12 fashion secrets stylists don’t usually share for free

You didn’t come here to read another fashion article proclaiming nude heels will extend your legs or that a good tailoring job is oh so worth it. That advice is just as obvious as saying animal prints will be in this fall and florals will be trending in the spring, right?

That’s why we got stylists to spill their lesser-known style secrets—the kinds you’d usually have to pay consultation fees to hear. These are are their A-list tips.

1. Invest In Toupee Tape

For men, Topstick helps keep their toupees in place. For women, it’s a “life safer” to help remedy any gaping necklines, ultimately helping fabrics stay put, dishes Lindsey Bennett, who studied fashion at Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles, and is now the lead designer for Azazie, which sells wedding and bridesmaid dresses.

2. Keep It Simple

You know those days when it feels like nothing is coming together? Before you amass a pile of discarded clothes at the foot of your bed, listen up: Just keep your outfit simple. This minimalistic suggestion comes courtesy of Aisha Jones, who created Style Recipe cards, which make it a cinch to put outfits together. “This is probably in direct contrast to the style secrets you would expect to get from a stylist,” Jones says. “I’m telling you to make less of a fuss, and this out-of-the-box secret only works for those times where you are frustrated and trying too hard.” So instead of going with a statement necklace, go with a bare clavicle, she says. Ditch your look-at-me shoes for a pair of classics. Instead of trying to force a trendy hair style, keep a simple chignon, Jones suggests.

3. Try A Vest

Yes, a vest, but no, not the kitschy one you’d wear to a holiday party. “One of my favorite ‘secrets’ that my clients always seem to love—and be surprised by—is the power of a vest,” says personal stylist Hanna L. Ashbaugh, owner of Hanna Lee Style. “They’re so much more than the Christmas knits we once thought of. Vests are a style powerhouse because they add so much depth and texture without the bulk.” Plus, vests are a quick and easy addition that really pulls outfits together.

4. Make Your Silk Scarf Work Overtime

One of Ashbaugh’s favorite ways to wear a silk scarf is as a belt. “Especially for those of us who wear little color, it’s a great addition to an outfit,” she says. How’s that for a two-for-one?

5. Sheen Can Be Your Frenemy

Avoid wearing fabrics with sheen on the parts of your body you don’t want to emphasize, says David Zyla, Emmy Award-winning stylist and author of Color Your Style and How to Win at Shopping. “Sheen will make those areas appear larger,” he explains. Instead, think of those fabrics as a way to highlight the smaller parts of your body to balance out your look.

6. Match Your Clothes To Your Eyes

Here’s a rule you’ve probably never heard before: Match the lightest or darkest tones of your eyes to a garment, says Zyla. It will make you seem more friendly and approachable, and this will help highlight your eyes.

7. Consider Ditching Ankle Straps

Yes, ankle straps can be cute. But they’ll pull attention to your ankles and break up that long, lean head-to-toe line, Zyla explains. “Tall women can get away with this much more than easily than petite women,” he says.

8. Ease Up On The Neutrals

Flattering colors make a much greater impression than neutrals, Zyla says. Each color can be synced up with an emotion, a place or a period of history. For example, yellow might evoke a sunny day while Wedgwood blue is reminiscent of the 18th century. “At the end of the day, neutrals are, well, neutral,” he says. “The woman in merlot, turquoise or buttercup is the one we remember. So, if an item is available in both a neutral and a color, go for the latter.”

9. Follow This ‘Hip’ Advice

Want to create the illusion of a smaller waist? You can do so by choosing a sleeveless or off-the-shoulder cut and matching it to the widest part of your hip, Zyla says. “By putting your shoulder and hip in the same quadrant, your waist will always look smaller,” he explains.

10. Add A Pop Of Texture

You already know it’s great to add a pop of color to make outfits more interesting. But Ali Levine, a celebrity stylist and fashion expert, suggests also pulling in textures. “Adding texture to the outfit is very important because without textures, it can be a little bit boring,” she says. “When I add texture to a look I style, I recommend ruffles, glitter, lace or even jewelry that can add life and detail.”

11. Pucker Up

A super affordable way to add some instant glam to your outfit? A great lipstick. “Lipstick is your best friend,” says Lindsay Narain, the designer and founder behind VAUGHAN, a womenswear brand that specializes in silk shirts. “A great lipstick makes you look instantly polished and chic.”

12. Less Is More

If it always feels like you don’t have anything to wear, it might be worth creating a more curated closet. It’s best when you build a wardrobe with just pieces you love, says Narain. “Even in the most panicked, frantic morning, if your wardrobe is filled with things you love, it’s easy to reach for something great. Less is more here. I’d rather have 10 well-made statement pieces than a wardrobe full of stuff I only kind of like.”

[h/t: Reader’s Digest]