Do you feel like your personal style is looking a bit dated or tired, and is need of an update? Or perhaps you want to embrace this new year (and new decade!) with a whole new look. You may simply want to experiment a little and try something different.

There are many reasons you may want a bit of a make over. This doesn’t need to involve  bit investment, a lot of work, or even any dramatic changes. A make over can be something small that focuses on just one aspect of your look, such as your hair, accessories or make up, and is something you can do yourself.

Here are some tips and ideas for doing your own mini-Style Make Over.

Prepare for Your Make Over

The first step for any make over is to come up with a plan. Start by deciding what needs to change and why. What are the aspects of your look you don’t like? What about them don’t you like? Think about people whose style you admire, either people that you know or celebrities. What about their style do you like? Pinterest is also a great place to search for ideas and inspiration. From there you can work out how to apply these ideas to your own style.

You can also ask your friends what they think about your style. Tell them you want their honest opinion about what is lacking and what needs to change, and be prepared to listen without taking it personally. Finally, don’t forget to take a before picture of yourself before your mini-make over so you can assess the results!

Start with Accessories

If overhauling your entire wardrobe feels intimidating, focus on just your accessories instead. Jewellery, hats, shoes and bags can make or break an outfit and an interesting accessory or two can breathe new life into your entire wardrobe.

Hit the high street or search online for pieces that you love. The more unique and distinctive the better, as this will allow you to start creating your own unique sense of style. Stores like the DC Jeweller have unique and custom designs that will bring a fresh new aspect to your look.

Update Your Make Up

Updating just your make up can make a huge difference to your overall look. You could start by choosing a new colour of eye shadow, or more dramatic nails. Read up in the beauty magazines and blogs, and try out one of the latest trends. Be sure to keep to colours that suit your skin tone, but otherwise be brave and experiment!

Another great idea is to head to the makeup counter at your local department store. Here you can usually have your make up done for free, although it is expected that you’ll buy a product or two. The professional doing your make up will know the best products and make up styles for your face and will likely have some great ideas.

Try a New Hairstyle

Changing your hair style can be a big decision, but it also delivers big results. A new hair cut can completely change how you look, and also how you feel. People can often be hesitant to make a big change to their hair, because this can often be difficult to reverse and take months to grow out. However the right change and make you look and feel amazing!

Collect pictures of hairstyles you like – whether in magazines, on Pinterest, or just photos you see online. Take the photos to your hairdresser and ask for their opinion. Professional hair dressers will have a good idea of what will work with your face shape, and what won’t. 

If you’re not ready to take the big leap and cut all your hair (yet) a new colour can also be a great option. Try something subtle like highlights or going a shade darker, or make a more dramatic change by going for a much lighter or darker shade, a shocking red or even an unconventional shade like blue or purple. The great thing about dyeing your hair is you can always dye it back! 

Shake Up Your Wardrobe

You can make some small but impactful changes to your wardrobe without having to go to all the work and expense of throwing everything out and starting over. A great way to mix things up is to get your mates together and have a clothing swap. Everyone brings in items they never wear, and you can swap them with each other – something which doesn’t work for your friend may look great on you!

You can even mix things up without any new pieces by simply combining the pieces you already have in different ways and wearing items in a way you wouldn’t normally. If you have one or two items, your favourite pair of jeans for example, that you wear all the time, try to shake things up by wear other items instead. Forbid yourself from wearing your favourite one or two pieces for a week and see what new ideas you come up with!

Everyone aims to look fashionable on every occasion, which means you need formal attire, dinner dresses, and informal clothes. With all the clothes you require annually, it can bust your budget. Luckily, saving money on clothes does not require rocket science. The main trick is to stay fashionable without putting a dent in your finances. Many people go for low-cost clothing, thinking they are spending less, but in reality, they end up spending more money. For instance, purchasing one shirt worth $100 is different from purchasing ten pieces of $10 each. The $100 shirt will give you more value for your money since it will still look new after washing.

Here are six tips to help you dress well without messing up your budget:

1. Take Advantage of Sales

Many high-end boutiques and designer stores have clearance sales scheduled annually. It is the ideal time to get designer pieces at a pocket-friendly price. Most of the items on the clearance sales list are priced to sell, but they are of high-quality. Therefore, you do not have to sacrifice your fashion goals. To get amazing discounts, you should make sales associates your allies. You can also sign-up for the mailing list of your favourite designer store if you want to receive notifications of upcoming sales.

