3 Common Fashion Mistakes to Avoid
Do you want to look and feel your best in your clothing every day that you step out into the world? I am certain that most people reading that question will answer with a resounding, “Yes, of course! No one actually wants to look and feel bad in their clothing!” However, always looking and feeling your best can be somewhat challenging depending on the wardrobe pieces that you choose and how they fit your body as well as which fashion trends speak to you and your personality.
Making daily style choices can be overwhelming especially if you have a closet filled with miscellaneous pieces that lack coherency. This article will address three of the most common fashion mistakes that people tend to make. These tips will help you to curate the perfect wardrobe by eliminating pieces that don’t work for you while adding in pieces that reveal your authentic self and the message that you want to deliver to the world about the real you.
Wearing the Wrong Size
You may be surprised to learn that most people don’t know their body measurements or their actual true size in different articles of clothing. However, knowing that information is not always helpful because different brands all use different sizing. You may need a size 8 in one brand while a size 12 in another brand may be more suitable. I know I have mentioned previously that my wardrobe currently houses sizes medium through 8XL. It all depends on the garment, the style, the manufacturer, and the brand. Due to this industry wide discrepancy in sizing, it is so important to try things on before purchasing. When you land in between sizes, you may end up with a fit that is too tight or too loose. Sometimes a garment may be worth the hassle of alterations while other items are better left on the rack.
If you are unsure of whether or not a garment fits your body properly, ask a shopping buddy, your spouse, or a sales associate for their opinion. I also find it helpful to take a photograph so I can view the fit through a different perspective as well.
It can be really tempting to buy clothing in the wrong size especially if it is on sale and the price seems irresistible. But if the garment is too small, you will likely end up feeling poorly about yourself because it doesn’t fit. If the item is too big and you don’t have it altered, it merely takes up valuable closet space that could be filled with pieces you love that fit properly. A good rule of thumb for any shopping excursion is if it doesn’t fit and you have no intention of altering it, don’t buy it! Look for something else that you love in the correct size.
If you prefer to shop online, be sure to take your current measurements so you can ensure the proper fit. Most online clothing boutiques such as Memma have the appropriate options for selecting the right size before purchasing.
Revealing Too Much
Fashion is a personal thing. So it should come as no surprise that what looks great and what doesn’t will vary greatly in the opinions of different people. Some women may feel that baring any skin above the knee is revealing too much while others are perfectly comfortable barely covered at all.
I fall somewhere in the middle (as usual) in that I enjoy pushing the limits in how much leg I can bare, but I will keep my cleavage concealed and covered most of the time. However, the times that I bare some cleavage, I generally keep my legs covered. Sort of a less is a more concept when it comes to how much revealing is appropriate.
Some occasions may be completely inappropriate to wear clothing that is too revealing. Other occasions may be just too darn hot to not bare maximum amounts of skin. Reveal as much as you are comfortable with revealing while maintaining some level of etiquette for more sensitive or somber occasions.
Trying Too Hard with Accessories
Accessories truly can make or break an outfit. If you don’t have enough, you can appear unfinished or even boring. If you layer on too many, you run the risk of looking like a girl playing dress up. (Not that there is anything with wrong with either of those things. I love to play dress up and don’t care what it looks like. You may prefer minimalism in your appearance and that is perfectly fine, too.) From a practical standpoint, however, layering on too many accessories can end up with them impeding your daily activities. For example, as much as I love the look of stacked bracelets, I never wear bracelets while working because they interfere with my typing. And I never wear scarves while cooking because they just get in the way and become hazardous.
When it comes to your work clothing, sometimes it’s best to keep your wardrobe simple so you can focus on the task at hand without drawing unwanted or distracting attention to yourself. Obviously each work environment is different and you have to feel it out to determine how much self expression is acceptable in your work wear. Even different events or meetings may require a different work wear style than the days you spend sitting at your desk.
If you are giving a presentation or traveling around a lot during the work day, you don’t need to have multiple pieces hanging off your belt or oversized layered necklaces that can catch on railings or in doors. Keep your work wear style balanced with simple pieces, comfortable footwear, and practical accessories.
“Fashion you can buy, but style you possess. The key to style is learning who you are, which takes years. There’s no how-to road map to style. It’s about self expression and, above all, attitude.”
