Style Maven How To

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

To be completely honest, I'm not 100% sure I can define my style. I have so many interests when it comes to fashion that it's hard to think of pinning it down to one word. Whenever anyone asks me what my style is it's always a jumble of words, some that flow together yet still contradict eachother! To be a fully fledged style maven, consider using the following 7 steps. You won't get a certificate at the end of it, but you can feel confident in the knowledge that you look preened and polished to perfection.

1) Find your own personal style. Fashionistas always have a good idea of their own personal style. They know what suits them, they don’t wear things just to impress people or follow the crowd, and they work whatever they do wear. You can experiment, of course. In fact, I highly recommend experimenting. Just have an idea of who you want to be and who you want to be
seen as.

2) Do some research. You’ll need to explore when it comes to upcoming trends, that's if you want to be the first one to set the trend. You might even want to be someone who brings old school movements back to the modern day. Research eras gone by and choose your favorite trends to bring back in fashion. Whether you want to wear mason rings or cowboy boots, you can look amazing once you put your mind to it. There is always somebody to bring things back into fashion why not let it be you?

3) Don’t be afraid of dramatic changes. If you’re bored of your look, something as simple as changing your hairstyle can be all that you need. Changing your hairstyle doesn’t make you immature; it just means you like to reinvent yourself. Getting a new hairstyle is a sign the old you is dead. In my case, I have been letting my hair get longer and keeping it dark for now, but I have been feeling that blonde ambition set in recently.

4) Grooming. All fashionistas either groom themselves, or get somebody else to do it for them. From waxing, plucking, shaving, painting and keeping your eyebrows on fleek, it can help you look well presented. Make sure you have clean and well presented nails on your fingers and toes. I infrequently get my nails done or paint them but as soon as they start to chip I make sure that I get rid of the residual polish. It just looks to grungy for me! Keep up a good grooming routine so that you can never be spotted with a chipped nail or hair out of place!

5) Feel Confident in Yourself. Every style maven is confident in her look, just think of some of your favorite street style stars. She feels confident, and it shines out of every pore. Nobody has an inkling that she might feel self conscious about her outfit, because even if she does she doesn’t let it show. That’s what being a fashionista is all about!

6) Variety is the spice of life. Every fashion addict knows how to rock different styles. She knows how to look tough with a girly edge, and vice versa. She can look funky, yet not look too over the top. It’s all about textures, contrasts, and knowing when to mix with what. It takes practice, but once you understand it, it'll become second nature to you.

7) Finally, make sure you have fun with your outfit choices! Fashion is not supposed to be boring. Never feel afraid to wear what you want. Just wear it. Worry about faux pas later on.

Are you ready to complete the above 7 steps and become a fully fledged fashionista? Anybody can do it. Believe me, I'm still working on it! With confidence you can acquire the world. Dear readers, I'd love to hear how you found your style or are working on finding it.