8 Practical Tips To Elevate Any Outfit
While anyone with a basic sense of style can put together a good outfit, a great outfit requires a bit more intentionality. The good news? We’re willing to bet that with just a few simple tips, pulling together those great outfits on your own is easier than you think.
If your outfits feel a bit unpolished to you, it’s a common impulse to think that you must not have the right items - that your wardrobe is unfinished and you need to buy something (or, a few somethings…) to solve it. However, the secret ingredient of stylist-quality outfits is almost always how items are put together rather than the items themselves. Usually, you just need a little extra oomph - one or two additional layers of depth that pull the look together and take it from “just okay” to “I love your outfit!”
The easiest way to get this extra oomph so that you always have an elevated outfit to wear without a second thought is to take advantage of Indyx’s styling services, especially a subscription to The Feed, which delivers you expertly styled outfits every week, all from your own closet.
But, we’re certainly not gatekeepers - we want everyone to feel empowered with the knowledge to dress with confidence. And so, if you’re ready to start thinking like a stylist, we’re here to share some of our easiest tips to help you elevate your style and bring a touch of chic to your outfits - all on your own!
How To Take Any Outfit To The Next Level
Add Layers
Layering is absolutely key to outfits that appear styled rather than simply thrown together. Take notice of any outfit inspo you have saved on Pinterest or elsewhere, and you might quickly notice that a common theme among them is that they are more than just a top and a bottom - they are layered: a shirt under a vest or peaking out from under a sweater, a sweatshirt thrown over a shoulder, or even socks showing from the inside of a pair of Birkenstock Bostons (regardless of how you feel about this particular example…the principle holds!).
To add more interest to your outfit, you can add a third layer, like a jacket, a vest, or a sweater. It works because layering adds more dimension, visual interest, and texture - all things that add up to the impression of a more intentional and styled ensemble. When an outfit feels disconnected or too bare, a third layer can fill the gap, giving you the opportunity to create cohesion.
Even if you live in a warmer climate, you can still implement this tip! You can still opt for very lightweight layers, like an open linen button down or oversized linen blazer. There are options!
Natalie Borton gives a great example of how adding a third layer elevates outfits and makes them more versatile, even when the weather heats up throughout the day. Initially, she adds the sweater because of the temperature. Later on, though, that extra layer gives her the option to style it on her shoulders, even when bracing for chilly weather is no longer necessary.
I’ll also share a couple of personal examples. My style is generally clean and minimalistic, so my closet is full of basics, especially white tops. It takes a bit of extra thought and intention to bring more color and personality into my looks, and I often do so by adding a third layer.
This outfit feels cool and clean, but also quite simplistic, being solely black and white. Adding a third layer allows me to create a pop of color and bring the outfit to life.
Another example: I love this handmade top I purchased from a small business, but paired with denim jeans, it feels like just a regular shmegular tank top and jeans look. However, once I add a vest, my outfit gains a lot more personality. It also makes it look more cohesive because the black vest pulls in the black from the sneakers.
Swap out casual items
Another simple way to elevate an outfit is to selectively swap more casual items for pieces that are naturally more elevated. For example, here Naomi Boyer swaps jeans for trousers in order to create a more sophisticated look.
A few other ideas of items to swap could be:
Sneakers for a heel, or even a leather flat like a ballet flat or slingback
A flat, casual sandal for a strappy heeled one
A fabric or canvas tote for a streamlined leather bag
A sporty baseball cap for a more polished headband
Colorful, boho jewelry for more minimalistic metallic pieces
Balance your outfit
Elevating the quality of your outfits does not mean you can never wear jeans or sneakers again. Note that all three outfits Naomi featured felt elevated, even though she wasn’t overly formal or “dressed up.” That’s because when she opted for a more casual item, she elevated it by combining it with something more chic. And vice-versa, she wasn’t head-to-toe fancy. When she wore jeans, she paired them with heels; when she went for sneakers, the trousers still maintained the elegance.
You don't need to compromise comfort in order to take your outfits to the next level - all you need is balance.
Create friction
Along with balance comes friction. In fashion, friction means you combine unlikely styles, thus creating an element of surprise and newness.
Elevating your outfits does not mean simply making them fancier or adding more stuff. It also means pushing yourself creatively to come up with something a bit unexpected. We love what stylist Kenzie Welch has to say about using friction to create more unique outfits.
