Do you wear your clothes, or are you styling them?
You’ve probably seen people talking about this topic a lot if you’re on social media. There’s a big debate about whether taking the time to style your outfits is a must or if it’s pretentious nonsense.
The discourse can be overwhelming, especially if you’re not even sure what the different phrases mean. In this post, you’ll learn to identify wearing vs. styling, which one is better, and a few tips for styling clothes. Ready to get started?
What is Wearing?
Wearing is simply putting on clothes and going about your day. You’re not worried about finding the right accessories or making an outfit that looks just so. It’s not that you don’t care about your clothes; you just aren’t interested in creating an “outfit.”
What is Styling?
Styling is taking the time to optimize each outfit you wear. Rather than throwing on your clothes, you make little adjustments, put on the perfect number of accessories, and show off your clothes and yourself in the best light possible.
Which is Better: Wearing or Styling?
In all those wearing vs. styling videos on TikTok or Instagram, it often feels like you’re a tasteless loser if you don’t style your clothes. But in our opinion, both options have their merits and uses.
Wearing clothes is perfectly fine if you don’t want to put much effort into your outfit or just want something comfortable to wear around the house or hang out with friends. Everything you wear doesn’t have to be a masterpiece.
Styling your clothes is ideal when you want to look more put together for work or going out. It’s a wonderful way to explore your personal style and find new ways to combine the clothes you own.
It doesn’t have to be one or the other, either. You could style your outfit one day and just throw on your favorite dress the next. It’s up to you what you wear and how you wear it.
Wearing Can Be Styling
The big draw to styling is how it helps you uncover and show off your personal style. It makes your outfit look unique, even if you wear the same T-shirt and jeans as everyone else.
But the more you style your clothes, the more you’ll learn what you do and don’t like. As you get better at identifying those things, you’ll subconsciously apply them to your everyday outfits.
You might think you’re just wearing that sundress. But you also added a few pieces of jewelry and a headscarf because you like those things. That’s styling your outfit, even if it didn’t feel like it, because doing so was so low-effort.
And that’s the original point of styling your clothes. It helps you learn and apply what you discover to future outfits.
Tips for Styling Better Outfits
You may have decided that styling clothes isn’t for you, and that’s fine. But if you want to experiment with creating better outfits, here are a few tips to help you get started.
#1: Tuck, Roll, and Adjust
One of the biggest principles of styling is taking a moment to look in the mirror and adjust the clothes on your body rather than just throwing them on and going. This can look like:
- Tucking your shirt into your skirt or pants
- Rolling the hem of your pants
- Pushing up your shirt sleeves
- Wearing your sweater around your shoulders or waist
- Buttoning or unbuttoning your overshirts and jackets
These adjustments are minor, but they make a big difference in the outfit’s overall look. If you’re nervous about trying to style an outfit, this is the best and easiest way to start.
#2: Layer
Layering is a big part of the wearing vs styling discussion. Most of these videos encourage viewers to use layers for a more visually appealing outfit.
They’re right. Layering is a good way to add interest and personality to an outfit that you think looks plain. It helps you uncover clothes combos you never would have thought of otherwise. If you’ve never layered before, start with something simple, like a coat or vest, and go from there.
Just don’t go too crazy with the layers. Too many add-ons can ruin an outfit and make you look like you’re trying too hard.
#3: Accessorize
Like layers, accessories are an easy way to elevate a regular outfit. They’re also where your personality can really shine. Even something as small as a ring can say so much about you when you wear it.
Again, try not to go too crazy with the accessories unless that’s your style. They’re meant to elevate your outfit, not overwhelm it. Even if maximalism is your vibe, you want it to look effortless, not like you decided to wear your entire jewelry collection at once.
#4: Add Makeup
While makeup isn’t clothing, it plays just as much into styling an outfit as which shoes you wear. It can pull together your entire look, giving you a polished air.
This is another thing you can play around with. Maybe try a bolder lip or a nude eyeshadow look. See what kinds of makeup you like paired with different outfits, and take note so you can use it again in the future.
#5: Find and Follow Your Personal Style
Personal style is the exact things you wear and how you wear them that make your clothes look unique. It’s not following another TikTok aesthetic but creating your own look.
Styling lets you experiment and try different looks, especially when you’re just starting out. How else will you know if this type of clothing suits you better than that one, or if you prefer this color to that? Through the process of trial and error, you’ll discover your personal style.
Once you start learning yours, you can make even the most basic outfit your own. For example, look at the pictures below. All three girls are wearing a T-shirt and jeans, but they all look completely different because of their personal styles.
A fun way to start is by using Pinterest. Find outfits you like and try recreating them with your closet. See what you like or don’t like about them and use that to make future outfits.
In the end, wearing vs styling isn’t that big a deal. All that matters is feeling good in your clothes every day.
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