8 Style "Mistakes" Fashion Girls Notice

last updated 15 October 2019

Let's be honest—we all have outfits we look back on with a slight pang of regret. Hey, no one is perfect, and we've definitely held on to pieces a little too long or tried trends that didn't work out. But as we like to emphasize, the beauty of fashion mistakes is that there's always something we can learn from them, or at least from the people who notice them. To help clue us into some of the style mistakes fashion people tend to notice (and have admittedly made themselves), we tapped a few industry trendsetters to share their secrets.

Below you'll find the eight "mistakes" that stand out to the pros most. You'll notice they all boil down to one thing: It's always better to stay true to your own sense of style. Whether it be trend overkill or forgetting great basics, you'll find it easy to avoid these faux pas in your day-to-day life. Read on to see the style mistakes fashion girls never make, and then shop a few cool pieces to add to your winning wardrobe.

"I feel like modern consumers are more likely to take fashion risks these days—and one thing I never understood was people who follow the outdated 'rule' of matching shoes with your bag. With so many great accessory options on the market, people who do that are missing out on countless style combinations! Why limit yourself?"

"Although imitation may be the best form of flattery, an all-too-common style mistake is to clone someone else's style. While taking inspiration from our peers and influencers is natural, it's most important to find your own style. The same applies to taking inspiration from the runway—rather than going for head-to-toe catwalk looks, which in many cases only work on the runway, the most modern approach is to take key elements and incorporate them into your own wardrobe. The overarching rule here: Always be true to your own style."

"Never wear shoes you can't walk in. No matter how gorgeous they are, if you're wobbling around like a newborn deer, there's nothing fashionable about that."

"I never ever forget to accessorize! Jewelry is always the most important part of my outfit. With my clothing, I generally stick with everyday basics, so accessories—jewelry especially—are my way of making my outfit exciting and distinctive."

"There was a time that I found myself guilty of being so into a new trend I would feel the need to try it out, regardless if it suited my style or even looked good on me. Thankfully those days are behind me (I hope). I have since learned to exercise caution and a bit of creative thinking when it comes to trends. There is always a way into a trend, so don't make the mistake of following it to a T."

"Visible panty lines and a worn-out hook and eye on the back of their bra. It's the small details that count."

"I always notice when people simply throw on a bunch of expensive designer pieces thinking that's enough to make an outfit nice, rather than carefully selecting things that go well together, regardless of the price or brand name. It's one of those shortcuts that just doesn't work."

"An overall feeling of being uncomfortable. If I don't feel confident, I'm not going to enjoy myself—and nothing is worse than seeing a girl out adjusting herself nonstop."