They can tie a scarf, knot a belt, size up a boot heel, and kick the stuffing out of a pinstriped suit. They know what jeans wash is cool and what cocktail is hot. But above all, they’re thoughtful. About dressing. About behavior. About attracting the right kind of attention at just the right time. Which is what separates the truly stylish from the merely fashionable. Here, a practical guide to polishing up your look and burnishing your image this fall.
1. How to Order a DrinkIn our 20s, we thought that ordering a Jameson on the rocks made us look badass and that we couldn’t go wrong with a nice glass of house Chardonnay. Ah, youth. On the rare occasion now that we give a damn what someone thinks, we have one inscrutable go-to drink: vodka soda with a twist. It’s not pink, it’s not seasonal—in fact, you could call it the Drink Without Qualities.
2. How to Maintain Clothes Like a ProSnip out hanger loops in new tops and dresses, or they will poke out when you wear them. They exist for the store’s convenience, not yours.
3. How to Dress it DownScale back the statement necklace for day by going with silver instead of gold and pairing it with a thin, silky T-shirt. 4. Black is the new dark wash.But get it in a true blue-jeans cut—five-pocket, straight leg, starting just below the waist. The Levi’s Eco style has skinny, tapered legs—not a tight, leggings-like fit—that we especially love.
5. How to Keep Stretch Jeans SnugStretch jeans need a little heat to restore their fit, but be sure to grab them out of the hot dryer the moment they’re no longer damp— you’ll forestall the slow, inevitable death of the elastic in the fabric.
6. How to Talk About Sports
You are not required to like sports. You are not even required to pretend to like sports. But utter cluelessness is beneath you. A few guidelines:
Familiarize yourself with the approximate beginning and end of the pro sports seasons. Not having an opinion about the Lakers’ record is fine; not knowing that the season is over is lame.The same goes for time periods: Baseball has nine innings; football and basketball have four quarters; hockey has three periods; soccer has two halves.Upsets are the most exciting thing about sports. Watch highlights of the most buzzed-about games on YouTube so you can join in the national conversation. (Just check out when the U.S. soccer team beat Spain in this year’s Confederations Cup.)
7. Weekend Wear
First, the rules. No dresses. No skirts. No black in the country. And nothing dangling from your neck except a cashmere scarf or a subversive-style chain necklace.Here, what to wear on weekend days:
In the city: Slim black pants, ballet slippers or platform booties, thin sweater or T-shirt, cashmere jacket and scarf.In the country: Slouchy jeans, motorcycle boots or Wellies, waffle-knit cashmere sweater, chunky scarf, peacoat.
8. How to Flirt
Wear red. Women who dress in red are seen by men as sexier than those who wear white, green, blue, or gray, according to a University of Rochester study. Not convinced? Ladies in red are 56 percent more likely to get asked out on a date than someone wearing blue.Flash your…wrists. The most demure of body parts isn’t so innocent after all. “Their glands emit pheromones, so we become aroused on an unconscious level by seeing the wrists,” says Martin Lloyd-Elliot, a psychotherapist and author of The Secrets of Sexual Body Language (Ulysses Press).Dim the lights. Candlelight is flattering in more ways than we realize. A University of Chicago study found that men perceived women with dilated pupils to be more attractive.Stand tall. “We pay attention to someone who’s higher up,” says psychologist Beverly B. Palmer. Less obvious: Consider where you’re pointing your toes. You can tell if a person really likes you if their toes point toward you.
9. Make Your Clothes LastThe less frequently you wash clothes, the longer they’re going to last, according to Chris Paulocik, conservator for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City. “Do what women in Europe do with their finest garments: The day after you wear them, air them out outside, away from direct sunlight, which can fade clothes, but somewhere air can circulate through them. Unless they’re stained, this is often enough to freshen the fabric.”
