Dress Your Best Life by Dawnn Karen

Author:Dawnn Karen [KAREN, DAWNN]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Published: 2020-04-14T00:00:00+00:00

Fashion Psychology Tips

HOW TO TAKE A STYLE RISK

1. Small things often

Psychologist and relationship guru Dr. John Gottman has a famous motto: “Small things often.”14 His theory is that if you do little nice things for your partner frequently, it will have a stronger cumulative positive effect on your relationship than performing grand dramatic romantic gestures once in a blue moon. This applies to your style as well. Rather than reveal your most glamorous self once a year for that special occasion (remember Sonal in chapter 2 who “unleashed it all” once in a while for weddings?), try to add a touch of glamour to your everyday outfits. Accessories are the safest, simplest way to try new things. Think leopard-print, faux snakeskin, or croc-embossed booties, a pastel leather fanny pack (or “belt bag”), big bold statement earrings, a leather midi skirt paired with a white t-shirt and Adidas Stan Smith sneakers. You might even try tying a high ponytail with a black velvet ribbon and leaving the rest of your outfit super-simple. Classic.

2. Road test your new look on the weekend

Pick a weekend when you have low-key, low-stakes plans. Maybe you’re having dinner with your parents or going on a movie date with a girlfriend. That would be the time to bust out those snakeskin booties (leaving the rest of your outfit jeans-and-white-tee neutral) and see if you feel self-conscious.

3. Neutralize bold prints

If you’re going to try an animal print, try it in a small, subtle pattern rather than big glitzy spots. A classic navy summer dress with restrained small white polka dots is a safer bet than a white dress with huge black Dalmatian spots. A delicate or abstract floral will feel easier to pull off than bright, oversize buds. When working a plaid blazer, go for a gray houndstooth as opposed to a big black-and-white checkerboard pattern. Quiet graphics still speak volumes.

4. Pick a colorful “hero”

For reasons I’ll cover in the next chapter, certain colors stimulate stronger emotional reactions than others. If you have a closet full of black, white, gray, and cream, it can’t hurt to branch out, I promise. Opt for pretty pastels in interesting cuts (a lavender sweater with exaggerated shoulders, a long robin’s-egg-blue belted blazer, pale-pink palazzo pants). And select one colorful outfit element to start. Think of this as your “hero” item—the star of the show. Keep the rest of your outfit denim or monochrome.

5. Try statement outerwear

A neon puffer coat, a blue faux fur bomber, a leopard overcoat, a gorgeous silk trench. (Even if the color is neutral, the unexpected texture will stand out.) Once again, wear monochrome or jeans and a t-shirt underneath. The beauty of this tip is, if you’re uncomfortable with the bold coat, you can always take it off!

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