2. Visit an Op Shop

Op shops and thrift stores are a goldmine for vintage pieces at a fraction of the original cost. You will find designer clothes made from high-quality fabrics. However, you need to be patient and spend a lot of time sifting through the pieces to find the hidden gems. If you have mastered the art of thrift store shopping, you will find remarkable pieces.

3. Add Accessories to Change Your Look

Instead of buying new clothes for every occasion, you can save money by buying accessories to create dozens of looks. For instance, instead of buying a new dress shirt, get a couple of ties that will make your outfit unique. However, for accessories to work, you need versatile clothes. Ensure you shop for clothes that you can combine with anything and still pull off a fashionable look. Once you have the right dresses, pants, and shirts, you can get the most out of your outfits by purchasing a new scarf, hat, belt, and ties. You can also complete your outfit with a new pair of shoes to create a unique look.

4. Rent Dresses

When attending an event like a wedding or formal dinner, you need to make a fashion statement with your outfit. However, that is a bad idea if it is at the expense of your budget. Besides, you will likely wear the dress or tuxedo once before putting it in your closet to gather dust. If you rent your outfit for the event on sites such as The Volte, you will save some cash. Many of these stores offer a designer dress or tuxedo for your occasion at a pocket-friendly price.

5. Recycle Your Favourite Pieces

You do not have to shop for clothes every month when you have fantastic pieces in your closet. You can create multiple combinations by mixing and matching your favourite pieces. For instance, you can wear a blazer with your favourite dress to give it a unique look. You can also combine different colours and prints with your skirts and jeans to get a new look.

6. Swap Clothes With Friends

Trading clothing and accessories with your friends can save you money, and you can land some exceptional items. Occasionally, have a party or a get together where your family and friends can bring clothes that they no longer use after some light uses. If your friends have a unique taste, you will find fantastic clothes and accessories to revamp your look.

You do not have to spiral into debt to look good. A little creativity and smart shopping can save your bank account without destroying your fashion image. As a thumb rule, always go for a few quality pieces instead of piling your wardrobe with low-quality clothes.

They are not only brand owners, professional bloggers, and celebrities who want to increase social media engagement. Lots of ordinary people also want to get more like and feedback from other users on Instagram. They share their joys, achievements, pleasant and not so pleasant moments with the public and appreciate and consider likes to be a sort of reward for their frankness and efforts. No wonder more and more Instagram users gets preoccupied with the “how to get more likes?” or “What to do to increase engagement on Instagram?” questions. If you’re also dreaming of more Instagram recognition which is expressed in the form of likes, there are some effective tips for you to consider. 

# 1 Use Only High Quality Photos  

You may call it a purely subjective opinion, but we’re convinced that there is nothing more annoying that poor quality photos. We bet you came across those pixelated, grainy, or blurry pictures which in no way conduce to pressing the “like” button. If you crave more attention and likes, make sure to check your current photos for quality. Are they sharp enough? Are they aesthetically appealing? 

Very often, the success of your Instagram photos consists in fonts you’re using to accompany your posts and pictures. Though using different fonts and styles may help you attract more attention from Instagram users, take care not to mess with fonts. Also, use the space wisely. Don’t attempt to squeeze long descriptions and umpteen images into one square. This will prevent people from both taking in your message and enjoying your photos. That being said, you may want to experiment a little bit with fonts, captions, and images to discover your own unique style, which may resonate with other people and bring in more like. If not… Well, you can always buy Instagram likes. This will help you attract real followers and tons of likes won’t be long in coming. 

# 2 Convey a Message 

Have you ever thought about what actually makes a popular post or video popular? Instagram pundits are inclined to think that the posts containing a call for action are likely to get more likes. So, try finishing your next post finish by asking “How did you like my new costume?” or “Do you give to charity?” Refrain from asking for likes overtly, e.g. “Click on the Like button if you think the same” or “Like my post if you also into the charity stuff.” Such requests may devalue the meaning of your post and show you in a bad light. There are millions of Instagram likes hunters out there… You may not want to appear one of them.

# 3 Take Care of Your Audience 

A vast majority of Instagram micro-influencers have a close-knit, engaged, and loyal community whose members eagerly interact with each other and engage with their posts. The secret behind their strong and trusting relationships is providing followers with what they want. And what do your followers want from you? Of course, more engaging content and interaction. Even if you’re constantly pressed for time, spare some to respond to a comment or two or ask your followers about something. This will undoubtedly help you score more likes and new loyal followers.  

