Stylist Hacks: The Secrets Behind a Polished Look

Not everyone is born with an innate sense of style, but it can be developed by training your eye.

A stylish look in its modern form is built on contrast: of colors, shapes, textures, and mood — feminine and masculine.

Our stylist has picked out the most popular techniques you can rely on when putting together a look:

COLOR MIXING

- matching intensity (bright with bright, light with light);

- matching temperature (cool with cool, warm with warm).

TEXTURE MIXING

Use this technique to make a look feel more interesting.

Examples of winning combinations:

- smooth/fluffy,

- shiny/matte,

- rough/delicate,

- smooth/textured,

- dense/sheer, etc.

USE A PRINT

If color and texture aren't your thing, try adding variety with a print. Intelligent prints work best: geometrics, abstracts, checks, and the like.

STYLE MIXING

To make an outfit look interesting and unexpected, combine different styles — for example, business with military, sport with classic, romantic with military/sport. Don't overdo any single style; create fashionable contrasts instead.

MIXING MASCULINE AND FEMININE

Don't overplay a feminine look — soften it with pieces that feel borrowed from a man's wardrobe: a blazer, a shirt, oxfords, and the like.

Don't use every technique in a single look. If you're working with color, you can skip texture and layering. If color is off the table, bring in texture and layering instead. Too much is no better than too little, so stick to 1-3 techniques per look.