5 Styling Tips That Designers Use but Never Tell About
In the fashion world, there are the tips you find in glossy magazines—“wear vertical stripes to look taller” or “never mix silver and gold.” And then there are the quiet little tricks designers use themselves, the ones they almost never share with the public. They’re not rules in the strict sense, more like personal style shortcuts that can change the way you dress forever. Here are five of those insider secrets.
1. Match Your Shoe Color to Your Hair for a Perfect Frame.
Think of your outfit as a picture. Your hair is the top frame, your shoes are the bottom. When the two match in tone, the look feels complete—even if you can’t quite explain why.
Brunette? Try chocolate leather boots or espresso suede loafers. Blonde? Soft camel heels or beige sneakers. Black-haired? Sleek patent pumps or jet-black Chelsea boots. Designers know this trick instantly draws the eye upward and downward in harmony, making the whole look feel intentional.
2. Find Your Signature Accessory.
In the sea of fast-changing trends, one item that’s always you is pure “gold”. This is the accessory you’d be recognized for at a distance—a piece so comfortable and personal you’d wear it even on your laziest day.
Think of the legendary Coco Chanel, endlessly stacking her beloved Maltese cross cuff bracelets—ice-white enamel cuffs with dazzling semi-precious stones that became her personal style signature—slightly mismatched yet always perfect together. These striking cuffs weren’t just jewelry; they were extensions of her personality, in other words, they make any outfit intentional. These aren’t random choices; they’re deliberate style anchors. Your own could be a scarf, a key to your diary as a pendant, simple but in different metal earrings, or even a quirky pair of socks you never swap for anything else.
3. Dress at Home in What You Don’t Dare Wear in Public.
One of the most overlooked sources of style inspiration is your own living room. If you’re shy about experimenting in public, try wearing your boldest, strangest, or most “unlike you” outfits at home. It might be a floor-length kaftan, neon leggings, or a feather-trimmed robe worthy of a 1940s Hollywood starlet. This private dress-up time helps you understand what textures, shapes, and colors make you feel most alive—without the pressure of outside judgment. Many designers secretly do this, testing ideas in their own kitchens before sending them down a runway.
4. Ignore the Four Seasons Color Scheme.
While it's often recommended to choose outfits using a palette that matches your skin tone, it's actually more complicated than that. Why? Because complementary colors balance each other out, and your skin tone would not matter as much. If you're going for a monochromatic color, yes, it's best to choose one that suits you, but you can always bring best shade closer to your face. Better yet, wear colors close to your natural eye color. Green-eyed? Olive sweaters and jade scarves will make your gaze hypnotic. Blue-eyed? Sky-toned tops will turn heads. Brown-eyed? Rich coffee or copper hues will make your look glow.
5. Treat Your Outfit Like a Story, Not Just Clothes.
Here’s one tip almost no designer admits: the best outfits feel like they have a plot. There’s a mood, a main character (you), and supporting characters (your accessories). Decide on the “story” you’re telling before you even get dressed.
These five tips aren’t about following rules—they’re about creating a style language that’s deeply personal and easy to maintain. Match your shoes to your hair for balance. Find your forever accessory. Play dress-up at home to discover what thrills you. Wear the colors that make you shine, not the ones a chart recommends. And most importantly, let your outfits tell a story.