When there are a zillion things that need to be done and just so many hours in a day, looking painlessly put-together and fashionable all the time can seem next to impossible. I often find myself wondering how some people I know are able to do it. But chic women aren’t superhuman – they are just well prepared. Or so I’m come to understand. Today, I’m here to share some style secrets that I’ve gleaned off some very stylish women I know. 

Plan it out
Don’t let your Monday mornings catch you off-guard. Plan your outfits in advance. Decide what you will wear each day of the week and iron and have them ready. If that seems too much, then start by pulling out the outfit the night before.
I started off by picking out the next day’s outfit and now I iron all my clothes for the week on Sunday and I find dressing up to be such a breeze. I’m also better coordinated and don’t feel over- or under-dressed for any occasion. 
 

Follow stylish women
Find a few fashionistas whose style you admire, then use their photos as inspiration to create daily looks. Instagram and Pinterest can provide you with all the style inspiration you need. Browse the internet and search for ideas to up your style quotient.
I have created a board on Pinterest and regularly save posts on style inspiration and just women wearing good clothes there. When I have a visual of what works and what I like, it’s much easier to emulate those styles and learn from them. The style tab on Instagram Explore is also a fascinating endless resource. 

Always accessorize  
Always have an accessory on. It can be a choker, a scarf, or just some simple bangles. However, don’t overdo it. Stick to one or two at the most. And when in doubt, strap on a watch. There’s nothing like a good watch to make you look super classy. 
I’m a big fan of sunglasses and very rarely will you see me without a pair. I don’t wear the same glasses every day of the week either because changing up my glares easily changes my whole look. 

Select the right undergarments 
Stylish women know that the foundation of a great outfit is good undergarments. Besides making sure your undergarments are comfortable, also plan the fabric and silhouette of your look with the right innerwear so that they don’t show through. 
A very stylish woman I know gave me this piece of advice and this is perhaps the best style suggestion I have ever received. I sometimes see women fixing their bra straps and twitching and turning and nothing looks gaudier than that. With the right innerwear, you feel so much more comfortable, and it shows.    

Carry an emergency kit
The most stylish women are always prepared. Whether it’s a snag, stain or sandal-induced blister, be ready for all kinds of fashion emergencies and carry some band-aids, a needle and thread, and a few safety pins. These can really come to your rescue at times.  
I have been carrying a needle and a thread and a couple of safety pins in my bag for over six months now and I have not needed them even once. But I feel safe knowing that if a button pops or I rip something, I can easily fix it. 

Swap flats for heels
Whenever you can, swap flats for heels. It might not always be practical but it’s a really easy way to make your outfit pop as well as give you that confidence you need to own your look. Invest in a few pairs of good heels in basic colors like black, white and beige. 
A friend of mine really enjoys wearing heels. She says it makes her feel very ‘posh’ and ‘sophisticated’. I too have realized that wearing heels makes you cautious about your body language and that’s always a good thing. But it’s not always practical. So what I do is keep a pair of ballet flats in my car and slip out of my heels when I have to walk around a bit.  

The perfect bag
Stylish women know that the bags they carry can make or break their outfit. Try to match your bag with your outfit but if you don’t like the idea of transferring things from one bag to another every day, then invest in a good quality purse that will go with almost everything you wear.
I’m a sucker for bags and I’m always changing them up to match my outfit. It can be a bit of a hassle but carrying the wrong bag can really make you look so sloppily put together that it’s worth the effort. 

Don’t give into trends
In other words, stay true to your personal style. Chic women never bow to the trends. They keep an arsenal of classic pieces that always flatter and work, despite the season or latest craze and that’s the reason why they always seem to have something to wear.
It really helps if you have a capsule wardrobe, just some basic key pieces that you can mix and match to create different looks. I have a lot of clothes and I can’t bring myself to downsize in favor of a capsule wardrobe. What I have done instead is created a capsule wardrobe on a rod rack at a corner of my room. 

 
• Women
 
• Style
 
• Fashion