If you want to boost your self-confidence, an easy-peasy way to go about it is to dress to impress. I say this from experience—I used to be a timid girl until I discovered the power of personal style. Once I began dressing with intention, I noticed a shift in how I felt and how people related to me.
I even shared this in a tweet when Olúwatósìn Olaseinde, Founder of MoneyAfrica, asked how people built their confidence:
Perhaps one day, we’ll dive into the other points in my tweet. But for now, let’s focus on the first—improving your sense of style. That’s the foundation of dressing to impress. Because, let’s face it, you cannot impress without bringing something to the table. In this guide, I show you how to turn heads, spark conversations, and build meaningful connections by simply dressing well.
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How to Impress Anyone by Dressing Well
We spend an ungodly amount of hours rummaging through our closets for the perfect outfit, yet we get disappointed when nothing looks right. Even after decluttering your clothes to create a capsule wardrobe, it still feels like something is missing. This gets me wondering, why’s that so?
The answer isn’t farfetched—it’s an intrinsic problem stemming from our desire for acceptance and recognition from others. In this era, where social media virality and building a network have become the norm, it can be hard to stay true to your aesthetic. You want to grow your audience, make quality friends, and improve your circle. Sometimes, it can be tempting to step out of your identity and overstep to gain attention. But that shouldn’t be so.
When you find yourself wondering if you should become someone else to impress the crowd, take a step back and remember who you are. Then, follow these tips:
Dress to Impress Yourself
Start by wearing only stuff you love and are comfortable in. Forget the fashion rules; if you love it and feel great in it, wear it. Even if the ideal way is to wear heels with that dress, don’t do so if you won’t like the outcome. Instead, wear sneakers, ballerinas, or any shoe you’re comfortable in.
If there’s anyone you should impress when dressing up, it’s you. You are your first fan. So, before you think of getting compliments from others, compliment yourself by wearing items that suit your personal style and make you feel good. This self-acceptance will project onto others who’ll, in turn, see you through your own lens.
Dress for the occasion
Decide on the event you want to dress to impress and tailor your outfit to suit it. This can be a job interview, a first date, a church service, a rave party, or a wedding. The occasion matters a lot when dressing up, as what you’d wear to work may seem inappropriate for a night out and vice versa.
A pro tip is to follow the dress code. Say you’re headed for a job interview. If the organization prioritizes formal office wear, then wear tailored pants and collared shirts. The same applies to all events, including red carpet outings. Sticking to the dress code saves you from looking unprepared or out of place.
Skip trends to dress to impress
Trends are fleeting, and if you try to keep up with them, you just may burn out. Instead, choose timeless pieces that you can wear for years without feeling out of fashion. Instead of buying fast fashion, which flickers out of style no sooner than they land, shop from slow fashion brands like Ria Kosher. The brand creates durable, eco-friendly, and timeless designs that never go out of style.
Ria Kosher’s pieces feature bold silhouettes, vibrant colours, and edgy accents for women who love to stand out, start conversations, and make new connections effortlessly. The best part? You can wear them for as long as you want and pass them down as an heirloom, gaining more value for your money.
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Don’t be scared to experiment
Fashion isn’t linear, so feel free to try new styles, wear more colors, and explore diverse silhouettes. For example, if you’re used to styling your suits with formal shoes like pumps or Oxfords, style them with sneakers on some days. This hack is dubbed the “wrong-shoe theory” by stylist Allison Bornstein. As Bornstein describes, it involves creating an interesting look with accessories that feel “slightly ‘off’ or mismatched with the vibe of the rest of the look.”
But when experimenting with diverse styles, always choose looks you feel confident and comfortable pulling off. Never sacrifice comfort for style or vice versa.
Dress to impress by accessorizing
Accessories were made to enliven and punctuate your outfit. When wearing them, ensure you’re not overloading your look. Instead, create balance by only wearing functional and stylish accessories that serve a purpose and complement your full fit.
Smell nice
Sometimes, all you need to turn heads is a sweet-smelling fragrance. So, invest in a long-lasting perfume that gives you a signature scent. It boosts your confidence, improves your perception, and gets you compliments effortlessly.
Here’s how to apply perfume and make your fragrance last longer:
- Spray instead of rubbing.
- Apply the perfume directly to your skin.
- Spray on pulse points such as your neckline, collarbone, below your belly button, behind your earlobes, behind the knees, and inner elbows.
- Spritz the perfume on your clothes.
- Use wipes to remove scents.
- Store your perfume in a cool, dark, and dry place, away from sunlight.
Take lessons from your favorite influencers
Draw inspiration from celebrities and style influencers whose dress sense resonates with you. Have a folder in your gallery or a Pinterest board where you save style ideas you’d love to replicate. And when recreating, always add your touch to it for a refreshing take on the original look.
Exude Confidence as You Dress to Impress
Remember, the first and only person you should dress to impress is yourself. So, only wear stuff that you love. Then step into the room with your head held up high. Even if you got disappointed before arriving at the venue, don’t make it obvious. Stand tall, make eye contact when speaking, smile, and bask in your beauty because you were fearfully and wonderfully made.
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