It’s hard enough to figure out what to wear each day, let alone brainstorm ways to make our closet staples feel fresh. To defeat the impulse to shop for an entirely new wardrobe, we’re looking to the pre-fall 2018 collections for useful styling tricks you can employ using items you likely already own with just a few key updates. It’s not that you need a brand-new outfit—just a bit of ingenuity to make working with what you’ve got seem ingenious.
Pre-Fall Styling Tricks
Wear A Sweatshirt
Athleisure is no longer a trend, it's a way of life. Okay, that's dramatic, but the movement has infiltrated fashion at a high level and is prevalent among the pre-fall collections for 2018. An easy way to get in on the trend is to try a sweatshirt in place of your go-to top. It'll take the sweetness out of a prim skirt or stiffness out of a tailored trouser. Pro tip: Keep it sophisticated by opting for a style that's slightly fitted, sans hood.
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Layer A Turtleneck
Layering is always tricky, especially when you're going for total polish. An easy solution? Wearing a fitted turtleneck beneath a crisp button-down or blouse. Choose a knit that clings to your body to avoid lumps under finer fabrics like silk. Extra points for a base layer with an unexpected pop of color or print. To dial it up even further, add a faux-fur stole over your outerwear for a luxurious bit of texture.
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Just Add Pants
The fashion set is smitten with dresses over pants, yet the look can be hard to pull off in real life. An easier route? Opt for an asymmetrical dress over slim-fitting trousers or jeans. The high-low hemline allows for movement and is a great way to get mileage out of a frock you wouldn't wear in colder temps or give an evening look a more casual spin. Win, win.
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Downplay A Dress
Ultra-feminine frocks are great, but they can be too sweet on occasion. A heftier boot is the perfect shoe for offsetting saccharine details like ruffles, ruching and puffed shoulders. Right now, we're for the lace-up or lug-sole variety.
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Counterbalance Menswear
Boy-meets-girl style is so now, but it's not always the most flattering. A simple solution is to pick one piece that's menswear-inspired, like an oversize blazer, loose trouser or baggy jean, and juxtapose it with a feminine top, skirt or dress. The result is totally harmonious. Experiment with pieces that best flatter your body type—the trend is extremely versatile.
