How to Select the Right Shoes for your Clothing

The first step in selecting the best shoes is choosing shoes that complement your clothing, rather than ones that compete with your outfit.

For that reason, I always recommend pairing busier shoes with simple outfits, and wearing simple shoes with clothing that features a lot of prints, embellishments or dynamic accessories. It can be tricky to find shoes that complement your clothing, without dominating or being overpowered by it, but the reality is, it's a simple balancing act.

    When you look in the mirror, does one element of your outfit stand out more than the others?
    Is your outfit too chaotic? i.e. Are the sequins on your shoes competing with the crystals on your dress?
    Do your shoes and clothing blend together too much? i.e. Do your black pants, black turtleneck, and black booties all look like one long body suit?

If you answered "yes" to any of the above questions, then the quickest way to pull together a cohesive look is to simply try on another pair of shoes, and ask yourself the questions again.
It doesn't matter how pretty they are, how comfortable they feel, or how discounted they were when you bought them -- if they don't fit the event, the environment and the occasion, then they are -- at least temporarily -- the wrong shoes.

Glitzy evening shoes have no place in the office, and flip-flops aren't generally considered acceptable for a formal event. So how do you know which shoes you should wear?

Well, the simplest approach would be to wear simple loafers or ballet flats for casual events, and classic pumps for anything dressy -- but that can get a little boring. If you want to play it safe without giving into tedium, go ahead and wear those widely-accepted styles but choose a unique color, or a pair that is embellished with a chic buckle or other accent.

If you want to make a more dramatic statement, then by all means, pair stilettos with your jeans, and sandals with your suits -- but to avoid attracting the wrong kind of attention, you should still stick with shoes that are well-suited to your environment.

How to Wear Pink This V-Day Without Looking Like Barbie

Festive but still chic

As someone who loves pink, I of course want to rock a rosey-hued outfit on Valentine’s Day. However, pink is one of those colors that can make you look like a life-size Barbie wannabe instead of a put-together, self-sufficient, independent woman (throw your hands up at me, ladies…). That's especially the case when you already have the blonde hair thing going on. And that's, well, not ideal.

Good thing, then, that you can totally wear pink without looking like you’re waiting for your little sister Skipper to meet you for cocktails. I'm here to show you how.


1. Pick One Pop of Pink
The easiest way to avoid the whole toy doll comparison is to limit the amount of pink in your outfit. Choose a pink skirt or jacket instead of a floor-length, ruffle-laden ensemble, and your pink will look tasteful instead of tacky. If you do find an all-pink dress that you just can’t live without, tone it down a bit with an edgier piece on top—a cute cropped moto jacket will do the trick.

2. Give Your Pink a Pattern
Another way to avoid a sickeningly sweet overdose of pink is to choose an item that has a pattern on top of the pink. That'll help to break up the color and gives the item a bit more of a modern feel.

3. Choose a Bright Lip
Okay, I did say to keep it to one pop of pink per outfit, but lips aren't a clothing item. If there’s anytime that calls for a bright pink lip, this is it, ladies! I love wearing all hues of pink lipsticks throughout the year, so this is an easy rule for me to follow. But if you haven’t tried a bright lip yet and have a hard time picking colors, talk to the makeup consultants at your local department or beauty store and they will get you set up (this color is my go-to for a bright lip). Oh, and if you don’t already have one, I totally suggest a clear wax lip liner pencil to keep your color from bleeding. Works like a charm!

4. Use Neutrals to Complete the Outfit
This is probably the most important part of not looking like Barbie’s twin sister: For the rest of your outfit, stick to neutral colors—like black, grey, white, or brown—and your pop of pink won't look too teenybopper. The neutrals do double duty by both toning down the overall look and drawing attention to your one fun pop of pink. They let the color be the star!

How to Make Boring Button Downs Look Crazy Stylish

You style maven, you

Okay, Okay, we’ve all done it before. You go to your closet, grab a button down shirt to wear, finish getting ready, and when you look in the mirror you think, “Wow—this looks so boring.” A button down shirt can be such a mark of cool sophistication (think Audrey Hepburn on a day off) or carry an easy-breezy “I just threw this together, but it still looks great” vibe (think Lauren Conrad). But if you don’t style it right, these shirts can also look pretty dull. To avoid an uninspired result, I have three ways that I like to style mine:

The basic button down: The basic solid button down is the style most in danger of becoming boring or frumpy. First, make sure that your shirt is a good cut for your body—tailoring goes a long way with wardrobe basics. Roll up the sleeves a few times for a more relaxed look since a plain button down can sometimes appear a little stiff-looking. The other key to a basic shirt like this is in the accessories. A cropped skinny jean with heels and a casual clutch take this look from basic to polished in a few seconds flat.

The loose flannel button down: This shirt is something of a staple for the younger half of Hollywood on their days off. While this look can sometimes swing a bit too casual and look a little truck stop, a few key details can bring the look to a more stylish place. Go for an oversized loose fit on the shirt, but don’t go so big that the shirt is wearing you (this is a great choice). Add some classic details like a streamlined heeled boot, classic sunnies, and a modern clutch or purse. For an extra nod to the ’90s grunge era, opt for a skinny jean with a bit of wear and tear to complete the look. Your shirt and jeans say “cool and casual,” but your other pieces say, “I totally have a real job and contribute to my 401k.” A balance of both worlds is key.

