the dainty details

I can’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve been accused—used jokingly—of dressing up when everyone else is dressed casually. And my response usually is 1) I just love to dress up and 2) I’m wearing a simple outfit. And that right there is the main point of today’s post: how to take a simple, basic outfit and make it look more polished. So, with that in mind, I have three easy tips that you can incorporate to take your look from standard to stand-out!

Choose the Right Shoe

Let’s take the outfit above. Basically all I’m wearing is a white long-sleeve tee and black leggings. It doesn’t get more basic than that. But, using my first tip to choose the right shoe, the outfit is infinitely more eye catching. I will say just the fact that the shoes are snakeskin make the look more interesting, but the actual design of the shoe itself plays an important role. There’s something about a pointed toe that gives any outfit a more polished effect. And bonus—it helps elongate your legs! Along with that, the heel also adds some flavor. And it doesn’t have to be a stiletto like this one! Honestly, I never wear heels unless they’re a block heel. But any little lift makes all the difference.

Play With Draping

My next tip has to do with how you drape your clothes. I don’t think it’s a shock to anyone at this point that I like my shirts tucked in, whether that’s a full tuck or a half-tuck in the front. For this look, since the tee is pretty oversized, a half-tuck into the leggings worked well. It defines the waist and keeps you from getting lost in a sea of fabric. Not only should you pay attention to draping at the waist, but draping around the neck and shoulders is also important. Again, because the tee is oversized, it tends to fall off of the shoulder. To maximize this effect, I added a bralette underneath. It just makes the outfit that much more interesting. And even if your tee isn’t necessarily falling off of your shoulder, a bralette underneath gives a bit of a focal point.

Add Luxe Accessories

Last, but not least, adding luxe accessories really gives your outfit that wow-factor! And this doesn’t mean you need luxury/designer accessories, just pieces that are well crafted. For this outfit—but also pretty much all of my outfits—I added dainty, gold jewelry. Jewelry always helps an outfit look more pulled together, but it can also tear the look down. Over-the-top jewels are not your friend here. Instead, opt for minimal pieces that work together. And if you do decide you need to have a statement piece, make sure the it’s the only statement. Back to my outfit, though, I took the gold theme and carried it throughout. Both my handbag and my sunglasses feature gold hard wear—something you wouldn’t necessarily notice but creates harmony in the outfit. So, unless you’re a pro, I would avoid mixing your metals to keep the look cohesive.

Anway, those are my three tips for elevating a simple outfit. I would love to know your thoughts in the comments below!

xo,

Carey

Shop the Post

Top: Shein c/o (use the code thedaintydetails315 for 15% off) // Leggings: Zella // Bralette: Free People // Boots: Steve Madden // Bag: Gucci // Rings: Loft and similar // Necklace: similar // Sunglasses: Amazon // Lipstick: Kylie Cosmetics Lip Kit in “Exposed”