10. How to Walk in PlatformsWe love everything about this season’s platform heels—except the prospect of fracturing an ankle. Shoe designer Edmundo Castillo explains the secret to walking tall: “Platforms can be difficult because they don’t flex in front. A tight fit helps, so buy Foot Petals or an insole for heels. And as with any high shoes, always step on the ball of the foot and roll to the toe.”
11. How to Wear a Belt Right NowRun to the men’s department and get yourself a medium-width brown leather belt with a gold buckle. Think of it as a layering tool, not something to thread through loops. And make sure it’s long—and pliable—enough to wrap or knot around dresses (yes, dresses), jackets, and coats.
12. How to Dress For TravelThree high flyers reveal what they wear to look stylish on an airplane:
Stefani Greenfield, Co-founder of SCOOP: My favorite look is a Rag&Bone fitted stretch blazer, a J.Crew long-sleeved cashmere T-shirt, slim stretch pants by Curations Never Looked So Good, a big scarf that doubles as a shawl, and ballet flats.Rebekah McCabe, Senior Vice President of P.R. for Chanel: I wear boyfriend jeans and ballet flats, then change into heels and add a little black tweed jacket when I land.Ji Baek, Founder of Rescue Beauty: My go-to outfit is a long shirt in a wrinkle-proof fabric, American Apparel leggings, and Bottega Veneta open-toe wedge shoes—all in black. I pack cashmere socks for the plane.
13. How to Tie a ScarfYou’ve got Edith Piaf on the iPod and a one-by-six-foot panel of thin cashmere dangling from your neck. What now? We’ll let Louis Vuitton PR director Iana dos Reis Nunes take it from here with this simple un-deux-trois demo.
Drape: To start, I place the scarf at the back of my neck, so the ends fall forward.Wrap: I do two snug turns of the scarf around my neck, leaving both ends hanging in front by my shoulders again.Knot: To finish, I loop the ends in a half knot under my neck so they hang down like a necktie. The idea is to have something close to the throat, to bring the focus to the face.
14. The Ultimate Evening ShoeThis slingback by Brian Atwood has the requisite platform sole and some glitter at the toe. But what makes it unusual is that it’s suede, a material usually reserved for day.
15. How to Make Your Shoes LastTake new shoes to the cobbler, and ask for a thin rubber half sole and rubber taps at the toes. The former come in black, beige, and even red for those Louboutins, and the latter help prevent scuffing.
16. Don’t Be a Fashion Victim
Take it one trend at a time. Studs and chains? That’s it for the hardware. A bright neon dress? Keep the shoes muted.Go ahead and mix things up—high end, low end, inherited or vintage—to foil a copycat uniform a head-to-toe runway look.Don’t trot out all your jewels at once. Pick a big, showy necklace or a dramatic oversize cuff. But don’t wear both.Test-drive
everything. If you can’t walk in the five-inch-high gladiator platforms, don’t buy the five-inch-high gladiator platforms.
17. How to Go Solo
At a bar: Sit at a table if you aren’t looking for conversation. Sit on a stool near the bartender if you are. Flipping through a magazine is fine; listening to your iPod is lame; talking on your cell phone is out of the question. Tip well, just on principle.At a restaurant: If you aren’t sure a restaurant is friendly to single diners, try making a reservation; if they are condescending on the phone, it will be worse in person. Eat at the bar whenever it’s an option— there’s always plenty to observe. (Sushi bars are especially welcoming.) And, most importantly, don’t be self-conscious. Does your heart swell with pity when you see a woman dining alone? We didn’t think so.At a party: Arrive at least 30 minutes late so you can blend in. If you don’t see a group you can approach, head to the ladies’ room (where women inevitably chat in front of the mirror) or the bar area (where you can always point to someone’s empty glass and ask, “How was that?”). Once you’ve struck up a conversation, consider following your new friend back to her group if she seems amenable.