Repeat elements
Another aspect of creating balance in your outfits is repetition. Repeating the same color, pattern, or material with at least two items adds cohesion and makes your outfit feel more intentional. For example, if you are wearing golden chunky hoops, it would be a good idea to style a belt with a golden buckle.
Play with styling
Reimagining how an item can be styled may seem like a seven-headed monster at first, especially if you already feel like you’re in a funk of boring outfits. But we have good news: you don’t need to be an expert to play around with how you style your clothes. You just need to keep an open-mind and experiment!
You also don’t have to develop Queer Eye expertise overnight. You can ease yourself into styling with these simple tricks (and see how they feel to you):
Roll up your sleeves
Use hair ties to give the sleeves of your blazer an effortlessly chic revamp
Tuck in only the front of your top, leaving the back untucked (look at you, using the french tuck!)
If you’re feeling especially adventurous, you can try a more advanced wrap tuck, as demonstrated in this video:
Go for an elegant updo
You can elevate your look without changing any of your clothes by styling your hair. A forever favorite is a sleek ponytail that doesn’t require a lot of time or effort and is perfect for lazy days. You can achieve the sleek hair look with nothing but a comb and a hair tie, but a bristle brush and some sort of hair product (gel, balm, or spray works) will make it stay longer.
Another easy elegant updo hack is to use a claw clip. It pays to take a few minutes to learn to do it in a way that reads more *polished* than messy - we love this technique!
Accessorize
It sounds incredibly simple - almost painfully obvious! - but we feel that this area of styling is often overlooked.
Almost everyone has heard the classic Coco Chanel advice to look in the mirror and take one thing off before leaving the house, but we think we might have collectively taken this a *bit* too far. In our opinion, most outfits are simply underaccessorized! That’s a shame, considering that adding a few accessories - jewelry, a belt, a scarf, a hat, or a bag - is perhaps the easiest way to add interest to a basic outfit.
First, think about jewelry: layering necklaces, adding a chunky hoop, stacking rings, or a watch can elevate the simplest outfit and make it look much more expensive. Check out the following example:
It doesn’t have to get too serious: truly, wear whatever you love. But, matching your jewelry to your skin tone can take it to the next level. You likely already have an intuitive preference for either silver or gold, but the inside of your wrist can serve as a cheat sheet: if your veins appear more green then you may look better with gold jewerly, but if they pull more blueish then silver jewelry may be a better fit.
Another rule of thumb is that silver commonly complements people with blue or green eyes and light hair, while gold is great for those with brown eyes and darker hair.
We also love a belt. Honestly, if you’re wearing pants we would recommend a belt 99% of the time. Belts work because they act like a third layer, especially if you tuck your top so that it is visible as a third distinct element in your outfit.
When it comes to belt selection, the old rules do still apply: it’s best to match your shoes (black with black, brown with brown) and, to match the belt hardware to your jewelry. Plus, investing in a few basic belts will truly last a lifetime - styles almost never change here!
Of course, other accessories should not be ignored: scarves, hats, glasses, and bags can all help make your outfit look more elevated and cohesive while adding a dose of personality. We love these styling ideas:
Putting It All Together…
To help solidify these tips and tricks, let us look at some examples of what they look like when combined and put into action.
In the video below, Alicia Staples styles very basic, neutral items, but makes them interesting with two “third layers” of a cropped trench and a sweater draped over her shoulders, polishing off the look with an elegant French tuck.
Benni elevates a black dress by accessorizing with earrings, rings, and a watch. She also opts for wearing her hair up and a pop of color with her heels.
You can mix in as many elevated style principles as you want! Watch how Haley Ivers accessorizes, swaps out casual items, and creates balance to elevate an otherwise boring outfit.
There are a lot of ideas to work with, right? It may feel a bit overwhelming at first, but it doesn't have to be! You can go at your own pace, trying the tips and tricks that feel more interesting to you. You can simplify styling even further by using an Indyx digital wardrobe instead of pulling everything out of your closet. That way, you don’t have to make a mess of your space. And, you have the ability to easily duplicate outfits on the app so you can swap one or two things and try different ideas on the same outfit base.
Which tips and tricks are you going to try? Tag us on instagram at @myindyx to be featured in our stories - we would love to see what you come up with!
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Isa is a communications specialist, writer, and content creator. In her free time, she likes reading, thrifting, and decorating her place to feel like a retro-modern Pinterest board. If you see her in public, she’ll likely be enjoying a few scoops of gelato and/or admiring strangers’ dogs.
