8 Best Pieces of Fashion Advice That’ll Have You Dressing Better Today
8 Best Pieces of Fashion Advice That’ll Have You Dressing Better Today
Don’t tell us.
That’s for you to know, and us to probably never find out. (You know, with the population in the billions and all…)
But outside of the fact that we may never meet in real life, there’s also the chance that these 8 quotes from fashion designers around the world will inspire your style to be forever a little better.
Because while style and fashion seem to come so naturally to some, there’s always the opportunity for those less fashion inclined to be a learned person.
Why bother learning fashion, you say?
Well, let’s cue the first quote:
“What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today, when human contacts are so quick. Fashion is instant language.”
That one is by Miuccia Prada.
Truthfully, that quote wasn’t in my initial reservoir of quotes. I was going to skip it. But as I wrote this introduction, it just kept coming back to me.
It’s true. Human connection and physical meetings are on the decline as we shift our entire lives online. So, when we do meet- whether for a coffee, a movie, in the office, or otherwise- our style and presentation is so important.
So, even if we aren’t intuitive in picking the best colors for the season or adopting a new trend, it’s worth the effort to make sure our fashion reflects the identity we so carefully curate with our work, our personalities and our life as a whole.
With that, let’s see what advice we can get from some of the industry’s most iconic quotes:
1. Jenny Packham: “A dress should never take over someone”
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Whether it’s by size or flashiness, remember that you are wearing the dress and not the other way around.
Your outfit is meant to compliment you, so if you feel that it hides or overpowers you then put it aside for something that feels more like an extension of you than a barrier to you.
2. Manish Malhotra: “What works for our Indian crafts is the mix of craftsmanship, culture and a touch of modernity”
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This one’s for a bit of culture-love.
Malhotra points out that every time you wear culturally inspired clothing, it is bearing ode to its tradition and origin while adopting to the times.
And that, well, that’s a beautiful thing. So the next time you throw on that cultural attire, carry it with the grace and spirit of all of those who worked on the art, wore the art, and were the pioneers who changed the art.
3. Badgley Mischka: “The most important thing is making sure your clothes fit well. Have them tailored to you. You can make the most mediocre piece of clothing look great if it fits you well. So, save a little bit of money for beautiful alterations. If your clothes fit well, you always look like a million bucks”
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Take it from me, the first time I actually took out a measuring tape and measured myself before ordering clothing online, I was blown away. First, the size I was according to the sizing chart and my measurements was totally different than what I would have guessed. Second, when the clothes arrived, they fit better than anything I had worn in years!
Since then, I’ve made it a point to purchase every piece of clothing (whether online or in-store) after looking at the sizing chart and my measurements (that I re-take every 6 months). And hey, if it’s tailor made, even better!
4. Christian Louboutin: “Shoes transform your body language and attitude. They lift you physically and emotionally”
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You’ve heard it before: ‘A man is known by his shoes’
The only change I’d make there is to swap out the ‘man’ for a more inclusive, ‘person.’ Because we all know women’s shoes are just as often on-display and tell-tale.
A good pair of shoes (loafers, sneakers, heels, dress shoes- whatever your preference), have the power of good confidence, mobility and posture. Choose wisely.
5. Temperley London’s Alice Temperley: “If you try something on and you don’t feel it, it’s not for you. If you don’t look good in a bright color, don’t go there. If you don’t look good in a low-cut dress, don’t do it. No matter what designer or trend, if you understand what your body shape is, that’s what you should wear. Create your own wardrobe that really suits you as an individual”
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Ah intuition: Our magical gut-feeling that tells us how we feel about things- but only in whispers.
After all, it has to maintain the very mysterious and elusive nature that makes it so interesting.
Anyway, the point is, when it speaks, you should listen. If you don’t love the outfit, the shoes or the jewellery, ditch them. Don’t try to rationalize things with what’s in, what your friend (or enviable nemesis) is wearing or otherwise, just stay true to yourself.
6. Ritu Kumar: “When women wear denim it (the derriere) must look elegant. It’s the second thing every woman looks at in the mirror, but it’s the first thing she cares about. She does that half twirl, her back arched and her head craned around. If the jeans are right, the experience is transforming, like putting on a magic cloak”
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Come on, you know it’s true.
There’s no judgement here, because as they say, ‘if you got it, flaunt it.’
Denim is one of those classic fashion and style staples that just doesn’t go away. It doesn’t matter about the year, because denim isn’t a trend, it’s always around. So, needless to say, it’s worth every penny to get a great pair (and that goes for you too, fellas!)
7. Alexander Wang: “Anyone can get dressed up and glamorous but it is how people dress on their days off that are the most intriguing”
Honestly, this one feels a little personal- in a good way, like a ‘I really needed to hear this’ way, how about you?
I’m 100% one of those people that wears pajamas all day (and every day, if I could).
I know I should dress better even when my calendar doesn’t specifically call for it, and you know what, you should to.
My grandparents (who are style icons until this day, by the way), get up every morning at dawn and go about their morning routine as if they were headed to an office where everyone is well-dressed. They’ve been retired almost 20 years.
But this routine keeps them disciplined, looking and feeling their best and productive. It is one of the things I respect most about them.
8. Sabyasachi Mukherjee: “A Sabyasachi woman believes in consistency and repetition”
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Consistency and repetition is the furthest thing from a fashion faux-pas. In fact, we’ll use another iconic fashion designer’s words to elaborate on why Sabysachi’s quote was right on the money.
‘Fashions fade, style is eternal.’
Sound familiar? Those are the famous Yves Saint Laurent’s words.
Once you find and refine your personal style, keeping it consistent goes a long way in building your ‘image,’ ‘brand,’ ‘look’- whatever you want to call it.
This doesn’t mean you can’t jump on trends either. Keep the crux of your style the same, but feel free to play with new components to also keep it fresh and exciting.
If the words of these fashion icons have moved you in some way, I’m happy to have done my little part in contributing to a world that’s rich in fashion.
I know what I’ll be working on… *ahem* less pajama days on my off-days.
‘Till next time.
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