18. How to Dress After DarkThe rules are unwritten, the boundaries fuzzy. Roopal Patel, women’s fashion accessory editor for Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, sets us straight on what to wear for a big night on the town:
Club/concert: If you’re going out dancing or to a concert, then your outfit should be fun. Think of the Balmain disco influence: a crystal-embroidered or sequined T-shirt or tank, leather leggings, and multibuckle boots.Dressy dinner: A more sophisticated look is needed here. A soft, draped dress in crushed velvet—such as those from Balenciaga, Prada, and Calvin Klein—would be perfect. Add a stack of mixed-metal bangles, and instead of classic stilettos or evening sandals, wear suede or leather booties, like those by Elizabeth and James.Black tie: Short or long, the one-shoulder dress is flattering on almost everyone. Keep it light and diaphanous or buy one that’s bejeweled. I love Naeem Khan’s take on the Indian sari, in topaz or gray. Pare back your accessories to crystal bangles and embellished evening shoes, such as those from Giuseppe Zanotti.
19. How to Order Wine
Do a quick survey to see if the majority wants red or white. If everyone thinks it’s just fine to drink red with swordfish, then it is.Take the price of the most expensive entrée on the menu and add half. (That swordfish is $30? Shoot for a $45 bottle.)Look for a two-year-old white or a three-year-old red.If you’re left with more than one choice within those parameters, choose the least common varietal. Spanish Albariños, Aglianicos from Italy, and Chilean Malbecs are all good options.If all else fails, ask the sommelier to suggest a bottle.
20. How to Cheek KissLet’s settle this, shall we? Start on her right (we don’t know why that’s more common; it just is). Place three fingers of your right hand where her left shoulder meets her arm for balance. Your cheek lightly touches her cheek; your lips do not. Purse your lips, but don’t make a smacking sound. Only repeat on the left if you are in Europe or with fashion types.
21. “Never buy a dress that’s really too tight for you. But if you do…never go to a party without safety pins.” —Victoria Beckham
22. How to Choose an Evening BagYes, you can squeeze in a BlackBerry, a compact, a lipstick, and even some Tic Tacs—and that’s why this Jimmy Choo black cylinder is our favorite evening bag. Plus, it’s got a clutchable shape (like a Tootsie Roll), a smooth satin exterior, and a detachable top handle.
23. How to Pick a New Polish
Look to moody grays, opaque nudes, and striking purples this fall–because the best shades of the season are unexpected (but not so much so that they are shocking)
24. Never respond to a compliment with anything self-deprecating. It’s a rejection of the other person’s goodwill.
25. Always face forward when making your way through a row of seats.
2. How to Maintain Clothes Like a ProSnip out hanger loops in new tops and dresses, or they will poke out when you wear them. They exist for the store’s convenience, not yours.
3. How to Dress it DownScale back the statement necklace for day by going with silver instead of gold and pairing it with a thin, silky T-shirt. 4. Black is the new dark wash.But get it in a true blue-jeans cut—five-pocket, straight leg, starting just below the waist. The Levi’s Eco style has skinny, tapered legs—not a tight, leggings-like fit—that we especially love.
5. How to Keep Stretch Jeans SnugStretch jeans need a little heat to restore their fit, but be sure to grab them out of the hot dryer the moment they’re no longer damp— you’ll forestall the slow, inevitable death of the elastic in the fabric.
6. How to Talk About Sports
You are not required to like sports. You are not even required to pretend to like sports. But utter cluelessness is beneath you. A few guidelines:
Familiarize yourself with the approximate beginning and end of the pro sports seasons. Not having an opinion about the Lakers’ record is fine; not knowing that the season is over is lame.The same goes for time periods: Baseball has nine innings; football and basketball have four quarters; hockey has three periods; soccer has two halves.Upsets are the most exciting thing about sports. Watch highlights of the most buzzed-about games on YouTube so you can join in the national conversation. (Just check out when the U.S. soccer team beat Spain in this year’s Confederations Cup.)
