How to Level Up Any Outfit with Thoughtful Styling

When it comes to levelling up an outfit, throwing on a well-thought-out accessory can completely transform your look, dressing it up or down depending on how you style it.

If you want to take your ’fit from day to night, for instance, swapping out your ballet flat for a simple kitten heel can elevate your entire appearance, giving a casual daytime look the boost it needs for a night out on the town.

Here are our top tips for thoughtful styling to level up your outfits.

Basic, Bland and Boring: What Makes an Outfit Dull

In a world where our appearances matter more than ever, it goes without saying that putting effort into your look makes a world of difference, both to how we feel about ourselves and also to how others perceive us.

That being said, the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic turned many of us into sloppy dressers: we became so used to hanging around at home in our sweats that even donning activewear to head to the local shops felt like getting dressed up. Ultimately, dressing down has become the norm, or at least, accepted: today, barely anyone bats an eyelid at the slapped-together get-ups some of us wear now, but would never have been caught dead in, in the past.

To be quite honest, wearing a boring outfit is lazy dressing: with so many stylish accessories at our disposal, it doesn’t take that much effort to level up. All it really requires is some thoughtful styling and consideration about what finishing touches we can add to help make our outfit pop.

Here’s how to do it.

Get Creative: Unique Accessories to Level Up Your Style

 

If you’re keen to level up your outfit, here are some of the go-to accessories you should keep in your wardrobe to reach for whenever your look needs spicing up;

Statement Pieces: Trendy vs. Timeless

Tried and true, classic accessories or on-trend, viral pieces? The best idea is to mix up your fashion collection with a little bit of both. We do have some rules to follow, though:

For more expensive, investment pieces like designer bags and sunglasses, opt for timeless, classic styles that will stand the test of time. These types of purchases often require a splurge of a significant chunk of our paychecks, so we want to make sure we really like them.

Classic accessories aside, however, there’s nothing wrong with cheap and cheerful, especially if you’re aiming for a high-low look. Our tip? Grab some colourful costume jewellery, or perhaps a thrifted scarf from the vintage store, to add a pop of pizazz to your outfit.

Unique Mementos: Quirky Picks from Unusual Locations

Sometimes, the perfect accessory is a unique piece we stumble upon in an unexpected place.

Whether it’s a leather wallet picked up from a market stall in Florence, a silk robe you’ve bartered for with locals when touring Vietnam, or wholesale jewellery from Australia, these one-of-a-kind accessories have a way of elevating an outfit and making it look extra special.

Not only are they eye-catching conversation starters, but one-off accessories also speak to your unique taste and individual sense of style, as well as making your outfit memorable for all the right reasons.

And the best part? If it’s a one-off piece you’ve collected throughout your travels, others around you are less likely to have the same bag, wallet or pair of sunglasses. To be fair, it’s unlikely they’ll find a piece quite like yours on the shelves of your hometown’s local dress shop. Wearing these kinds of unique accessories also sets you apart as a fashionista with a keen eye for special pieces.

 

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Whether you’re struggling with dressing creatively, stuck in a fashion rut, or simply feeling lazy when it comes to your style, the truth is that there’s no excuse for a dull outfit.

There are so many wonderful accessories we can pick up and throw on to level up our looks: whether that’s a unique memento we pick up on our travels abroad, or a cheap and cheerful piece we come across in a vintage store.

The only barrier to stylish accessorising? Being too lazy to start. So get creative, experiment a little, and by all means, don’t be afraid to try something new.