4 simple ways to elevate your style
When it comes to improving or elevating personal style I think one of the traps we often fall into is the belief that we need to buy something new, or that we need name brand/luxury items, or that we simply need something different than what we already have, yet I have found that instead of focusing on what we believe we’re missing, a better way to elevate personal style is to pay more attention to and make the most of what we already have.
To learn to focus on the little details that, when taken together, create the whole, beautiful image.
It is often much easier to focus our efforts on the more obvious things – the new items, the name brands, the “it” pieces that we’re told will change our lives – and give little or no attention to the simple details that are, in reality, the foundational elements that make everything else work together.
These little details can be easy to overlook or ignore, simply because they may seem mundane or irrelevant, but when combined together and done with consistency, they can make a huge impact and be the key pieces needed to help elevate your personal style.
I’ve put together four simple things that I believe really make a difference when it comes to elevating personal style. I’ve grouped them into two categories – personal grooming and personal habits – and anyone, regardless of age, can utilize them to help elevate their own personal style.
PERSONAL GROOMING
Clean, Healthy Hair
Your hair is one of the first things that people notice about you simply because it’s almost always on display. Clean, healthy hair is a wordless way you tell people that not only do you take care of yourself, but you are also thoughtful and aware of your appearance and how you present yourself to the world.
You just feel differently, more put-together and polished, when your hair is clean and styled versus when you haven’t had time to wash it in four days and you’re trying to make a ponytail look decent. (Nothing against ponytails! Sometimes there’s nothing more chic than a slicked back ponytail…but I digress).
Hopefully, you get my point. It doesn’t have to be a fancy or complicated hairstyle… clean, healthy, simply-styled hair will always look good, so if you don’t already have one, make sure you implement a good hair routine.
Now, this will likely look different for everyone, but regardless of what your personal hair routine looks like, just make sure you’re doing what you can to keep it clean, keep it healthy, and keep it maintained.
Attractive Hands & Feet
Just like with your hair, your hands are on display almost all of the time and as soon as sandal weather arrives so are your feet.
Keeping your hands and feet soft and well-moisturized and your nails clean and well-manicured may not necessarily be the most noticeable, eye-catching thing when done right, but it is definitely noticeable when no attention has been given to them at all, and that makes all the difference.
If you don’t already have one, start a simple routine of taking care of your hands and feet (nails included!). Whatever that routine looks like for you keep in mind that well-manicured doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to keep your nails painted or do anything fancy to them.
You can have attractive, well-manicured hands and feet even with bare nails. Just be sure that, regardless of your preference (bare, painted, dipped, acrylics, etc.), you are taking care of your cuticles, keeping your nails trimmed, neat, and chip-free, and moisturizing often.
PERSONAL HABITS
Time Management
Time management likely isn’t the first thing you think of when you’re wanting to elevate your style, but if you think about it, it just makes sense that time management should be part of the style equation.
Without proper time management, neither of the other things I’ve already discussed will work effectively. However, with proper time management, these things can easily be incorporated into your day-to-day or weekly routines (without having to sacrifice hours and hours) and can really start to make a difference in your overall appearance.
The key is to keep it simple. Consistently doing a simple routine that doesn’t require much time is far more effective than inconsistently doing a complicated one that takes hours. Using the above-mentioned personal grooming tips as examples, here are some simple ways to effectively manage your time:
If you know you don’t have much time in the mornings, wash and dry your hair the night before, and then give yourself ten to fifteen extra minutes in the morning to style it
Sleep in heatless rollers so that your hair is curled and ready to go the next morning
Keep a container of cuticle cream on your nightstand and take 30 seconds to apply every evening before bed
If you prefer to do your nails yourself, set aside five to ten minutes one day a week to file and shape your nails
Slather moisturizer on your feet immediately after getting out of the shower, put socks on, and let your feet soak in the moisturizer for however long you want before going to bed
Keep moisturizer on your nightstand for your hands and use nightly (keep some in your purse too!)
Discipline & Consistency
Any routine will be ineffective if it’s not done consistently, and it takes discipline to consistently maintain even a simple routine. You might have all the motivation in the world to start something new, but you need discipline to maintain it.
Discipline keeps working long after the motivation has worn off. If you want to elevate your personal style, you have to discipline yourself to be consistent with the little things.
Creating and maintaining any type of routine will likely require a bit more effort at first, but before you know it, with discipline and consistency, it will become second nature to you.
Be consistent with your routines, even after you’ve seen the results you want or even when you feel like it’s not as important (for example, don’t slack on taking care of your feet during the fall/winter just because your feet are covered up all of the time – doing so will just make it harder to get them ready for sandal weather again!).
So there you have it! Four simple ways to help elevate your style at any age. Notice I said “simple” not “easy”. These things are definitely not complicated, but it isn’t always easy to start a new routine and be disciplined enough to consistently maintain it.
I’ve always heard that it takes 21 days to make or break a habit, so if you start these things now, you will have already begun to elevate your style before another month goes by!
I’d love to hear from you whether any of these surprised you or if you already have routines that you do consistently that you feel help elevate your style. You can send me a message anytime by using the form on my contact page or email me directly at hello@awellroundedwardrobe.com.
Amber
Hi, I’m Amber
Creator and founder of A Well-Rounded Wardrobe. Whether you’re looking to start building a wardrobe from scratch or simply want to fine tune what you already have, you’re in the right place. Start exploring.