Effortless Chic Style
I think it’s safe to say that nine out of ten women want to look effortlessly stylish on most days. They want to give that Kate Moss meets Olivia Palermo vibe without looking or actually trying too hard.
We at Libas Now are total fans of cool girl chic and here are our top tips on adopting that style for yourself.
Be yourself
This is important and quite frankly a must. Effortless chic isn’t a particular look or shoe or bag, it’s a vibe. If you’re trying to look like someone else, you will always be “trying” and that will inevitably come through in your style. What one must understand is that style is an expression of yourself. So you have to remain true to yourself and expand on that. If you’re a jeans and T-shirt type of girl, work with that and adopt cute styles and accessories that complement and accentuate that. If you like wearing your hair up, try different styles out that flatter your outfit without making it look like you just spent an hour at the salon (even if you did). Similarly, if you like wearing your hair down, you can try different ways of pinning them for versatility but it’s totally okay to just let them hang loose if that’s your thing.
Don’t curate looks on a daily basis.
One thing that always pops out to me is that when people try to go for a whole look on an everyday basis, it’s hard to tell what their personal preference is because every look seems like a reference from a fashion magazine or Pinterest. That may look stunning but for a regular routine it’s a bit much and completely contrary to cool girl style. Style has consistency – it’s not really about trends but looking well put together. This means that you don’t have to play dress up every day and go from athleisure queen with graphic eyeliner to little miss preppy in tweed, knits and pearls. That doesn’t look like you have effortless style – it just looks like you have a lot of time on your hands.
Be a little undone
We all know that famous Coco Chanel quote that take one thing off before you’re leaving… that’s not verbatim but you get the gist. Think of Sienna Miller and Kate Moss in the 2004-2008 era, they had this vibe which was just like they found something, threw it on and it looked great. That is the epitome of effortless chic. For that, you have to be a little undone. If you’re going full-on drama with the clothes, let your makeup and clothes be simple and not jarring. Usually dewy skin and a little bit of mascara can make you look lovely but simple. Notice Olivia Palermo, her makeup and hair looks are pretty but not show stopping, which makes her over all look effortless, even if it’s couture.
Don’t follow every trend
Every year there are a lot of things that are “trending” in every department – be it makeup, hair, nails, bags or clothes. The not so breaking news is that you don’t have to invest in each and every one of these trends. Just the ones you genuinely like and think might suit your style. For example, shiny liquid leggings have been trending this year but I know me, I know that I’m not even comfortable in normal leggings let alone shiny liquid ones so I know that I won’t get them. Even if they are on 70% discount and even if I think I looked great in them. That’s because I understand that if I don’t feel confident in something, my whole vibe will be awkward and, well, that’s not effortless. Invest in trends that you see yourself wearing over the years, irrespective of if they are trendy or not, because they add to your personal style. Oh, and while we are on the topic of trends, don’t try to wear too many “it” things at the same time, it’s a real buzzkill.
Be well kept.
Something that I’ve noticed about people whose styles I admire is that irrespective of the clothes they are wearing, they are in good shape otherwise. By that I mean their nails, hair and skin is well kept, neat and looks natural. So no matter what they are wearing, they look good.
It’s okay to play favourites.
So, these days it seems there is a lot of debate going on about repeating things. People don’t want to be caught wearing the same thing too often. Kate Middleton is regularly applauded for repeating items in her closet as though it’s some rocket science thinking on her part. I say, do it and do it more. Don’t we all associate the fringed bag with Kate Moss – the queen of effortless chic? It’s not because she wore it once. If you have a favourite shoe or bag or shirt, don’t be scared of wearing it too often. It’s what gives your style personality. Another thing that adds personality is some things that are staples in your everyday – like a watch, or a piece of jewellery that is special to you and you like wearing it often or every day. It makes your look distinctive and individually yours, which is in essence the whole point of effortless chic.
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