5 Ways to Update Your Signature Look in the New Year

Any time is a great time to update your signature look if you're feeling in a rut. For many though, the new beginning represented at the start of each year is the ideal moment for implementing positive change. 

It is much easier than you think to update your signature look and it does not involve spending inordinate amounts on a new wardrobe. These simple and effective tips can pull you out of your style rut while helping you to stay true to the things that make your style uniquely yours. 

Update your signature look by...

Accessorizing. 

The addition of a statement necklace to a simpler piece like a tee shirt, a solid colored top or a shift dress can embolden that simple piece and your entire look. Transform a coat by adding a wide belt to change the shape. Wear a clean, uncomplicated look--but then add a daring pair of heels. A single accessory can be the defining focal point for your entire outfit.

Mixing and matching colors and prints. 

Used to wearing all black? Wear more head to toe color. You can start small by incorporating a pop of color via a vivid scarf or handbag, then pairing a brighter top with a dark bottom in deep gray or navy as opposed to black. 

Already way into color? Try new pairings that seem interesting, but that you have yet to try. Last year I discovered how much royal blue and fuchsia

I had in my closet and couldn't stop wearing it. 

If you've mastered the color wheel, why not try your hand at mixing and matching prints? Polka dots look great with stripes, or you could alternate the same pattern in different colors. Just be sure to keep the proportions of the prints similar to avoid pattern overload. 

Trying on a trend. 

This year, why not try one new shape, style or trend--something you thought you would never ever try. I'm mostly a dress wearer, but last year I decided to try wearing jeans a little more often. If you mostly wear pants, why not try out a couple of skirts? Choose one trendy piece that you've seen in your visual travels, but pair it with something that is distinctly your style so that you feel more comfortable in it (this is not intended to be an investment piece, but an experiment to pull you out of your comfort zone--so don't spend wildly on it). Maybe you've been wanting to get into vintage or consignment shopping. It doesn't matter what it is, as long as it's something you haven't done before. 

Testing out new hair and beauty looks.

Hair and beauty play a large role in finishing a look. Play around with yours to see how they can elevate certain clothing styles. Can you flip a daytime look to evening by putting your hair up and swiping on a red lip? (answer: yes) Could wearing your hair in a top knot with that v-neck or backless top or dress elongate your neck? (answer: also yes). Maybe all it will take is a new haircut or learning how to do a smokey eye to take your style to new heights this year. 

Investing in quality foundation pieces. 

Under garments have always been key to the foundation of building an outfit. Making sure you have on the proper colored garments that won't show through thin fabrics, wearing the right underwear for getting rid of panty lines or providing covering for sheer pieces--all these things help to keep an outfit trim and tasteful. And brands like Spanx and Yummie (and even Target has a line of shape wear) understand and cater to the way the modern woman wears her clothes. Shape wear pieces smooth things out, lift things up and pull things together neatly--in short, great shape wear can completely change the fit and look of your outer pieces; and it can make you feel more comfortable about what you're wearing. Don't be afraid to invest in foundational pieces for your wardrobe. 

If you're still unsure about how you can update your look, why not work with a personal stylist? I can help.

Here's to a style savvy new year!

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