Iris Apfel
“Playing dress-up begins at age five and never truly ends.”
Kate Spade
Of course you should only follow these tips as long as you are remaining true to your authentic self and your personal style. What we wear is an outward reflection of who we are inside. Make sure that you are sending the message that you want about yourself. And rock on with your beautiful self!
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
Joining these Fabulous Link Parties.
Outfit Details: Dress-Old Navy / Shoes-Ruff Hewn / Belt-Torrid / Earrings and Hat-Old
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.
16 Comments
Kellyann Rohr
You nailed it with these 3! It’s amazing how the wrong size in an item can completely alter a look! I love this outfiton you from head to toe – soooooooo cute!
xo,
Kellyann
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Kellyann! I was really happy with this cute little dress even though it also is too big on me! Ha. Skinny belt to the rescue for that one! Have a lovely weekend, my friend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Jodie
I definitely agree especially with the sizing. I also think we can buy things a tad big thinking we don’t want it to be tight. And too big can lead to sloppy.
Xoxo
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Jodie! Now that I have so many too big clothes in my wardrobe, I have been getting creative with styling them so they are not too sloppy! Like the dress in this post. Belting it saved it from the “too oversized doesn’t fit” look!
xoxo
Shelbee
Patrick Weseman
Thanks and I will be sure to follow all of these tips.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Oh Patrick, you don’t need to follow these tips! You have your Patrick-personal-style down perfectly!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
Great points all! I love how so many companies are putting in the measurements for garments online. It doesn’t insure a perfect, but it really helps. I won’t even shop at online stores that put only the sizes.
Super cute outfit!
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, my friend! Oh my gosh, I hate when online retailers don’t include measurements! I won’t shop them either because you have no idea what is the right size. Unless it’s a retailer that I am familiar with their sizing, like Old Navy or Torrid.
xoxo
Shelbee
mireille
Some great tips. I definitely try to balance the shortness with covering more on top and vice versa. I also am learning that I need to make sure I am confortable in something: trying to fit in something to small is a no no.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Mireille! I find it a bit of an irony within myself that I am so not conservative in thoughts and lifestyle and actions and the way I dress, but I am very conservative when it comes to showing off too much skin! I have been showing more cleavage this summer than ever before and I still struggle getting comfortable with it. I think because from my view…looking down at my cleavage…it looks way more in your face than if you look at me straight on! Proving once again that it is all about the perspective! Ha.
xoxo
Shelbee
Sheila (of Ephemera)
One of the biggest lessons I learned was, “Just because it fits, doesn’t mean it suits me.” I bought a lot of new-to-me clothes when I first lost weight, and I bought so much that was totally wrong for my body, my style, my life. It was fun experimenting, but it took me a long time to get over the excitement of clothes actually fitting me.
I love your pretty red dress – the red lippy is swoon-worthy!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
That is a great lesson to learn, Sheila! Just because it fits…doesn’t mean it fits me or my lifestyle or my personality! So, so true! It is super fun to experiment with lots of different styles and if you have the space to house a huge wardrobe, then I say use your space for what makes you happy! But if you are limited, then it is important to pare down and keep the things that fit in size and personality!
xoxo
Shelbee
Wendy
I definitely fall into the boring category!! lol.
I have to work on it. I’ll remember this post each time I put on earrings! 🙂
Wendy
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Oh goodness, Wendy, don’t be so harsh on yourself! Minimalist is a much better word than boring anyway! But just a few accessories is all you need to go from boring to brilliant, too! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
xoxo
Shelbee
Chickenruby
Good tips for clothing when on the move or working. Too many accessories really can spoil an outfit and why oh why do people wear clothes that are too tight?
Thanks for linking with #pocolo
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Suzanne! As much as I love a good accessory overload, you do have to be practical about it most of the time. And I think people wear clothes that are too tight either because they gained weight and haven’t yet upgraded their wardrobe yet or because they are too guided by the number on the tags and too vain to go up a size or two for proper fit. But…I take the approach of “to each her own”. If someone prefers to wear clothing that is too tight or too small, who the heck am I to judge and say they shouldn’t?! I hope you have an amazing week ahead!
xoxo
Shelbee