Dress Fashionablly

Organize: Get out all your clothes and decide which ones you want and don't want. Donate, sell, or re-purpose anything that you haven't worn in a year (that isn't seasonal), doesn't fit or is plain ugly!

Flatter: Look at yourself in the mirror and as objectively as possible, pick things about your physical appearance you like and dislike. What do you want to disguise? What do you want to emphasize? What's your body type?

Style: What do you like? Do you want to incorporate trendy items into your wardrobe, or do you prefer a classic look? Spend time flipping through catalogs, or surfing websites that feature clothes. Do you even want to figure out a way to incorporate witty T-shirts, or is pleather more your style? There are tons of different pieces that will look phenomenal on you- what do you like?

Context: Where you live, where you go and what you do are major factors in dressing fashionably! If you wear a ballgown to the office that's not fashionable; if you wear a business suit to the prom, likewise. Think about what kind of clothing is appropriate for the things you're going to be doing.

Shop: The best thing to do is to buy long-lasting pieces that will retain their class throughout seasons. Fashion changes extremely quickly! Don't fill your wardrobe with things that won't be appropriate the same time next year, and don't spend a lot of money on fashion items. Think about step 4 again. What kinds of coats, jackets or sweaters do you need? Put this kind of information in the context of what flatters your body.

Shop more: Now that you've got the basics, it's time to have fun! Buy some great shoes, cute accessories and get a haircut! No need to go classic here unless that's your taste - handbags, shoes and jewelry is the place to show your sassy side. Bright purple pleather trench looks too tacky? A handbag in the same style will be fantastic.

Ask someone else to go with you shopping. It's always good to have an outsiders perspective. Bring along someone who can give you well-formulated critique regarding your clothes. The image we see in the mirror isn't always how you really look!

Tips

• Flick through magazines and find a style icon you can be inspired by. Stars need to always look good as they are constantly followed! Some good choices are people like Mischa Barton, Kate Moss and Audrey Hepburn.
• Try places like bargain stores and emporiums for jewelry; they have great stuff for great prices!
• Keep track of what outfits you wore and who saw you in them. A great online tool for this is MyClothingCalendar (www.myclothingcalendar.com).
• Go shopping with an honest friend! Nothing is more valuable in your quest for a fashionable wardrobe than someone who will tell you when you look stupid.
• Make-up is the thing that pulls it all together. Don't look fake, but polished. You can make a huge stride towards being more pulled-together by just applying foundation, blush (or bronzer) and lip gloss.
• Be you! If you like something but someone else doesn't, don't fret. They have no right to say what you can and can't like. Remember your honest friend, though. There's a difference between something that fits you horribly and something that's just a difference in style.
• Ask friends for style advice and for their style perspective.
• Confidence is key. If you don't have confidence, nobody will admire your look. You have to believe in yourself, then everybody else will too.