5 Ways to Get Creative with Styling Your Clothes

By Rylan Strauser

Styling versus wearing. What’s the difference? Anyone can throw on a pair of pants and a shirt and make it look good, but what makes clothes stand out? What exactly turns a basic outfit into a creative outfit? In my experience, making an outfit interesting–or styling–is easier than you may think, but it takes knowledge on how to efficiently and effectively mix pieces in your wardrobe. Through styling, you can take a simple pair of pants and a simple shirt and elevate the look to be eye-catching, personalized, and fun! Styling has a wide range of possibilities, but the process can be intimidating. So, I’ll be sharing the best 5 ways to elevate your styling game!

1. Pick a Statement Piece

Picking a statement piece for the rest of your clothes to be based on is a great way for you to be able to see your clothes in a more creative way. A statement piece doesn’t need to be bold exactly, but you want it to be the focus of your outfit. For example, I found these super cool shoes while thrifting and decided to use them as a statement piece:

With the shoes in mind, I picked out my clothes based on colors shown in the shoes: white, pink, yellow, and blue. This made my resulting outfit super fun and allowed me to wear something I would have never typically pieced together without the statement piece.

2. Layering is Key

If I were to highlight any of the 5 ways on this list, it would 100% be this one. Layering is the most effective way to make your outfits look like outfits and not just clothes. Layering is very subjective depending on the type of style you are trying to reach. A great place to start is by using long sleeves under tee-shirts, vests, jackets, cami tank tops, tights, socks, etc.

3. View Clothing as Pieces to be Worn in Multiple Ways

Being able to look at a basic shirt and think of the numerous ways to wear it unconventionally can be difficult at times, but there are some simple methods that I personally use in my day-to-day life that really upcycle a look. Two of my favorite ways to restyle my shirts is to wear them off the shoulder or to tuck them into my bra on one side. The asymmetry in using these methods can be interesting for the eye and allow for more layering.

4. Accessories are a MUST

Even with all the ways previously mentioned, accessories are what truly make clothes interesting. Wearing lots of necklaces, bracelets, and rings, paired with a belt and other fun additives (such as hats, headbands, or bandanas) are all super simple yet so eye-catching. Personally, my outfits never feel complete without at least some form of jewelry.

5. Experiment with Mixing Patterns

Another way to get super creative with your outfits is to mix and match patterns. When I do this, I try to stay loyal to one or two colors, so the look stays cohesive, while also having an eye-catching feature. Personally, I think the easiest patterns to start experimenting with this technique are flannel and stripes. Once you get a feel for what patterns fit you, it’s easy to personalize them and incorporate into your wardrobe.