5 Clever Styling Tricks to Give Your Wardrobe Some New-Season Oomph

With spring just a month away, it’s about that time when we want to reinvigorate our wardrobe and break out of our sweater-and-jeans winter rut. Of course, there are plenty of trending new pieces you can shop right now to get you looking on point for spring, but it’s how you wear them that will make you stand out from the crowd. So today, we’re sharing some fashion girl–approved styling tricks we’ve spotted on the runways and the streets that are guaranteed to give your look an edge. You can easily try some of these with existing pieces in your wardrobe, or you can shop the looks with our picks below. From supersize retro collars over blazers to knee-high boots over trousers, try these cool fashion styling tricks to add some new-season oomph to your wardrobe.

Wear a Large Retro Collar Over Your Blazer

One of the most notable styling techniques we spotted on the S/S 20 runways—and now all over our Instagram feeds—was wide, '70s-inspired pointed collars worn over longline blazers in contrasting colors to make the collars really stand out. Add a turtleneck under your shirt for an extra layer of "cool."

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On the Runway
(Image credit: Victoria Beckham/Imaxtree)

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On the Street
(Image credit: @katarinapetrovic)

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Wear a Skirt or Dress Over Your Pants

One of the most refreshing and unconventional micro-trends we observed on the spring runways was dresses and skirts styled over pants. Whether it was a leather dress over a pair of tailored trousers or a party dress over jeans, this layered duo will take your ensemble to the next level.

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On the Runway
(Image credit: Courtesy of Theory)

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On the Street
(Image credit: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

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On the Runway
(Image credit: Courtesy of Khaite)

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On the Street
(Image credit: The Style Stalker)

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Wear Knee-High Boots Over Your Pants

The boot-over-pants trend has been cropping up regularly on our feeds this season, with fashion girls quick to give the contemporary-cool trend a whirl. The trend might seem slightly tricky to pull off, but the outcome is seriously chic. Opt for relaxed-fitting tailored trousers to tuck in under a pair of neutral leather knee-high boots. Finish the look with a pared-back blouse or oversize blazer.

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On the Runway
(Image credit: Maryam Zadeh/Imaxtree)

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On the Street
(Image credit: Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

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Loosely Tie a Sweater Over Your Ensemble

While this styling trick has been a fashion-girl favorite for the past few seasons, the sartorial set continue to adorn their ensembles with a nonchalant sweater draped loosely and effortlessly over their knits, blazers, and coats. This is an easy one to pull off that will add dimension to your look.

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On the Runway
(Image credit: Holzweiler, Yuliya Christensen/Getty Images)

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On the Street
(Image credit: The Style Stalker)

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Wear a Little Women–Inspired Collar Over Your Sweater

Oversize collars are clearly having a major moment right now, and while we touched on large '70s-inspired pointed collars earlier, for this styling technique, you'll need a vintage-inspired frilly or lace-trimmed collar. The way to wear it right now is over a knit cardigan or crew-neck sweater—a fun way to make a fashion-forward statement.

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On the Runway
(Image credit: Ganni/Imaxtree)

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On the Street
(Image credit: @champagnemani)

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Up next, the seven biggest color trends we'll all be wearing in 2020.

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Judith Jones
Senior Fashion Market Editor

Judith Jones is the senior fashion market editor at Who What Wear who specializes in shopping content and trend stories with high-affiliate impact. She shares the coolest, most desirable fashion market finds and brands for every budget. Previous to working in fashion, Judith worked as a TV host on the PBS travel show Globe Trekker (airing on Netflix and Amazon Prime) sharing her passion for travel and culture.