How to Dress Nice & Look Stylish – Your 5 Step Checklist

Everyday Style

When you wake up in the morning, what is the first thing you think of:

• Need Coffee!?
• Time to Workout?
• Breakfast, I’m starving?
• What am I going to wear today?

With all of the decisions, we have to make in a day, wondering if we look nice and stylish shouldn’t be one of them. It’s not if you should dress nice, dressing nice should be your default, but how to dress nice every day without much thought and effort.

Getting dressed in the morning should be fun and energizing. You’re setting the tone for the rest of the day. Don’t you want it to be a good one?

When you love your outfit, it makes you feel more confident, beautiful and gives you that extra pep in your step. You smile when you look in the mirror and know that you are ready to take on the day!

I know you’ve been on the opposite side of this before. This happens to the best of us. Well. I don’t know if it happens to Anna Wintour, but it does happen to me. When you’re late, frantically pulling out different pieces from your closet and have nothing look nice together then leave your home with an outfit that you are unsure about. You are a little less confident, a little less happy, and worst you start your day off frazzled and unsure.

I know you understand the importance of achieving an everyday style that you love, so let’s dive into how you can dress nice, be stylish, and look better, so you feel when you step out the door to take on the day!

You cannot have a fantastic day with a horrible outfit. It’s not good for our spirits or confidence. There are better days than others, but that is not an excuse for putting together a horrible outfit.

What if you were to run into someone you know? Would you duck and hide? Avoid them? If you answered yes, then you MUST continue reading this style guide! Not skim…read.

How to Dress Nice Everyday

I try to dress nice on most days, not just on special occasions or when heading outside to meet other people. My getting ready routine boils down to a simple checklist. This is how I make sure I dress nice and look stylish everyday. Whether I’m putting together a business casual outfit for work or a casual weekend white jeans outfit, this checklist still applies.

Because you can’t just throw your outfit together willy nilly and expect it to look stylish every time. You might get lucky a couple of times, but there is a system for your preparation. I follow this checklist before I leave the house.

If you’re thinking, “a checklist to get ready? Really?” YES!

This simple how to dress nice, look better, and feel stylish 5 step checklist will help you evaluate every outfit to ensure every single time you step out your front door, you look your best.

How to Look Your Best – 5 Step Checklist

1. Does it Fit?

The first guideline in looking and being stylish is one of the most important!

This might sound incredibly simple, but many people leave the house with clothes that are too big or too small. Make sure your clothes fit you correctly, unless it’s intentional, like a boyfriend tee or slouchy sweater. If you’re going for a trendy look, make sure to pay special attention to point 4.

2. Do the Colors Coordinate?

Make sure the colors in your outfit complement each other and you!

Look at the colors you’re wearing and review the palette. Is it subdued, bright, or contrasting? Colors can affect your entire mood so, in addition, to fit, make sure the colors help your attitude.

If you’re feeling happy and excited, you wouldn’t want to squash that energy by wearing all black. Choose a color palette to suit your mood or use color to bring you out of a funky mood.

When you’re feeling down, don’t reach for black; reach for your favorite colored item in the closet and add some fun accessories. Use clothing as a mood enhancer. Whenever my mood is not the brightest I put on an outfit I love. Don’t stay in sweatpants or pajamas.

And make sure the colors look amazing against your skin tone and hair color. I go into the best colors for different hair colors and skin tones in Cute Fall Outfits guide.

3. Is it Flattering?

Are your best features being accentuated? Do your clothes make your figure look great?

This doesn’t only apply to your sexiest jeans but every piece in your wardrobe. Every piece must flatter your shape. No matter your body shape, you want a defined waistline because you’ll instantly feel sexier!

Does the outfit make you appear taller and leaner or short? Is your outfit making you feel frumpy?

4. Is it Balanced?

Do the patterns, colors, styles, proportions, and fabrics in the outfit look harmonious?

Does the outfit confuse you? Is it overpowering for you? Are there too many accessories or contrasting colors?

You’ll know when an outfit is out of balance because you’ll feel something is out of place.

If you’re going for an item that is intentionally larger, make sure to balance it with a slimmer piece. Like pairing a slouchy sweater with black leggings or a pencil skirt, the looser top balances the form-fitting bottom. If like wearing leggings make sure to check out, What to Wear With Leggings & 20 Style Tips on How to Wear Them.

You can think of point four as a classy point. If you want to learn more about how to dress classy, make sure to read this post: How to Dress Classy – 7 Style Tips You Need to Know.

5. What Does This Outfit Say About Me?

Because your clothes speak before you do, make sure you’re putting out the message you want others to hear.

First impressions are everything, and it only takes an instant before one is formed. Give the impression you want. Whether you like it or not, people are going to judge you, so you might as well make it the judgment you want!

Take into consideration where you’re going. Is your outfit giving off the right vibe to the people you’re going to be interacting with? Then go on and make the most of the day. If not, switch the piece that might be out of place in your outfit.

If you follow this simple 5 step checklist it will help you dress better, feel stylish and overall look better. Keep it handy on your phone or on your dresser for easy visibility.

Consider the Day Ahead

The main thing to consider when putting together an outfit is your day ahead. What are your plans and what type of outfit does it call for? Is it a work day filled with meetings and lots of human interaction? Do you need to appear powerful and confident? Or are you getting ready for a fun day wine tasting with your best friends?

Is it pants (jeans or trousers), a skirt, shorts, or dress type of day? Once you’ve selected the type of day you need to dress for then your base is built from there. If you decide to go with dark-wash jeans, what top will you match it with? A long-sleeve button down, silk blouse, or printed cami because you’re planning on layering a blazer over it?

Once you’ve chosen your clothing, next move on to shoes and accessories. Accessories will liven up a minimal outfit and bring a different feel to a look when you want it to.

The more you work on putting together outfits, the easier it becomes. You start to understand what looks stylish on you and why certain pieces work together. Like with most things, it just takes practice.

If you feel like this would take too much time to do in the morning, consider putting together your outfit the night before. Don’t sacrifice your outfit because you’re not a morning person.

Dress Nicer with an Organized Closet

The tips above get a lot easier when you have a clean closet. When you clean and organize your closet and evaluated what to keep, you’ll have a closet that is color coordinated with dresses, blouses, jackets, jeans, sweater, trousers, skirts, etc., all in their proper place. You’ll know where your favorite jacket is and the perfect shoes to match it.

When your closet is organized and filled with clothes you love, getting ready becomes much easier because you know every piece in your closet is stylish. There is nothing that is ripped, stained, ill-fitting, or unflattering.

With an organized closet you’ll approach your closet with a positive attitude and enthusiasm. So make sure you schedule a time to read this guide: How to Organize Your Closet in 5 Simple Steps then complete the steps in the guide! It’ll make getting ready in the morning so much easier!

I hope this guide will help you answer how to dress nice and look stylish everyday! Don’t reserve this checklist just for special occasions, it’s something you can use every day when getting ready.

Stay Stylish,
-V