# 4 Add Geo Location 

Your audience literary wants to follow you wherever you go. Be it the Bahamas or Central Park, make your followers feel like they are part of your fascinating journey. So, make sure to use geo location on your posts. If you haven’t added the location to your old photos, it’s about time you did it. Also, be strategic and try to predict what the location you should pick next to surprise or interest your audience. Or just ask them directly. 

# 5 Take Advantage of Instagram Stories 

Instagram stories are by far the best tool to keep your audience engaged and attract new followers. Stories are viewed by an impressive number of people, and though not everyone is eager to like them, there will always be a person who will appreciate your effort and bestow you with so coveted like! But don’t rush to create new stories. You can add your earlier posts to your stories. This tactic will help you drive more traffic to your earlier content and brink in more likes, of course. 

IMAGE SOURCE: https://pixabay.com/photos/two-girls-russian-model-beauty-1828539/

While it may seem like your sense of style is impeccable, and all of your friends want to dress like you, you might be surprised at some of the fashion rules you are breaking on a daily basis! No need to be alarmed, fashion rules are not the law when it comes to how you dress, they are simply suggestions to follow. 

The fun of fashion is that you get to make it your own through experimentation, but it is good to know what kinds of rules you break, and what this means for your wardrobe. Check out the fashion rules that you do not even know you are breaking.

Vertical and Horizontal Stripe Patterns

Stripes are a good way to alter the perception of your body shape or size. For slim people, you might try to wear some nice horizontal striped patterns to appear slightly bigger, and for larger folks, a nice vertical stripe shirt can appear slimming. One common rule is to never mix these two together, it creates a very odd distortion that makes you look like you have two different body shapes. Imagine a vertical striped pair of business casual pants, and a horizontal striped shirt. Not a good look, right? Even clothing with a simple or subtle single stripe can create this optical illusion, so it is best to avoid mixing these patterns.

Mismatched Textures and Fabrics

Much like striped patterns, there is a rule that you should never mix too many textures, fabrics, or unique patterns either. However, some of the fabric patterns from Engineered Garments actually disprove this fashion rule. Neutral colored coats or pullovers can be layered with other patterns to create a very rich palate in your wardrobe. Sometimes these fashion rules are merely suggestions because mixing patterns are part of the fun of fashion experimentation. A floral print sweater can be mixed well with a beige, navy or black clothes. Designers have been mixing these fun styles for years, so have some fun yourself and try it out.

Never Wear Too Much of the Same Color

This rule is pretty true, but it depends on the color you are wearing. An all-gray outfit would look like you are wearing your Sunday comfies, but all black can be sleek and modern. It depends on what pieces you are wearing and how you are wearing them. Black is slimming, so this is considerably less of a faux pa than it would be to wear an entire outfit of tan colors. Likewise, matching tones or hues of color can work to your benefit, or against it. You do not want to appear as a blob of blue, pink, or black. Consider what clothing pieces you are wearing and find a way to make it work. Black button-up shirts or blouses and pants do well together, but a gray sweater and gray sweatpants are just unsightly.

IMAGE SOURCE: https://unsplash.com/photos/w50Dg7NZypc

Own a Statement Piece

This rule is less about committing a fashion crime, and more about finding something you love. Many people have a well-rounded wardrobe, but they lack that one shirt, coat, dress, or pair of shoes that can really pull (almost) anything together. It does not hurt to splurge on one of these statement clothing pieces that can help you open up your creativity and breathe new life into your outfit choices. While statement pieces can be more expensive because they are considerably nicer, that is not always the case. You can find statement pieces from vintage shops for a bargain as well.

Matching Accessories to Your Outfit

One common mistake that people make when putting together an outfit is wearing accessories or jewelry like belts, bracelets, necklaces or watches, that do not match the rest of their outfit. This is a fashion rule that is often broken, but you do not need to strictly adhere to it. Again, fashion is about having fun and wearing what you feel comfortable in. Wearing stuff that makes you feel confident includes having a funky piece of jewelry that can stand out, as long as it is not an unsightly color or design. Watches and belts are usually easiest to match, but experimentation is best done with accessories because they do not take up as much eyesight.

There are many unwritten fashion rules that you might be breaking every day, but that does not mean that you are committing a fashion crime. In fact, breaking some of these rules can result in some interesting outfit combinations. The best rule of thumb when it comes to fashion is to have fun, and see what does and does not work.