How To Dress Like A Fashionista

By Carla Rivera, 28 Jan 20:09

What is a fashionista?

A fashionista is anyone who is a devotee of the fashion industry. But, more importantly, a true fashionista is instantly recognizable as such, turning heads and collecting compliments with her daily ensembles, always appearing effortlessly fantastic. She's obsessed with clothes and fashion and yet never looks like some tragic fashion victim. It’s a sad fact, however, that most of us don’t have the budgets of Kate Moss or Sienna Miller. Nevertheless, a copious amount of money is not necessary to look, feel, and live like a true fashionista. All you need is patience, creativity, and a sense of adventure. A fashionista's greatest asset is her knowledge, not her wallet and she adheres to a certain set of rules:


Read, read, read! Add Vogue to your library

Take that chip off your shoulder and read like a pro

Don't be a slave to fashion

Be unique

Spend wisely

Shopping happens - indulge in unplanned retail therapy

1. Read, read, read!

Like the true master of any subject, a fashionista must do her research and, because the world of fashion is constantly morphing, this is a neverending process. Subscriptions to the top fashion magazines are crucial. And ladies, Cosmopolitan is not going to cut it! A fashionista cares more about herringbone v. houndstooth for fall than yet another article about how to please a man in bed. Vogue is essential: it is the fashionista’s Bible. Other key publications are, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, InStyle, and W.

2. Take that chip of your shoulder and read like a pro

Can’t afford that Christian Lacroix dress in Vogue’s latest spread? Relax. Most of us can’t. Pay no attention to the prices and read like a pro. For the true fashion buff, reading fashion magazines is a source of pleasure, not pain. Don't toss the magazine aside because you can't afford any of the clothes. You are looking at one of a kind handmade couture creations. A pro revels in the beauty of the clothes, viewing them as works of art, their aesthetic beauty making the lucky reader effulgent with bringing joy and inspiration. Yes, inspiration! Taking that chip of your shoulder means learning to read Vogue as an impetus for your own style. Want one of the over-sized bags featured in February’s Vogue? Dig through your closet, find your biggest purse and hit the town! You can also check to see if the trend has hit the lower end of retail and buy one within your budget. Thankfully, geniuses in the fashion industry have discovered the benefits of "high design" at cheap prices. Top designers are making lines at stores like Target and H&M. Want to cash in on tiered dresses and blouses, some of fashion's latest runway crazes? Head to Target and check out the latest collection for their Go International line. Erin Fetherston's Go International effort is full of romantic, tiered pieces. If all else fails, you can head over to the failsafe racks at H&M. Even their everyday collections are current with the latest trends.

The most important thing is learning to love the pages of the hottest fashion mags and cherishing your time with them. Take three hours of your Sunday morning to peruse Vogue or Bazaar. Make a latte or a cup of tea and settle in. These three hours should be delicious to you, like a bubble bath or a massage. To be a true fashionista is to sincerely love all things fashion, and magazines, with their extreme accessibility, are essential cornerstones of any fashionista's repertoire.

3. Don’t be a slave to fashion

Napoleon Bonaparte once said that “fashion condemns us to many follies; the greatest is to make ourselves its slave.” Although this may be true in some cases, it is not a steadfast rule. A fashionista may live for fashion but, instead of being a slave to its rules, she makes fashion a slave to her own personal style. For instance, take the pear-shaped woman with short legs who wears skinny jeans despite the fact that they are very unflattering: she is a slave to fashion. A pear-shaped aficionado, however, would know to try alternate looks from that particular season. Slaving yourself out to all the trends, no matter if they look terrible on you or not, is anti-fashionista. A fashionista carefully picks trends that conform to her fashion rules and her body and never lets styles of the moment get the better of her taste. The ultimate goal of the fashionista is not, as some believe, to have all the latest fads. The fashionista's goal is really quite simple: to look her best at all times and to have fun doing it. And this, of course, means dressing for your body type no matter how many skinny jeans Vogue may be hawking that month. Remember, magazines, and the seasonal trends that grace their pages, are a source of inspiration and a way to gain knowledge: they should not dictate your every move.

4. Be unique

All great style icons have a uniqueness to their look; think of Katherine Hepburn and her infamous slacks; or Coco Chanel’s infamous tan - the tan that ended the pale look as a must and gave bronzed skin a new-found respect; or Marie Antoinette’s elaborate bouffant; or the wardrobe of television’s most recognizable style icon, Carrie Bradshaw, and all of its whimsical charms. Naturally, most women don’t have the body of Sarah Jessica Parker, which can carry any trend, or, for that matter, the desire to be quite that unique. Nevertheless, a bit of the unexpected or daring can actually polish your look and give you allure. I have a friend who always wears brightly colored opaque tights, whether they are in style or not. They give splash to even the plainest of outfits and always attract compliments.

5. Spend wisely

Don’t blow your paycheck on an "off-the-wall" look that won’t last. A designer bubble skirt (a skirt travesty that lasted about five minutes) would not have been the best way to enrich a wardrobe. For big budget purchases, buy classic pieces or items that enhance your signature look. An expensive pair of tall, black pumps, a Chanel tote, or a Burberry trench are all good examples of classic pieces that can be worn for years to come. Or if chunky, brightly colored jewelry is your thing, spend a few extra dollars on some Tarina Tarantino creations. Any item that contributes to your signature look should get plenty of miles.

6. Shopping happens - indulge in unplanned retail therapy

A fashionista’s style lookout is constantly working. Only shopping on planned shopping excursions can make buying clothes a chore, and three plus hours of changing room mirrors is enough to turn anyone into a strictly jeans and tee-shirt kind of girl. If you’re out running errands or taking a walk through your favorite part of the city, allow your eye to wander. See a sign for a great sale? Go check it out for twenty minutes. Spot a dress in a shop window that is to die for? Bop in and take a look. See a new store? Do your research. Go in and scope it out. You are a fashionista! You have the fashion bug! Isn’t it time to put it to the test?

Things you might need

How-to Extra Advice

Tags: fashion, style, clothes, shopping, Vogue, advice, budget