5 Easy Ways to Upgrade Your Style

November 10, 2025

By Kelly Moon

Whenever I hear someone wanting to elevate their wardrobe but don’t know where to start, I’ve always wanted to be a sort of guardian angel for them. Trust me, I’ve been there. In fact, my chase for “better” clothing is never-ending. My style changes every so often with new inspirations, variations in trends, and new brands that make their way into the spotlight. For me, my clothing is a reflection of who I am, which is fluid and impermenant; I’m not the same person I was yesterday, much less a year ago. It makes sense then that some of the older clothes in my closet don’t quite feel like ‘me’ anymore and I tend not to reach for them as much as I used to. I believe this is just a part of growing up and wanting to explore yourself, especially if you’re someone who loves to express themselves through clothing.

Dressing “better” doesn’t necessarily mean looking more put together or following the latest trends. It means feeling truly comfortable in what you wear and feeling proud of how you present yourself to the world. When you’re trying to dress well, you’re actually trying to understand clothing and learn how certain pieces make you feel. When you put something on, think to yourself: Do I feel excited or bored? Confident or invisible? Inspired or unimpressed? Ultimately, your outfit-of-the-day should, at the risk of sounding cheesy, make you want to conquer your mission for the day (and, of course, look remarkably good while doing it).

Excuse my rant. Here are 5 easy ways to actually upgrade your style so you can feel more like yourself in the clothes you wear: 

1. Pinterest is your new best friend. 

Whenever I need new style inspiration or don’t know what to wear in the morning, the first place I look to for answers is Pinterest. When you’re just beginning in the fashion world, here’s what you can do: First, search up a general style you’re looking for: streetwear, classic, chic, monochromatic, dolly, casual—really, anything that comes to mind. Then, scroll until you find an outfit that catches your eye, peaks your interest, or makes your heart flutter. Next you’re going to look for pieces that are as close to that outfit as you can. By this, I mean copy it entirely. Don’t worry about being unoriginal right now—take this time to see what styles you gravitate towards and how you envision your ideal ‘stylish’ new you. This is also going to allow you to find brands that will resonate with you or at least sell other pieces that you might like. Once you gather the pieces, try it on and see how you feel. Repeat the process until you have a collection that you feel embodies you. True creativity in fashion comes with time and will settle once you have a clearer idea of how you want to dress.

2. Start following influencers you look up to.

There are countless influencers out there that will continuously post new outfit ideas to pull you out of a fashion rut. Whenever you find yourself feeling unmotivated, simply seeing how others have fun with fashion can help remind you why you started following them in the first place. Over time, you’ll start noticing patterns in what you’re drawn to and naturally develop your own twist on those styles. Social media can really be an incredible tool for finding your sense of style since it shows you endless possibilities and pieces you’ve never even dreamed of. 

3. Start at the center, then work your way out.

It can be difficult to figure out which pieces to get when it feels like you need to have a closet filled to the brim to finally look stylish. Don’t overwhelm yourself. I recommend looking for the central pieces first—tops, pants, skirts, jackets, and shoes. Then move your way out—look more closely at accessories like hats, jewelry, bags, and belts. Of course, there’s more: socks, warmers, scarves, glasses, hair accessories . . . I can go on and on. Basically, build your base, then find what can make it more interesting and fun. Wearing and styling clothes are two very different things. Once you master styling, you’ll become a true fashionista.

4. Understand your body proportions and what works for you.

The type of clothing you wear should depend at least partially on what your body proportions are. Study different body shapes. Learn what silhouettes, fits, and cuts suit each one the most. Do you look better in high-waisted or low-waisted bottoms? Layered or fitted? Textured or basic? Once you figure out what flatters your body type, shopping and styling pieces become way easier.

5. Find a colour palette that complements your features.

Pay attention to which colours make your skin tone, hair, and eyes stand out. Certain colours might wash your skin out or make it look too dull. Other colours might make your rosy cheeks pop or those blue eyes bluer. Having a cohesive colour palette will make your outfits look more intentional and put together without much effort. Understanding colour theory might take a bit more time, but it will be worth it when you apply it to your clothes. You can start by finding a few base shades you love such as black, white, navy, or beige, and adding accent colours that mix well with them. You might also really like wearing just base shades, which is fine too. There is no right or wrong in fashion (no matter how much others might judge).

I hope these tips help you take that first brave step into the fashion world, which can be quite daunting if you don’t know where to start. The truth is, this journey is your own, and finding your style demands your creativity and openness. One day, someone will compliment your outfit that evolved over years and cycled through numerous versions of you to showcase who you are now, boldly and artistically.