7. Weekend Wear
First, the rules. No dresses. No skirts. No black in the country. And nothing dangling from your neck except a cashmere scarf or a subversive-style chain necklace.Here, what to wear on weekend days:
In the city: Slim black pants, ballet slippers or platform booties, thin sweater or T-shirt, cashmere jacket and scarf.In the country: Slouchy jeans, motorcycle boots or Wellies, waffle-knit cashmere sweater, chunky scarf, peacoat.
8. How to FlirtWear red. Women who dress in red are seen by men as sexier than those who wear white, green, blue, or gray, according to a University of Rochester study. Not convinced? Ladies in red are 56 percent more likely to get asked out on a date than someone wearing blue.Flash your…wrists. The most demure of body parts isn’t so innocent after all. “Their glands emit pheromones, so we become aroused on an unconscious level by seeing the wrists,” says Martin Lloyd-Elliot, a psychotherapist and author of The Secrets of Sexual Body Language (Ulysses Press).Dim the lights. Candlelight is flattering in more ways than we realize. A University of Chicago study found that men perceived women with dilated pupils to be more attractive.Stand tall. “We pay attention to someone who’s higher up,” says psychologist Beverly B. Palmer. Less obvious: Consider where you’re pointing your toes. You can tell if a person really likes you if their toes point toward you.
9. Make Your Clothes LastThe less frequently you wash clothes, the longer they’re going to last, according to Chris Paulocik, conservator for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City. “Do what women in Europe do with their finest garments: The day after you wear them, air them out outside, away from direct sunlight, which can fade clothes, but somewhere air can circulate through them. Unless they’re stained, this is often enough to freshen the fabric.”
10. How to Walk in PlatformsWe love everything about this season’s platform heels—except the prospect of fracturing an ankle. Shoe designer Edmundo Castillo explains the secret to walking tall: “Platforms can be difficult because they don’t flex in front. A tight fit helps, so buy Foot Petals or an insole for heels. And as with any high shoes, always step on the ball of the foot and roll to the toe.”
11. How to Wear a Belt Right NowRun to the men’s department and get yourself a medium-width brown leather belt with a gold buckle. Think of it as a layering tool, not something to thread through loops. And make sure it’s long—and pliable—enough to wrap or knot around dresses (yes, dresses), jackets, and coats.
12. How to Dress For TravelThree high flyers reveal what they wear to look stylish on an airplane:
Stefani Greenfield, Co-founder of SCOOP: My favorite look is a Rag&Bone fitted stretch blazer, a J.Crew long-sleeved cashmere T-shirt, slim stretch pants by Curations Never Looked So Good, a big scarf that doubles as a shawl, and ballet flats.Rebekah McCabe, Senior Vice President of P.R. for Chanel: I wear boyfriend jeans and ballet flats, then change into heels and add a little black tweed jacket when I land.Ji Baek, Founder of Rescue Beauty: My go-to outfit is a long shirt in a wrinkle-proof fabric, American Apparel leggings, and Bottega Veneta open-toe wedge shoes—all in black. I pack cashmere socks for the plane.
13. How to Tie a ScarfYou’ve got Edith Piaf on the iPod and a one-by-six-foot panel of thin cashmere dangling from your neck. What now? We’ll let Louis Vuitton PR director Iana dos Reis Nunes take it from here with this simple un-deux-trois demo.
Drape: To start, I place the scarf at the back of my neck, so the ends fall forward.Wrap: I do two snug turns of the scarf around my neck, leaving both ends hanging in front by my shoulders again.Knot: To finish, I loop the ends in a half knot under my neck so they hang down like a necktie. The idea is to have something close to the throat, to bring the focus to the face.
14. The Ultimate Evening ShoeThis slingback by Brian Atwood has the requisite platform sole and some glitter at the toe. But what makes it unusual is that it’s suede, a material usually reserved for day.
15. How to Make Your Shoes LastTake new shoes to the cobbler, and ask for a thin rubber half sole and rubber taps at the toes. The former come in black, beige, and even red for those Louboutins, and the latter help prevent scuffing.
16. Don’t Be a Fashion Victim
Take it one trend at a time. Studs and chains? That’s it for the hardware. A bright neon dress? Keep the shoes muted.Go ahead and mix things up—high end, low end, inherited or vintage—to foil a copycat uniform a head-to-toe runway look.Don’t trot out all your jewels at once. Pick a big, showy necklace or a dramatic oversize cuff. But don’t wear both.Test-drive
everything. If you can’t walk in the five-inch-high gladiator platforms, don’t buy the five-inch-high gladiator platforms.17. How to Go Solo
At a bar: Sit at a table if you aren’t looking for conversation. Sit on a stool near the bartender if you are. Flipping through a magazine is fine; listening to your iPod is lame; talking on your cell phone is out of the question. Tip well, just on principle.At a restaurant: If you aren’t sure a restaurant is friendly to single diners, try making a reservation; if they are condescending on the phone, it will be worse in person. Eat at the bar whenever it’s an option— there’s always plenty to observe. (Sushi bars are especially welcoming.) And, most importantly, don’t be self-conscious. Does your heart swell with pity when you see a woman dining alone? We didn’t think so.At a party: Arrive at least 30 minutes late so you can blend in. If you don’t see a group you can approach, head to the ladies’ room (where women inevitably chat in front of the mirror) or the bar area (where you can always point to someone’s empty glass and ask, “How was that?”). Once you’ve struck up a conversation, consider following your new friend back to her group if she seems amenable.
18. How to Dress After DarkThe rules are unwritten, the boundaries fuzzy. Roopal Patel, women’s fashion accessory editor for Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, sets us straight on what to wear for a big night on the town:
Club/concert: If you’re going out dancing or to a concert, then your outfit should be fun. Think of the Balmain disco influence: a crystal-embroidered or sequined T-shirt or tank, leather leggings, and multibuckle boots.Dressy dinner: A more sophisticated look is needed here. A soft, draped dress in crushed velvet—such as those from Balenciaga, Prada, and Calvin Klein—would be perfect. Add a stack of mixed-metal bangles, and instead of classic stilettos or evening sandals, wear suede or leather booties, like those by Elizabeth and James.Black tie: Short or long, the one-shoulder dress is flattering on almost everyone. Keep it light and diaphanous or buy one that’s bejeweled. I love Naeem Khan’s take on the Indian sari, in topaz or gray. Pare back your accessories to crystal bangles and embellished evening shoes, such as those from Giuseppe Zanotti.
19. How to Order Wine
Do a quick survey to see if the majority wants red or white. If everyone thinks it’s just fine to drink red with swordfish, then it is.Take the price of the most expensive entrée on the menu and add half. (That swordfish is $30? Shoot for a $45 bottle.)Look for a two-year-old white or a three-year-old red.If you’re left with more than one choice within those parameters, choose the least common varietal. Spanish Albariños, Aglianicos from Italy, and Chilean Malbecs are all good options.If all else fails, ask the sommelier to suggest a bottle.
20. How to Cheek KissLet’s settle this, shall we? Start on her right (we don’t know why that’s more common; it just is). Place three fingers of your right hand where her left shoulder meets her arm for balance. Your cheek lightly touches her cheek; your lips do not. Purse your lips, but don’t make a smacking sound. Only repeat on the left if you are in Europe or with fashion types.
21. “Never buy a dress that’s really too tight for you. But if you do…never go to a party without safety pins.” —Victoria Beckham
22. How to Choose an Evening BagYes, you can squeeze in a BlackBerry, a compact, a lipstick, and even some Tic Tacs—and that’s why this Jimmy Choo black cylinder is our favorite evening bag. Plus, it’s got a clutchable shape (like a Tootsie Roll), a smooth satin exterior, and a detachable top handle.
23. How to Pick a New Polish
Look to moody grays, opaque nudes, and striking purples this fall–because the best shades of the season are unexpected (but not so much so that they are shocking)
24. Never respond to a compliment with anything self-deprecating. It’s a rejection of the other person’s goodwill.
25. Always face forward when making your way through a row of seats.
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