If you want to be always well-dressed then you have to understand that perfect fit is paramount. And by fit, I mean:
Photo: @victoriabeckham
Photo: @vacinityreynolds
Photo: @sterlingkbrown
An outfit that is never too tight neither too loose, that just follows the body silhouette with no extra volume neither any bulkiness.
A shirt, coat or even a jacket that has the shoulder’s break at the person’s shoulder’s break and the cuff that never swallows the hand.
Trousers that have the proper length without adding any volume over the shoes and stays put at the waist (wherever the waist for that model is if low, mid or high rise) with no belt assistance.
The belt thing could be said to skirts as well.
Things like that.
Having said that, of course that from time to time trends will incite you into breaking this style rule. Baggy clothes, oversized pieces are all around to prove it, but yet, it is always a good idea to know how clothes should fit properly in you so when those “trendinites” show up you can break the rule with property. Because that is how you break the rules and get elegantly away with it.
And yes, I will post a guide to how clothes should fit for her and for him. And yes, this post is for both. Because both should mantra this rule. Fit is paramount to anyone.
The only difference here is that, usually man tends to make a mistake regarding fit because he bets in pieces that are bigger than he is, whereas woman get it wrong because she goes for pieces too tight for her.
Go figure.
And besides all that, a perfect fitted outfit looks expensive; one that is not looks cheap, regardless the price tag. So, it does worth invest on it.
If you want to have a good bra foundation in your wardrobe those are the bras you should have:
Bralette
RacerBack Bra
T-Shirt Bra
Silicone Lift Bra
Sexy Bra
Sexy Cami Bra
Strapeless Bra
Plunge Deep V Bra
Convertible Bra
Covertible Bra
Convertible Bra
Covertible Bra
2 (or 3) comfortable bras to sleep and stay at home. A bralette with no underwire and enough support that doesn’t compress too much is a good option. Neutral colors are always welcome, especially the nude ones. And black.
2 (or 3) everyday bra, like a t-shirt bra. Nude and black colors are a great option. You can also wear your bralette here. And have just one t-shirt bra and 1 more bralette or 2.
At least 1 racerback bra. That could be your daily bra or a stay at home or sleeping bra.
2 (or 3) sexy bras. And there are a lot options here. It can be a lacey one, a satin one, a see-through one, it can be a demi cup, full cup, a cami… It will all depend on you and your style. Here you can even bet in color like red, purple, blue, green, yellow, pink… Or even black and gray. Or white.
Around 2 convertible bras or one with all the options. But here consider one with different options for your back, a strapless and also one with a plunge deep V-neck. Nude or black.
It is a good idea to have 1 stick or silicone lift bra, just in case you need a bra to wear with a bare back. Or prefer that option for a strapless outfit.
Those are pretty much the type of bras you will need to have a good bra wardrobe. Of course that if you are the type of person who never wears a strapless outfit or would never consider a deep v-neck dress an option, you don’t need to have a bra like that. Just get the ones that you might need to wear with the clothes you already have in your wardrobe. And you will know better than me which ones you will need in your wardrobe.
Got it?
It is always a good idea to have at least 1 nude bra in every category to be able to wear with clothes that demand an invisible-ish bra.
And one more thing regarding bras: it is very important to get your size right. And sometimes it will vary from different models. Even in the same store. Also, you can loose and gain weight and that can change your size as well. So, pay attention to it. Because it is very important to get it right and have the perfect support.
What you need to have is a wardrobe with key pieces that could be mix and match to multiply your options for every occasion you will have ahead from day to night, from week to weekends, from work to happy hour, from work out to vacation. And to accomplish that you will have to have a foundation wardrobe with essential pieces. Which pieces? Well, that will vary greatly for everyone because your lifestyle, your daily routine, your taste and personal style, all combined will dictate that.
What I can do is to give you an idea of which pieces they could be. But this will come in other posts later on, for ladies and dudes. So, stay tuned.
