You’d be surprised at the type of fashion mistakes that most women make and at how easily they can be prevented but we’re here to help you with that and to get you back on the right track. Some of these tips can help with your real life fashion problems as well and I hope that they are of some use to you in the future. Enjoy!

1. People rely way too much on the fashion media.
I’m one of the first people to say that I love to read all the fashion magazines and soak it all up like a sponge but there are times when you see something that looks fabulous on various celebrities and models and you go- “I just have to have that!” You’d think that logic would work and make sense when put into reality and practice but it rarely does. When you see those celebrity fashions they are something to aspire to not copy-cat. You could end up getting something completely overpriced and then having it not fit you correctly or look completely wrong with your shape, body type or face. There are many ways to make a style work for you but you need to make it your own by putting your own spin on it. A square neckline and empire waist may work for some but maybe you’ll need to go with a V-neck and an A-line outfit. It all depends on your body and personal style. So enjoy the magazines and the new trends but let it inspire you to be creative on your own and become your own fashionista- not a fashion victim.

2. Buying clothes that don’t fit.
You would think that this is an obvious one but many people overlook the other aspects of this. There is much more to fit than just being able to zip the darn thing up or have it look decent on you. The length of your sleeves or hem can make or break an outfit so take a look at the following tips. (Note: I’ve added a few other tips that may be helpful in your real life as well. -smile-)

• Long sleeved garments should hit just below the wrist bone with just a little ease
  
• A button-front blouse should never gap open at the bustline. If the garment seems to fit, the problem may just be wide-spaced buttons. Attach a snap.
• A slim or pencil skirt should fit without bunching or wrinkling up. Do the sit-down test.
• Hemline correction — skirts should be completely straight all the way around. If that’s not the case (because of hips or tummy) have it rehemmed.
• Tailored pants should fall to the top of your instep.
• Long, formal gowns should fall to about an inch off the ground.

3.Creating a mish-mash wardrobe by buying odds and ends.
Buying up odds and ends on sale may seem to make sense. After all, the easy availability of off-price merchandise has lulled us into thinking that minor purchases won’t blow our wardrobe concept or budget. It’s really the little pieces that can completely destroy an outfit if you’re not careful. Take a look at the below tips on how to get on the right track.

• Stop impulse buying. Every L$ 10 mistake you would have picked up in a bargain bin goes to a really great wardrobe.
• In the first step of cleaning out your closet, eliminate everything that doesn’t fit or that you haven’t worn in a year.
• A few weeks later, go back and get rid of all the stuff you fudged on the first time around.
• With what’s left, begin identifying a theme to your wardrobe, relying on favorite looks, colors and lifestyle pieces.
• Decide on three colors that either match or will coordinate with what you own and buy only those three colors for apparel.
• Establish a workable budget.
• Make a list of all the items you need in your wardrobe.
• Set aside an hour of time each week or day to shop – online or off.
• Avoid trendy items.
• Buy clothing that will span two or three seasons – like wool crepe or matte jersey
• Purchase only clothes that work with something you already own.
• Pass on anything that doesn’t fit – no matter how great a buy.
• Try to add only one or two well-thought out items per day or week. (depends on RL or SL)
• Add punchy color and trendiness with accessories, shoes, handbags.
• Continually eliminate and replace essential wardrobe pieces once it is built up so that you are never caught without a necessary item.

4. Getting stuck in a style rut.
Sticking with classics has been conventional style wisdom for ages, and for women with full lives and limited resources this is still a sure way to investment dressing. The problem is that as we grow older, we sometimes become a little too comfortable wearing our old standbys (or just doing “replenishment” shopping each season). Sometimes all it takes is tweaking the basics that you already own to look fabulous.

• Pick up a women’s magazine you normally wouldn’t buy (hint: should have more fashion than recipes on the cover). Elle, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and W are good starters.
• Go to a different store (online or physical) and try on new labels, even if the style is similar to what you already own. You may be surprised what you’re missing if you rely on certain set merchants and brands.
• Slip in some punchy color. Every season there’s a trendy color palette, and it’s usually not too hard to figure out what it is. Use color as accent pieces — a bright scarf, a camisole under a suit.
• Accessories are the easiest ways to update a look. Choose a new handbag, sexy sandals or a new necklace. If you’re not sure what’s modern, ask a sales associate (or instore models) to point you to what’s hot — they usually know what others are asking for.