How to Avoid Becoming a Fashion Victim

culled from:wikihow.com

Method 1 of 2: Dress for Yourself

Find clothing that works with your figure and your personal tastes.

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   Shop for styles you like. Everyone has different tastes. If the latest trend does not suit yours, do not feel obligated to obey it. 

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   Accept your body. Everyone has imperfections. Learn to accept yours so you know how to work around them.
   • Know your problem areas and look for ways to mask them. As a general rule, balance out thicker parts of your body by looking for clothing that draws the eye to thinner parts of your body.
   • Avoid clothing that highlights your problem areas. A frilly-tiered skirt may look nice on a thin woman with a rectangular body type, but it will only draw unwanted attention to the legs of a pear shaped woman with larger thighs. Additionally, a skin-tight dress on the thin woman might look awkward as opposed to the same dress on the pear shaped woman. There are clothes that work for everybody, but not everybody can "pull off" certain clothes.
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   Know your sizes. Take your precise measurements and compare them against a brand or store’s sizing chart.
   • Measure your bust by wrapping a taut tape measure around the widest part of your bust.
   • Measure your waist by wrapping a taut tape measure around the narrowest part of your waist. This area, called your “natural waist,” is usually right below your bust.
   • Measure your hips by wrapping a taut tape measure around the thickest part of your hips.
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   Set a budget.
   • Look over your monthly finances to determine how much money you can afford to spend when you go out shopping.
   • Stick to your budget. Doing so will help you avoid impulse buys and focus on buying only the clothes that look best.
   • Leave your credit card and ATM card at home if you lack the self-discipline to limit yourself. Carry a set amount of cash.

Method 2 of 2: Wear Your Clothes Well

Shop smart and put together outfits that look good.

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   Weed out your wardrobe.
   • Check your closet for garments that are out of style. If you have the space, pack them away in storage bins in case the trend ever returns.
   • Dispose of, or recycle pieces that are in poor condition.
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   Gravitate toward basics over trends. Trends come and go, but classic basics stick around. Focus on keeping your basics well-stocked, and only weave in a few interesting trendy pieces at a time.
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   Look at designs over brands. Choose clothing based on how it looks rather than who made it. Getting too hung up on brand names can quickly trap you into buying clothes that do not look good simply for the sake of having the name.
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   Try before you buy.
   • Try on clothes in a dressing room before you purchase them. Study yourself in the dressing room’s full-length mirror until you have a clear opinion of how it looks.
   • Take along a fashion-conscious friend whose style you trust when you go shopping. When left to themselves, some individuals can talk themselves into—or out of—just about anything. Your friend can provide you with a second opinion on the clothes you try on.
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   Keep your style balanced.
   • Avoid wearing too many trends at once. Mix one trendy piece into an outfit composed of basics.
   • Avoid mixing bold patterns. For instance, do not wear a large polka dot print blouse with a plaid skirt. Bold patterns clash when paired together.
   • If you must mix patterns, mix a subtle, muted pattern with a bolder one. For example, you could wear a floral print blouse with light pinstripe pants.
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   Avoid over-accessorizing. Do not have too many layers of accessories. Stick with one or two key accessories, such as a chunky bracelet in a bold color and a matching pair of pumps, and leave it at that.
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   Wear clothing that fits the occasion. Not every trend works for every setting and venue.
   • Keep casual styles, like sundresses and trendy t-shirts, to casual settings and away from formal parties or professional office settings.
   • Save formal styles for formal occasions. You can dress down a little black dress, but that still doesn't mean you should wear it for a trip down to the neighborhood drugstore or to your next-door-neighbor's casual backyard barbeque.