know, the devil wears Prada.