These two always own their looks. What a stylish couple! Olivia Palermo and Johannes Huebl. Photo: @johanneshuebl
Regardless of what you are wearing and how you are wearing, nothing will matter most than your ability to own your look. And by own your look I mean, feel comfortable in it, not only in terms of fitting but feeling great, at ease wearing it. As if you were the queen or the king of that particular look. Because if you don’t, it will show and that on its own could compromise the whole look. Even if you are wearing the right shades of color. Even if the look is perfect for your body type and suits your style. If you don’t feel amazing and at ease, this little detail can ruin it all for you.
Forget about trends for a moment, this is a guideline to hem length in a classical, better way to go for it, if you are looking for a hem that plays on your team and makes you look polished.
First of all, the most important thing to have in mind is to hem the pants wearing the shoes you are planning to wear with that particular pants, because the height of the heels matter. This is the only way you can decide the proper length for your pants.
If by any chance you want to wear that particular pants with two different shoe heights then choose a length in between. But be aware that this is not going to look your best either way, just Okay. Okay? Unless the difference between the heights is close to nothing. Then this will be more than Okay.
Or you can choose the highest heel shoes to determine the hem and when you wear it with a flat shoes or a shoes with a lower heel then you hem it with a temporary hem via a hem tape, for instance. Although a wide leg pants or a pants in a very thin flowing fabric can be tricky to get away with it.
Anyways, here are the proper hems for every pants’ style:
Classic Straight Tailored Pants:
And here I am talking about a straight and slightly flowing pants that can be menswear inspired (or not). That kind of working trousers that could be part of a suit or the perfect piece to wear with a shirt or a blouse. The back of this pants should be ½” off the floor. In any way you should step on your hem with this one. In the front it could have a bit of drape (break) but not enough to hide the shoes. Or no break at all. In anyway, the front of your shoes should be visible.
Wide Leg Pants And Flare Pants:
They both look better with a longer hem length, that kind that almost sweeps the floor and has no break. Keep your back hem just a ¼” off the floor. Or even less, but never to the point of touching the floor. In the front, just a peek of your toe, if that much.
Bootcut Pants:
This one can get the both hem heights above or be placed in between them (¼” to ½” off the floor in the back).
Skinny Jeans, Leggings or Jeggings:
This is the most versatile type of pants in terms of hem. Because the hem will go with any shoe heights, from flat to stilettos and everything in between. This hem should be at the top of the ankle or somewhere around, up or down. But not much.
Straight Leg Slim Pants And Tapered Pants:
This straight is the one with a straight cut but quite slim, almost skinny so the cuff area usually is not wide enough to drape well over a shoe or even a boot. The tapered one starts as a straight one and from the knee starts tapering towards the bottom. In these two cases, the best hem option is around the bottom of the ankle, before your foot starts. Having said that, if the pants and the fabric allows you to go a bit further down (in the straight slim one), then you can do so.
Cropped Pants:
Or ankle pants. This type of pants demands some skin showing between your shoes and the pants. Unless you are going for ankle boots, then you can forget about it. Or keep that in mind and apply. This one should be hemmed pointing (or revealing) at the slimmest part of your ankle, somewhere around your ankle bone. Or a bit higher.
And the fun way can be adopted by a female, a male or a non binary. Here it is how:
Just pick a different neutral color to every piece in your look. This way: navy pants, white shirt, dark brown shoes, grey sweater or coat and voilĂ .
For that you can use any neutral color. And if you don’t know which ones are the neutral colors, let me tell you:
White.
Off-White (it is a dirty white that can oatmeal, linen, ecru, ivory, icy and so many other shades).
Gray.
Beige.
Camel.
Brown.
Khaki (beige or green).
Navy.
Black.
Blue jeans. In all its shades. Included the light blue jeans. Of course that if the jeans is in any of the color present on this list, it is also a neutral one.
I often include on this list of neutrals other colors that are almost neutrals like:
Olive, Military and Burgundy. There are lighter and darker shades of those colors as well.
Burgundy or basically any dark shade of red alike.
Olive or Military green. Those are very close shades of khaki green. Even a dark green can feature on this list.