The printed button down: To add a little more fun to a structured button down, go for a fun print to bring a little personality to the piece (like this one!). Buttoning the neck to the top and keeping the sleeves down bring a clean sophistication to the look, but the print still keeps the overall feel light and happy. I like to unbutton the last few buttons on a fitted button down, tie the two ends together, and wear a high-waisted jean or skirt with the top. It’s just another detail that keeps the button down from wandering into Snoozeville territory.

5 Quick Fashion Tips for Men

I’m sitting here enjoying a hot cup tea, trying to get the creative juices flowing for this next article. Since everyone loves top lists, I thought I’d give you guys something you probably don’t see too often, a quick list of some practical fashion tips.
Here are 15 Quick Fashion tips:

1. Fit is King – The most dramatic improvement you can make in your style is to make sure everything fits impeccably. Most guys wear clothes that are too large. Make sure everything you wear is almost hugging the shape of your body – without being tight. Bad fit is an epidemic. The Kinowear Bible shows you how to avoid the “bad fit disease”.

2. Keep it simple – You want a wardrobe that looks great on you, but don’t overdo it. Don’t wear more than three pieces of jewelry or more than three colors. Don’t dress like a rock star unless you’re in a band. If you want to be flashy, a simpler but stylish look would be sporting a black striped dress shirt with a white blazer, a dark pair of jeans, a dressy belt, and your sharpest dress shoes. You could also add a flashy watch or a simple accessory like an interesting necklace, but nothing more. Check out out our article on basics to refresh yourself on what are essential wardrobe items.

3. Change the way you see casual – casual doesn’t have to be boring. Have fun with collared shirts, or take some inspiration from those who approach casual a bit differently.

How to Be Stylish

Three parts: Picking Clothes Dressing Presentation

Everybody wants to know how to dress cute and look appropriate for whatever life brings, so if that's you then keep reading.

Part 1 of 3: Picking Clothes


    1
    Wear clothes that flatter your shape. The first thing to do to look effortlessly stylish is to make sure that you’re wearing clothes that are good for your body type. Since effortless style is supposed to be subtle, you’ll need your clothes fitting well in order to get the elegant, expensive look from your clothing. You want clothes that make you look thinner and the perfect height, with everything in proportion.


    2
    Stick to classic cuts. Effortless style is mainly based around classic looks. Dressing for the trends just shows that you put way too much thought into that outfit and that you’ve been following fashion news like a broker watching stocks. Choose classic styles in classic cuts for a more effortless look that looks good for years.
        This means women should beware of floor length casual dresses in favor of knee-length, for example, while men should shy away from skinny-legged suit trousers in favor of something more loose-fitting.

    3
    Choose muted, neutral colors and bold accents. What colors are popular and what colors are considered absolutely hideous is very dependent on time and place. Just look at your mom’s clothes from the 1970s, for example. In order to look effortlessly stylish, you’re going to want a more timeless look, which means sticking to more muted and neutral colors. This can, however, be broken up with bold accent colors, especially on accessories.
        Muted colors include tan, black, white, denim/navy blue, and gray.
        Good accent colors include most shades of red, many shades of blue, plum/eggplant purple, golden yellow (like rubber ducks or tulips), and emerald green.
        Be careful of certain colors. Be wary of other greens and yellows, and generally avoid oranges, as these colors are very prone to going in and out of fashion.

How to Dress Fashionably

Three Methods:Lay the Ground work Find Your Fashion Make It Happen

Sometimes it seems like beauty isn't in the eye of the beholder, doesn't it? Fashion can seem very elusive and only for the privileged. But it's easier to start taking strides in the right direction than you think, towards confidence and a fashionable wardrobe.
Method 1 of 3: Lay the Groundwork

     1
    Organize your wardrobe. Get out all your clothes and decide which ones you want and don't want. Donate, sell, and a top tip you could host your own boot sale, with anything that you haven't worn in a year, doesn't fit or isn't your style.
        If you haven't worn it in a year, you won't miss it. Thinking, "I could need this one day!" will leave you thinking you have nothing to wear for most. Clean it out. Someone else could second-love your things.
        If you have loads of items that don't fit anymore, don't keep them all to be hopeful. Keep a few of your favorites, but pitch the rest. A closet full of clothes that don't fit can be very de-motivating.
      2
    Know your body type. And dress for it. The most fashionable items in the world right now won't look good on you if you don't have the right body type for it. It does not mean you're too fat, too thin, too tall, or too short. You just don't have the optimal shape for that cut.
        Dispose of everything that doesn't fit you right. And you'll know. If your silhouette isn't quite what it could be, odds are you don't wear it.
        When you go shopping, keep your body type in mind. For most women, it's ideal to draw in at the waist and elongate the leg. If you get stuck, you can always ask a sales professional; it's their job to help you look good.
      3
    Take a good look in the mirror. Try to look at yourself as objectively as possible. Pick things about your physical appearance that you like and dislike. What do you want to disguise? What do you want to emphasize? What's your coloring?
        It's important to figure out the answers to these questions before you go shopping so you know what to buy! If you haven't a clue, shopping for a new wardrobe can be very intimidating.