Fashion for Beginners: Where the Hell Do I Start?

Let me ask you something: When did getting dressed become a full-time job?

You open your closet, stare at 47 shirts, three pairs of pants, two jackets, and somehow still think, “I have NOTHING to wear!”

Girl—or sir—welcome to fashion.

And if you're a beginner, you might be wondering, “Where the hell do I start?”

Don't worry. You don't need a closet full of designer clothes. You don't need to spend $500 on one pair of shoes. And you definitely don't need to understand every fashion trend walking down a runway in Paris.

You just need to understand your own style.

That's where the fun begins.

First Things First: Stop Trying to Look Like Everybody Else

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is copying somebody else's entire wardrobe.

You see somebody on Instagram wearing a leather jacket, wide-leg pants, expensive sneakers, sunglasses and a little attitude—and suddenly you're online buying everything they have.

Then the clothes arrive.

You put them on.

And you look in the mirror like:

“Who the hell is this?”

That's because fashion isn't about becoming somebody else.

It's about figuring out what looks and feels like you.

Maybe you like classic clothing. Maybe you're into streetwear. Maybe you love colorful outfits. Maybe you prefer simple black, white and neutral clothing.

There is no fashion police coming to your door because you wore a white shirt three days in a row.

Well... hopefully.

Start With the Basics

Before you start buying crazy statement pieces, build a foundation.

Think about clothing that can work with multiple outfits.

For beginners, some useful basics include:

• A well-fitting white shirt
• A black shirt
• Neutral pants
• A good pair of jeans
• A simple jacket
• Comfortable sneakers
• A pair of dressier shoes
• A versatile sweater or cardigan
• A simple coat
• A few accessories

These pieces don't have to be expensive.

In fact, don't go broke trying to become fashionable.

Fashion should not have you sitting at home eating ramen because you spent your grocery money on a jacket.

That's not style.

That's financial drama.

Fit Is More Important Than the Price Tag

Here's something beginners need to understand:

Expensive doesn't automatically mean fashionable.

You can spend $1,000 on an outfit and still look like you got dressed in the dark.

Meanwhile, somebody else can spend $100 and look fantastic.

Why?

Fit.

Clothing should generally fit your body properly. Your pants shouldn't look like you're smuggling furniture. Your shirt shouldn't look like it's fighting for its life around your stomach.

And your jacket shouldn't swallow you whole unless oversized is intentionally part of the look.

Try different sizes.

Try different cuts.

Try things on.

And don't automatically assume the size you've worn for 10 years is still the size you need today.

Clothing sizes are already confusing enough. Don't let a number on a tag ruin your day.

Find Your Colors

Another easy place to begin is with color.

You don't have to become a professional color theorist.

Start by noticing what you naturally reach for.

Do you constantly buy black?

Do you love white?

Are you always wearing blue?

Do you like brown, gray, cream or beige?

Maybe you love bright colors and want your outfit to scream, “I have arrived!”

That's perfectly fine.

Start with colors you feel comfortable wearing and then experiment.

A beginner-friendly trick is to wear a neutral outfit and add one interesting color.

For example:

Black pants + white shirt + colorful jacket.

Simple.

Easy.

Still fashionable.

You don't need seven different colors fighting each other for attention.

Accessories Can Change Everything

Sometimes an outfit isn't missing clothes.

It's missing personality.

That's where accessories come in.

A watch, sunglasses, necklace, bracelet, hat, scarf or interesting bag can completely change a basic outfit.

You could wear jeans and a plain shirt and look perfectly ordinary.

Add a great jacket, sunglasses and a few accessories?

Now suddenly people are wondering if you have somewhere important to go.

You don't.

You're going to Target.

But they don't need to know that.

That's the beauty of fashion.

Learn What Works for Your Lifestyle

This is another big one.

Don't buy clothing for the imaginary version of yourself.

You know what I'm talking about.

You buy a beautiful outfit thinking:

“I'm going to start going to fancy restaurants.”

You don't go to fancy restaurants.

You buy dress shoes thinking:

“I'm going to start dressing up more.”

Those shoes sit in the closet for eight months.

You buy a dramatic jacket because you saw somebody wearing it in New York.

Now you're walking around Chicago looking like you're starring in a music video nobody asked for.

Before buying something, ask yourself:

Where am I actually going to wear this?

Your wardrobe should match your real life.

Work.

Dating.

Church.

Parties.

Travel.

Running errands.

Going out with friends.

Special events.

Build around the life you're actually living.

Don't Be Afraid to Repeat Outfits

Let's kill another fashion myth.

You do not need a brand-new outfit every time you leave the house.

Repeat your clothes.

Repeat your favorite pieces.

Change the styling.

That white shirt you wore with jeans last week can be worn with black pants this week.

Add a jacket.

Change your shoes.

Add accessories.

Suddenly it looks different.

That's actually one of the secrets of having a good wardrobe: versatility.

The goal isn't to own 100 outfits.

The goal is to own pieces that can create multiple outfits.

Start Paying Attention

If you're serious about learning fashion, start observing.

Look at magazines.

Watch fashion shows.

Follow designers.

Pay attention to what celebrities are wearing.

Look at people on the street.

And most importantly, notice what catches your eye.

You don't have to like everything.

Actually, you shouldn't.

One person's fabulous is another person's “What the hell happened here?”

That's fashion.

It's personal.

Start saving pictures of outfits you like.

After a while, you'll probably notice a pattern.

Maybe you're always saving monochromatic outfits.

Maybe you're obsessed with jackets.

Maybe you're drawn to sneakers.

Maybe you love tailored clothing.

Congratulations.

You're starting to discover your style.

Don't Chase Every Trend

Fashion trends come and go faster than reality-TV relationships.

One minute skinny jeans are everywhere.

Then they're supposedly over.

Then they're back.

Then somebody tells you wide-leg pants are the future.

Then another person says something else.

ENOUGH!

Wear what you like.

Trends can be fun, but you don't have to participate in every single one.

A good personal style can survive a trend dying.

That's because your wardrobe isn't built around whatever social media decided was fashionable that week.

Build Slowly

You don't need to transform your entire wardrobe tomorrow.

Start with five or ten pieces.

Figure out what fits.

Figure out what colors you like.

Figure out what you actually wear.

Then slowly add more.

And don't be afraid to make mistakes.

You're going to buy something you thought looked fabulous online and discover that it looks ridiculous on you.

It happens.

You're going to buy shoes that hurt.

You're going to wear an outfit and later think:

“Why did nobody stop me?”

That's part of learning.

Fashion Should Be Fun

At the end of the day, fashion isn't supposed to stress you out.

It's supposed to be another way to express yourself.

You don't have to be rich.

You don't have to be young.

You don't have to be a model.

You don't need a closet the size of an apartment.

You simply need curiosity, a little confidence and a willingness to experiment.

Start with the basics.

Find your colors.

Learn your fit.

Pay attention to what you like.

Build slowly.

And most importantly, wear the clothes instead of letting the clothes wear you.

Because the best fashion statement isn't the designer label.

It's walking into a room feeling like:

“Yes, I know exactly what I'm doing.”

Even if you stood in front of your closet for 45 minutes before leaving the house.

We won't tell anybody.

What About You?

Are you a fashion beginner trying to figure out your personal style?

Or have you been dressing yourself for years and still standing in front of your closet every morning screaming, “I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR!”

Tell me in the comments.

And if you're ready to learn fashion with me, stick around. We're just getting started.