Dress to impress . . . yourself

You have a vibrant and unique personality and as a result your clothing should reflect this about you. All too often I go to my closet and pick out the first thing I get to and throw it on. Picking out your clothes ahead of time can save you a lot of trouble in the mornings, but if you are like me then you can still achieve the same effect if you follow these few simple guidelines.

1.       Dress to impress. When you are standing at your closet pick out something that makes you feel confident. While some people dress to impress others for important job events, social gatherings or backyard get-togethers, it is far more effective if you dress to impress yourself instead of others. If you feel confident then the people around you will notice your personality, wit and manner.

2.       Style It Up. While classical black pieces are appropriate on many occasions, don’t be afraid to add a little color or style into your wardrobe. Personal color choice varies according to taste but for those of you who are afraid of a little color you can achieve the same effect by incorporating patterns or textures.

3.       Walk in Comfort. Although I sometimes I hate to admit it, I have for the sake of fashion sacrificed comfort for style. If you are not going to be comfortable walking around for extended periods of time please save yourself the trouble and leave those items at home. One time last summer I had the brilliant idea to wear a pair of Jenna’s canvas wedge heel shoes with my outfit. When I tried on the shoes I thought they are a little tight but when I looked in the mirror this confirmed my decision to stay the course. By the end of the evening I didn’t look quite as cute as I limped back to the car in the too tight shoes. Please take my advice and think twice unless you want an experience like mine.

When you are comfortable in the clothes you wear, others will see a dramatic difference in your demeanor and notice your confidence by the spring in your step. Leave the tugging, pulling and limping clothes and shoes at home and select items that will allow you to impress yourself, utilize your style and walk in comfort. The following pictures show how I utilized all three rules in each of my outfits on a small budget. 

Picture 1

 

Angie (Blue Dress, Pink Flowers)                       $5.00                                 Vintage

Laundry (Pink, Orange and Red Flowers)           $5.00                                 $60.00-260.00

Ann Taylor Cartigan (Pink)                                 $4.00                                 $30.00-40.00

Orange Tier Earrings                                          $2.00                                 $10.00-15.00

                                                                       $16.00                                 $100.00-315.00

Picture 2 

Banana Republic                                                 $5.00                                   $89.00

Ann Taylor Jacket (Black)                                   $4.00                                   $60.00-80.00

Aigner Shoes (Black)                                          $4.00                                   $30.00

                                                                          $13.00                                 $179.00-219.00