How to Be Fashionable

You know the people I am talking about. They seem to know how to be fashionable no matter what the situation is. They have a knack for putting together a great outfit and you have no idea how they do it.

I've always loved clothes. Even from a young age I would embrace trends even if no one else wore them. Remember the M.C. Hammer style pants? Yes, I wore them in middle school. I am sure I looked silly but I loved those things!

Years spent living abroad have taught me a thing or two about what it means to be fashionable. I thought I would share with you what I learned.

I lived in Germany for five years and one thing I noticed about the Europeans is that they always looked put together. Gender didn't matter. Age didn't matter. It also didn't matter where they were or if they were even going anywhere. The rule is if they were planning on stepping foot outside of their home or they expected visitors, they would get dressed.

And "getting dressed" to them meant a bit more than just making sure they weren't naked. They choose a nice outfit. They would wash their face and style their hair. They would put on a bit of makeup and make sure that they smelled nice.

Does this take longer than putting on a sweatsuit? Yes, it does. But it doesn't take that much longer. I've learned that you can actually look put together in fifteen minutes or less if you don't want to spend the time. Here's a glimpse into my time-saving tricks that can help you look fashionable:

• Wash and wear haircut. My hair can be styled but it doesn't have to be. I make sure that I get a cut that looks good after washing and air drying, just in case I don't have time.

• Simple outfits. Having a good basic wardrobe is another essential part of getting dressed quickly. If I am half asleep and need to get dressed in a hurry I can just grab one of my standard outfits.

• Simple grooming routine. I have a five minute grooming routine that gets my hair brushed, face washed, perfume spritzed, and makeup on in around five minutes. Develop a routine like that for you so you can always look fashionable and put together.

Do I spend longer than fifteen minutes? Yes, I usually do. But it is nice knowing I have a quick routine that can help me get out the door looking fashionable.

Setting the goal to always look put together no matter how much time you have or where you are going is the first step to looking fashionable at all times. It doesn't matter if you're only going for a walk in your neighborhood - making an effort on your appearance is something that should be done under any circumstance if being fashionable is the goal.

I have a secret. Being fashionable isn't about embracing the latest trends. No, it is much simpler than that. It is nothing more than a series of tricks that fashionable people know and utilize. Use these tricks on a daily basis and it will transform anything you have in your closet and will put a smile on your face.

Sunglasses

Fashionable people have at least one great pair of sunglasses, sometimes more. All you need is one, though, and it doesn't have to be expensive. All that matters is that you look and feel great in them.

Lipstick and Foundation

Ladies, we can get away not wearing a lot of makeup. If we have sunglasses on most of the time (outdoors, of course - it's pretty lame to wear them indoors unless necessary) the only thing left is to wear lipstick!

For me, foundation isn't optional. I have rosacea and my skin can look pretty blotchy especially when I wake up. But, it takes about thirty seconds to put it on, with an extra ten seconds for the lipstick. If you train yourself not to need a mirror while putting it on, it means that you can save even more time.

Scarves

Do you wear scarves? If not, you should consider it. It is a quick way to look polished and elegant. I found a nice video on youtube that features some fun ways to tie a scarf. I think I am going to try some of these. I wear scarves all the time but I always just tie it in a messy knot.

My last rule on how to be fashionable is to be yourself! There is no point to wearing clothes that you don't like just because you think they'll make you look cool. Be exactly who you are. Once you build your basic wardrobe, you can have some fun and introduce pieces into your closet that you really enjoy.

When you buy something that is completely you it will make you smile. When you smile, you look good! Having your own personal style automatically makes you fashionable. Just be yourself and make sure you choose clothes that look good on you and are cut well. Don't worry about following the trends.