I recently bought a book called “The Cool Factor: A Guide to Achieving Effortless Style, with Secrets from the Women Who Have It”. It might seem a little like a self-help book for fashion but really I want to dig deeper into how to define one’s personal style.

Also, I’m getting a bit bored of everything right now and I want to challenge my own personal style and push my boundaries a little further. I don’t want Instagram or a magazine telling me what to wear and how to wear it because fashion is all about individuality after all and defining that in your style is one of the best things you can do.

Let me explain further. Anyone can wear a pair of jeans and a t-shirt but it’s how you wear it that matters. I say it all of the time; it’s how you style something that makes an outfit special and makes it you.  

Let’s just jump right in with four style tips you can start with today.

STYLE TIPS

Size Up!
Don’t be afraid to go up a size or two to achieve a cooler more effortless look. The sweater I’m wearing size large and I bought it that way with the intention of being oversized and relaxed. Since the V neck is suddenly larger, I positioned the sweater to sit off the shoulder and love the results. Suddenly a cozy knit has a bit of sex appeal and character.

Play With Proportions
If your top is over sized, go with skinny jeans and if you’re wearing a fitted top, opt for a full leg trouser or a flowy maxi skirt. It creates visual interest and balances out an outfit.

LAYER
This is the best time of the year to have fun with layers because it’s cozy and they keep us warm. I opted for plaid shirt tied around my waist instead of wearing it traditionally buttoned up. Again this creates some visual interest and says “I do things my own way”. Most 35 year olds I know don’t tie plaid shirts around their waist but this works for me. Why? Because my personal style has an edge and you can see that even by my choice of accessories that I’m not exactly traditional.

ACCESSORIZE
Finally, this is a big one because I love splurging on accessories and I invest in pieces that I love and that I’ll have for a long time. My closet is full of statement shoes and bags that elevate the basic pieces hanging in my clothes because at the end of the day, I am a jeans and t-shirt kinda girl. What that means though is that I like to save money on my clothes and normally I’ll wait for a good sale or shop at places that offer amazing prices so I can justify a new pair of boots.

I hope my tips will help you guys think outside of the box more in terms of your personal style and help you define it a little further. If you’re curious about the outfit I’m wearing in this post, it’s all from the latest Concept shop-in-shop at Sears Canada (here) – yes, even the cozy knit. Just remember to size up! ;)

*In sponsorship with Sears Canada. All opinions and photos are my own.