Why Looking Good Shouldn't Break The Bank
So as I am sat here on yet another quiet quarantine evening I thought I would chat with you about something that I’ve always believed in, and that’s that you don’t always have to spend a ton to look good. I was born in Venezuela and lived with both my Grandmother and Mother (quite frankly two of the most empowering and influential women in my life). Although I could say life was filled with beaches, endless family laughter, and amazing food, the reality is that we often lived a very humble and somewhat financially strained life. Looking back, fashion somehow managed to find its way into my 5 year old life. Between my makeshift scarf dresses and my modelling of scarves and gloves at various department stores I gained the title of “Maria Cuquita”, a Venezuelan saying that describes someone who is always dressed up or “extra” for a lack of a better word.
After moving to Canada, I got older and fashion took a more prominent role in my life. I discovered new brands, my style evolved, and now I’m here. I still remember the days when my mom and I use to window shop at Aritzia drooling over all the beautiful dresses and tops saying “one day”. And let me tell you, that one day came, but until then I made do with the brands I could afford and it was thanks to that experience that I learnt that looking good has nothing to do with the number on the price tag. I strongly believe that a person could be wearing Gucci from head to toe and look absolutely atrocious. Being someone who is rather conscious of my environmental impact I am now opting for clothing that’ll last me longer which unfortunately means a higher price tag. This is a very personal choice of mine and is something I wanted to acknowledge. But at the end of the day, the price does not equate to how one looks and feels.
When it comes to looking “good” there are a few things that in my opinion can make any outfit look good. First and foremost, fashion isn’t about what you wear but how you wear it which for me has always meant that personal grooming, colour pairing, and the fit of an outfit are three factors that can make any outfit look amazing without breaking the bank.
Personal grooming is first. My belief here is that taking care of yourself and getting yourself ready goes a long long way. Just with doing my hair and makeup, I find I can make any outfit work. I love to keep things simple, in fact I rarely ever change the way I get myself ready. I curl my hair the exact same way, and have about 2 ways of doing my makeup, everyday and night out. Once I found something that worked for me I stuck to it. So when it comes to making an outfit look good I strongly believe that the first step is making sure that you look and feel good. Then we can focus on the actual clothes part.
This naturally this leads to my next point, colour pairing. Although I do think this comes more natural to some, this is why blogs and Pinterest exist! There are so many amazing women and men who can give you fantastic outfit ideas. This point simply means knowing what colours compliment each other and what colours make you feel the best. Because admittedly, the best outfits are the ones worn by a woman (or man) who feel absolutely amazing in it. Properly matching colours can truly elevate an outfit. I always say that colours and clothing pieces don’t have to match, they just have to go. I personally love to go for monochromatic outfits, I find this is beyond classy and can be done with any colour. I especially love to do this with black and white, not to mention these are colours almost everyone should have in there wardrobes already. Lastly, choosing a colour that you love is crucial. I am what some would call boring, I love blacks, white’s, and beiges there is no denying it. But these are the colours that make me feel powerful and beautiful. So whether your favourite colours are neutrals or neons choose whatever it is that works for you!
And lastly, fit. This is so so so important. No, I am not about to tell you what clothing is best for your body shape because I quite honestly don’t believe in that. For my body shape I am almost always recommended tighter fighting dresses and well, I run at the sight of anything tight. What I mean by this is to buy clothing that fits. Sizing nowadays is beyond inconsistent as vanity sizing rules the market. Many can become intimidated or in denial of their true sizes and thus end up buying things that are either too small or too big. What’s important is to buy clothing that fits smoothly, anything that cuts in or is far too baggy is not doing you any good. Like I said, being considerate of what I buy is really important to me, I always make sure that what I buy will be worn. So unless you are someone who regularly goes to the tailor, I recommend only buying things that fit perfectly. Unfortunately, this means putting down those jeans or super cute top that will fit only after you lose the 5 pounds, or after you take them to the tailor. They will only reside in your closet, unworn and unloved. Not only is a good fit better for the environment but it truly makes an outfit look a thousand times better. So regardless of wether you’re wearing a $10 pair of jeans or a $200 pair, if they fit like a glove I promise you they’ll look absolutely amazing.
So in the end, it’s not the brand or price tag that makes an outfit look good but rather all the little details that play into it.
Do you have any tips and tricks for looking amazing? What are some of your favourite pieces in your wardrobe and why?