And I do include them because like the other neutrals they do talk well with other colors. And yes, you could include that in your fun neutral look, however those colors will add an extra touch of color to your neutral look. If you want to keep a whole neutral look vibe, stick with the first list for your options.
When traveling, if you want to keep it simple, comfortable and yet elegant, this is a great go to staple look to brave the airport style:
The Elements:
A comfy dark legging (black, grey, navy, brown…). A dark colored one is preferable cause if it gets dirty will not show up that easily. It’s gotta be comfortable (to sleep in), so pick one that it is not compressing tight and made of cotton, wool or viscose, depending on your destination. If you are going to a cold place, a warmer one made of wool or from one of those thermal fabrics is a good idea. If the place is gonna be hot, a cotton or a viscose one, please.
Dark and in a neutral color is a more versatile option for leggings.
A top that could be a shirt, a bohemian top, a blouse, a tunic, a t-shirt, a cami or tank top, a sweater, a sweater dress, a long sleeve t-shirt… anything very much your style. Still, choose a top accordingly to your destination: if cold, a warm one like a sweater is the way to go; if hot, a lighter one like a blouse or a t-shirt or a cami. Got it?
Here you can go neutral or with a splash of dark color. With a top in your style. And yes, it can a very basic, classic top or a trendy, not so basic one. It is up to you.
Having said that… if the place you are departing from is too cold, you can wear some warm clothes to travel and underneath or in your bag bring a fresher top, like a t-shirt or a cami to wear when you arrive. This is a good idea especially if you are going back to the same cold place.
And yes, a dark one is more practical. But it could be a dark shade of any color, not only neutrals. The same can be applied to the next element.
A coat, a cardigan or a jacket. Choose it according to your destination weather. If you are going to a cold place, you can wear your heavy coat. If you are going to a warm place, then a cardigan is enough to be your extra layer if you need one during your stay or while you are in the aircraft.
A splash of dark color is welcome for a coat, cardigan or jacket if you want to run away from neutrals.
It is a possibility (and a good idea) to take with you a nice pashmina. To warm you up in the airplane and in your destination. Even if over there is gonna be hot. You never know when that freezing breeze will strike your vacations. And a pashmina can be your just-in-case coat. No need for a cardigan or a jacket.
Who said you cannot have some fun with your shoes? A splash of color, animal print are welcome to add some jazz to your outfit. And if you are gonna go for the gym sneakers (the New Balance one on the photo), bet in a dark color to polish up the look. Leather or suede instead of canvas is also a more interesting option.
And finally shoes. An easy one to take off at the airport and comfortable to travel with. Good options: boots (ankle boots or mid calf boots, zippered or slip ons), sneakers (slip ons are the best bets), ballet flats, flat sandals (a little bit dressier than flip flops 🙏) and even wedges.
Okay, if you are a major boots fan and will take a knee high boot, you can travel wearing this one to save some space in your luggage. The same philosophy is applied to your heavy coat.
And yes, socks are a good item to bring with you if you wearing shoes without them. For the airplane ride.
A handbag: big enough to carry everything you need to with you. If you taking a carry-on with you, your handbag can be small as a baguette just to carry important things such as your passport, wallet, phone… things like that. And in your carry-on you can take your laptop, tablet, some clothes, a makeup bag, your jewelry etc…
The pashmina can be neutral or the splash of color in your look. And the sunnies can be a statement, why not?
Sunnies: Just.In.Case.
Underwear: pick a bra that is comfortable to sleep in and yet it has some proper support. But not the wired ones because, first, they can cause some trouble at the airport and second, it is not the most comfy one to sleep with. A comfy panties are a good idea too.
The last element is an optional one: headwear. If you are going to a cold place, a warm one (beanie, fedora etc) made of wool or felt is the perfect choice; if you are heading to a sun shinning destination, then consider a straw one like a Panama or then a cotton or linen one. And yes, the headwear can be part of your traveling look.
This way you are gonna be comfortable, cozy and presentable all times during your airplane ride, sleeping time included. And you will be prepared to face the different temperatures from your departure to your destination city and the airplane in between.
Been Caught Styling 