This article will be a little practical guide to getting started in the world of fashion . Every now and then we receive letters from customers who are new to the wonderful world of women’s fashion. Usually, these are people who have never been interested in ready-to-wear trends. They never really paid attention to their clothing. And yet, today, they want to better their sense of style or dress better. They often point out that they feel excited to change their personal style but also feel completely overwhelmed.

If you start from scratch, the world of fashion can seem like a complex and weird one, with millions of rules and options. One of our clients, who only wore music band T-shirts and jeans, sent us this message: “Entering the world of fashion is like being in a foreign country without mastering the local language “.

The people around me seem to know instinctively how to create stunning outfits and find clothes that match their figure, their style… How do they do it? I’ve no idea ! The comparison between dressing well and speaking a foreign language is particularly justified. Indeed, developing and / or mastering fashion is not something innate. It is a skill like any other. A skill that can be learned with a little practice.

First of all, your objectives must be above all to observe, to develop a better understanding of the different aspects of an outfit and the way in which the different pieces, which make it up, work together. You need to have a clear idea of ​​what appeals to you personally.

Don’t worry too much about defining your personal style or streamlining your wardrobe just yet. Wait until you can put together some outfits and know what types of clothes and looks you like and for what reasons, before embarking on a complete wardrobe overhaul .

1. Become an expert observer

The first thing you can do to better your sense of style is to observe what other people do and wear. What types of clothes make up their outfits? What colors do they associate with each other? What shoes complement their outfits? How do they accessorize their looks? Etc.

Imagine that you are in a foreign land and want to learn as much as possible about local customs. Use your daily environment as a laboratory. Sit in a cafe and just watch the passers-by. Pay particular attention to the outfits of your colleagues, your friends…, use Pinterest and fashion blogs to complete your studies. Feel free to explore as many styles as possible. The spectrum is wide and you will gain a lot by studying all types of fashion, even those that seem far from your personal taste. The goal of this process is to sharpen your sense of fashion and style .

If you see an outfit that you particularly like, dwell on it a bit so you can understand what makes it so awesome to you. Is it the general atmosphere of the look (preppy, casual-chic, bohemian, minimalist…)? Are the colors that compose it that seduce you? Is there a specific piece that catches your attention? This is how you train your eye: by observing and paying close attention to the way other people dress. By studying the things that interest you and the things that do not interest you.

This advice may seem obvious, but if you ask them, people with a sharp style will certainly tell you that they have been following it already, and have been for a few years. Over time, you will have a more and more precise idea of ​​what kind of clothes and outfits you like. You can then use this information to beautify your wardrobe, either wearing your favorite pieces in a whole new way or adding new clothes to your closet.

2. Imitate, imitate, imitate again …

Do you know how art school students learn their craft? Simply by studying and copying the style of other artists. Of course, the point of this article is to develop your personal style and therefore ignore other people’s rules. But, for a newbie, imitating others can be a particularly useful technique. It gives you a starting line, a plan to follow.

Most people who want to get into fashion feel overwhelmed. They know they need to experiment, but just don’t know where to start. There is probably no better advice than to invite yourself to imitate. Pick an outfit and copy it. Then analyze what you like and what you don’t like, evolve the outfit by making some corrections according to your tastes and… start again.

Find an outfit on on a fashion blog, or on the street. Consider wearing this outfit at work or on your next weekend. Then use your own clothes to replicate this outfit as closely as possible, or go to a store to try out this new look.

Copying a look will help you on two levels:

First, by trying to copy an outfit as closely as possible, you will be forced to pay attention to the details. You will have to study the cuts of the clothes and the materials to recreate the general silhouette of this outfit. When it comes to style, every detail is important.

For example, the timeless look created by a simple white T-shirt, jeans and a brown belt will differ depending on the cut of the T-shirt and jeans used. On the other hand, imitating is a great way to experiment and perfect your personal tastes.

Ideally, you like the look you copied and discover a new outfit that you can wear however you want. And if you don’t like the outfit you are wearing, you can take the opportunity to learn more about your style. You just have to figure out exactly what you don’t like. Is it the silhouette created in general? Is it the materials? Colors ? Could you make a change to make this outfit more suited to your personal taste? Are there any elements of this new look that appeal to you? If so, how could you integrate them into your wardrobe?

3. Get out of your comfort zone

On our blog, we regularly invite you to find or develop your personal style and to change or evolve your wardrobe. If you are new to the fashion world, this may seem impossible to you. After all, how would you know if you prefer bright colors to neutral colors? How would you know if you feel more comfortable in bohemian style outfits or chic clothes ? The best way to find out is to give it a try. Simply.

The one and only way to find your style is to step outside your comfort zone. You have to try, experiment, in order to find out what you like and what you don’t like. Experimenting with new things will also allow you to discover what is right for your body type . All the people you meet and to whom you lend a great sense of style have gone through this phase of experimentation and still continue. They would probably be able to tell you how many unsuitable outfits they put on before they found their style.

As a novice, you can make this process faster, but you can’t avoid it.

How do I try out new clothing styles?

Make it as fun as it is effective. Actively seek out new styles, colors, silhouettes… Don’t set yourself too ambitious goals so as not to feel overwhelmed. Take some time shopping so you can try out as much as possible. Take mental (or real) notes of what you like and what you don’t like and walk away without buying anything.

Another way to get out of your comfort zone is to challenge yourself. For example, go to a store you’ve never been to. Challenge yourself to find a complete outfit that you love and would wear. You can also try wearing a piece that you love about your girlfriends but imagine not being able to wear. Try on this piece and make sure to put together an outfit from it.

4. Use your favorite pieces as a starting point

Even if you’re not happy with the current state of your wardrobe, there’s a good chance you have at least one or two pieces that you like to wear. Use these pieces as a starting point. It’s a simple and seamless way to enrich your wardrobe and your dress style. Here’s how you can do it: First, figure out what separates your favorite clothes from the rest of your closet. Try to figure out why you don’t wear the other pieces of your wardrobe more often. Think about the colors, the fabrics, the cuts… the general style as well as the details.

Again, at this point, be sure to be particularly specific. Instead of just thinking, “I love these comfortable, well-fitting pants  ,” try to figure out what are the features that make them so comfortable and well-fitting. Is it the matter? His high waist? Its cut ? Once you’ve figured out what you like about your favorite pieces, you’ll be left with a perfectly detailed list of everything that can build your personal style. You can use this information as a guide for your next purchase. Since you’ve been wearing these clothes for a while, there is less chance of buying something that you won’t be wearing.