What 10 years in fashion taught me about style

(hint: it's not "be confident" "smile more" or "wear what you love")

I’ve spent the last ten years inside fashion - backstage at shows, on set for campaigns, in fittings or studios.. in that constant flow of “trends”, references, archives and quiet slow shifts almost invisible to the naked eye.

Here’s what I learned: almost every “style” advice is often more decorative than not. “Be confident”, “find your real style”, “smile more”... It’s very nice and empowering but not really usable and applicable irl. Because the difference between a good outfit and a great one, the one you see immediately without knowing why, comes from something else.

What changes everything are the practical tricks. The ones that happen 30 seconds before a model walks the runway, the ones no one explains to you and can only be picked up by being there over and over again.

So over the years, I kept the things that actually worked. Not the theories, aesthetics, and vague ideas but the real repeatable tricks. I filtered them to keep only what makes a visible difference. A collection of style rules that are immediate, useful and most importantly doesn’t require you to buy more clothes!!

Silhouette is everything (not your actual clothes)

• The bra-tuck trick (yes that one) is EVERYWHERE backstage.

• If there’s no waist definition, the outfit is weaker. Pro tip: dropped waist, it relaxes the entire body line.

  

• Low rise + longer top often looks more expensive than high rise + crop. Yes, really.

• Rolling your sleeves can fix an outfit. Stylist rarely leave sleeves hems clean, they roll, twist or cuff last minute.

• Slightly too long trousers > perfectly tailored ones. The break on the shoe creates tension. lived in = more elegant.

• Jackets are often half buttoned or mis-buttoned on purpose to add more tension (again?? yes. tension is what makes a great outfit)

• Hair tucked into clothes for a sharper neckline.

• Slightly off center bag carry.

• Showing wrists, ankles or collarbone is slimming is that’s what you’re after.

The hacks fashion stylists use

• Double sided tape is the most “invisible” tool and can be used for more than you think: a rolled-up sleeve you want to stay put during dinner, the perfect layered collars, the white top peaking through your sweater… invisible tape!!!

• If it doesn’t fit, yes it will: fake it. elastic + bracelet in the back.

• Slight shoulder padding (even DIY) = instant authority silhouette.

  

• Internal safety pins = secrets tailoring. Sometimes I wanna wear my clothes oversized (which they are) but when I’m in the mood for more definition and fittedness, big safety pins inside. No one will ever know.

• Raw hems make jeans look more intentional.

• Sweater on the shoulders or on the bag = structure, not preppy cliché if done loosely.

Shoes are more important than you think

I don’t have a lot to say for this one, just shoes are more important than you think. Don’t leave them out of the equation and choose them last. They are as important as your jacket or bottoms. Great shoes can make (or break) an outfit.

• Oh never mind I have one: let’s break the cliché that if your shoes don’t match your pants or tights or legs or whatever you will look shorter. The elongation doesn’t come front the color of your shoe rather than the fit of your bottoms and/or your styling.

  

The difference between “dressed” and “styled” lies in the details

• No one notices wrinkles except on collars and cuffs. Fix those.

• Sunglasses aren’t optional or strictly for summer, they finish the look.

  

• If you added a lot of accessories, remove one. Always. It’s like adverbs in an essay, most of the times they just aren’t necessary to make your point.

• (Tee) shirt hems intentionally sticking out under everything.

• Fit beats brand every single time.

• Two waistlines at once (belt + low slung pants).

Texture > colors

• Textures matter more than color, I repeat, textures matter WAY more than colors.

• Tonal outfits always look richer than high contrast.

  

• Matte + shine contrast (wool and gloss leather for example).

• Pure white can be hard to pull off, off-white always appears more expensive.

• Sheer layer over something structures (not under!!!).

• Crinkles / imperfect fabrics > overly and perfectly pressed.

• New black can look cheap. Slightly faded black looks lived in, better. Lesson: wear. your. clothes.!!!!!!

• Mixing “cheap-looking” + “luxe” textures = editorial.

“Wrong styling” is really hot (again, it’s all about the tension)

• pretty dress + “ugly” shoes.

• sport pieces inside formal outfits (track pants + leather loafers or even heels is one of my favorite combo).

• Evening fabric in daytime: satin, sheer, sequins before 6pm.

• Overdressed top + underdressed bottom (vice versa).

Accessories (quiet but strategic)

• Belts over outerwear (think coats and knits) for more silhouette control.

• Statement socks!!!! (also yes white socks are hot).

• Jewelry “mismatch” (gold + silver intentionally).

• Bags worn slightly too small or too big.

So yea, most outfits fall flat not because of bad taste but rather bad execution. Backstage, no one asks “is it trendy?” they ask “where can we break this outfit slightly?”.

If you’re feeling generous, please share your real and applicable style tricks in the comments. I’d love to make a list of all of those too!!

And if you want to read more about style or what working in fashion for the last 10 years has taught me, consider subscribing <3

If you enjoyed this article, you might like this one: