10 Style Mistakes You Don’t Know You’re Making (#5 Is BAD!)

Okay ladies, so grab whatever you are drinking right now – I literally just made my second iced matcha of the day because my brain is dragging – and come sit down with me. We really need to have a little fashion intervention today. Don’t worry, you are not in trouble! But I was doing some people watching at the mall yesterday while waiting for my cousin to finish her shift. And honestly? I saw so many amazing girls just totally self-sabotaging their outfits. It was breaking my heart a little bit.

It made me think about all the times I used to step out of the house thinking I looked absolutely flawless, only to see a photo later and cringe so hard my soul left my body. We have all been there. Fashion is supposed to be fun and totally expressive, but there are a few sneaky little mistakes that can instantly downgrade a look. And you probably don’t even realize you are doing them! I definitely didn’t for the longest time.

So I made us a list. Just you and me, chatting about the 10 style mistakes you need to ditch this year. And girl, number 5 is the one that drives me the most crazy, so promise me you’ll read that one twice. Let’s get into it!

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1. The “Big on Big” Proportion Disaster

Okay, we love an oversized moment. I live in baggy clothes half the time. But a huge mistake is wearing something super baggy on top AND super baggy on the bottom at the exact same time without any styling. It just swallows you whole!

If you are wearing those trendy parachute pants, pair them with a fitted little baby tee or a tight bodysuit. If you are rocking a massive, oversized vintage sweater, throw on some straight-leg jeans or a slim skirt. You need that balance. Otherwise you just look like a walking laundry pile, and we are way too cute for that.

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2. Buying for a Fantasy Life

This is something I struggled with for years. You buy this stunning, sequined, dramatic dress because you picture yourself wearing it to a fancy rooftop party in the city. But let’s be real. On a Friday night, we are usually just getting tacos or watching movies on the couch.

I literally have a story about this. A few years ago I bought these bright pink, six-inch platform heels. I imagined I was going to wear them to some glamorous gallery opening. Babe, I live in a town where the most exciting thing is the weekend farmer’s market. Those shoes sat in my closet for two years gathering dust until I finally donated them. Stop buying clothes for the life you see on Pinterest and start buying for the life you actually live! Invest your money in amazing basics you will actually wear to work, to the grocery store, or out with the girls.

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3. The Wrong Undergarments for the Neckline

This one physically hurts me to see. You find the perfect halter top or a gorgeous asymmetrical dress, and then… boom. Thick, bright pink bra straps poking out. It just immediately ruins the lines of the outfit.

I know strapless bras can be super annoying and sometimes they feel like they are sliding down to your belly button. But investing in a high-quality strapless bra, or even trying boob tape, changes everything. If the top has a tricky neckline, your underwear needs to be invisible. It makes the outfit look so much more expensive and put together.

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4. Keeping the “Someday” Clothes

We all have that one section in our closet. The jeans that are two sizes too small that we swear we will fit into again “someday.” Or the sweater that has a weird stain but we keep it just in case we decide to paint the living room. Throw it out!

Every time you open your closet and see clothes that don’t fit your body right now, it messes with your confidence. Your closet should be a safe space filled only with things that make you feel good today. Pack up the things that don’t fit and get them out of your daily sightline. Dress the beautiful body you have right at this exact moment.

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5. Visible Panty Lines (VPL) Under Nice Pants

Alright, here we are at number 5. This is the big one. It is BAD. You spend all this money on a beautiful, tailored pair of light-colored trousers or a sleek silk skirt. You walk out the door, and the entire world can see the thick seams of your underwear cutting right across your cheeks.

It completely destroys the elegance of the outfit. When you are wearing thin fabrics or light colors, you absolutely must wear seamless underwear. And here is the secret – don’t wear white underwear under white pants! It will show right through. You need to find seamless panties that perfectly match your own skin tone. Seriously, go stock up on flesh-toned, laser-cut underwear right now. It is the ultimate adulting hack and it will save your outfits every single time.

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6. Sounding Like a Wind Chime

Accessories are amazing, but there is definitely a limit. If I can hear you walking down the hallway before I see you because you have fifteen metal bracelets clanking together, it is too much.

My Auntie Rosa used to always tell me this when I was a teenager. I went through a phase where I wore every single piece of beaded jewelry and silver I owned at the exact same time. I went to a family dinner and every time I reached for the frybread, my wrist sounded like a tambourine. She gently pulled me aside and told me to pick a focal point. If you wear big statement earrings, skip the heavy necklace. Let your pieces breathe so people can actually appreciate them!

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7. Walking Out With Wrinkled Clothes

I am so guilty of this sometimes because I am usually running five minutes late. But throwing on a wrinkled shirt instantly makes a fifty dollar top look like it cost five bucks.

You don’t even need a fancy ironing board anymore. Just get a little handheld steamer. It takes maybe sixty seconds to steam a shirt before you put it on. That tiny little step is the difference between looking like you slept in your clothes and looking like a polished adult who has their life together. Just steam it, babe. I promise it is worth the extra minute.

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8. Blindly Following Every Micro-Trend

TikTok is amazing for fashion inspiration, but it is also a trap. Just because a specific style of low-rise cargo pants looks amazing on a 19-year-old influencer doing a dance does not mean it is going to work for your body type or your lifestyle.

Trends move so fast now. If you buy into every single one, you end up with a closet full of random clothes that don’t go together. Figure out what actually looks good on your specific shape. If high-waisted jeans make you feel like a goddess, who cares if low-rise is trending? Stick to what makes you feel confident.

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9. Shoes You Cannot Walk In

We need to talk about the shoes. There is nothing less attractive than watching someone awkwardly stumble down the street because their heels are pinching their toes or their boots are giving them massive blisters.

Let me tell you a quick story. Last summer, my cousins and I went to this huge outdoor music festival. I decided to wear these brand new, stiff leather cowboy boots because they looked amazing with my dress. Huge mistake. By hour three, my feet were bleeding. I literally had to walk back to the car barefoot on the dirt path. It ruined my whole night. Comfort is actually super stylish. If you can’t walk normally in them at the store, do not buy them.

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10. Never Tailoring Anything

This is the biggest secret of girls who always look amazing. They don’t just buy clothes off the rack and accept how they fit. They get them tailored.

We all have different bodies. It is almost impossible for a mass-produced pair of pants to fit your waist and your hips perfectly at the same time. Spending an extra fifteen dollars to have a tailor take in the waist of your jeans or hem your trousers so they hit your shoe perfectly will completely transform your wardrobe. It makes affordable clothes look custom made.