1.  Browse the mall and notice which of the brands or designers tends to attract your eye.  

2.  Even if these brands are too expensive or don’t fit you, ask yourself what you like about them. Is it the texture, the color, the silhouette?

3.  Keep a scrapbook of style inspiration, either in a journal or digitally. Remember to keep updating it every time you see something new that you like because your tastes will evolve.

Cull the scrapbook regularly to get rid of things you no longer like.

(Read also: 6 local quirky bag brands on the rise)

4. Remember that being stylish means displaying your personality while also keeping in consideration the event and the environment at hand.  Your hair, makeup, clothes and accessories must be in sync with the occasion.  

5.  Spring-cleaning doesn’t just mean cleaning out the closet. Every now and then, take a critical eye to yourself and your style; is it time to update your look?

6. Mix it up. Perhaps you like prints but have always gravitated toward floral. Change it up by trying a geometric or abstract print.  

Only wear neutrals? Take a stab at introducing color.

7. There’s no need to be a slave to fashion trends, but keep your look fresh by adding at least some new pieces to your wardrobe every season, or by revamping some older pieces.  

Watch fashion shows (on television or YouTube) or leaf through high-end fashion magazines for inspiration.

8. Remember that different styles compliment different body types. If your body has changed, you will need to reassess your wardrobe.  

Just because skinny jeans looked good on you in college, it doesn’t mean they always will.  

9. Shop with a plan.

At this point, I hope you have input your closet into some sort of closet app, and that you have a list of wardrobe needs so that when you shop you are not overwhelmed and making needless purchases. This will keep shopping fun but not a potential money pit.  

Make budget allowances for splurges as well.

(Read also: 6 tricks for always looking elegant and classy)

10. Ask a handful of friends whose style opinions you respect.

Ask them for one suggestion (keep it to one so that you won’t be inundated and risk feeling insecure) for a personal style change. Perhaps they think you should cut your hair, wear dresses more, or stop wearing stockings.

Whatever they say, listen quietly and consider it.  After all, they undoubtedly look at you more than you do.

11. If you’re working on a limited budget, or even if you’re not, challenge yourself to reinvent some pieces in your wardrobe. Change out the buttons on your favorite jacket to something fun, change the hemline on a skirt.  

12. Reassess an outfit you wear all the time and try adding a different scarf or a chunky necklace and a different sweater.  

Sometimes, simple changes can make you feel as though you’ve really made undergone a metamorphosis.

13. Check out other fashion lovers’ inspirational boards on pinterest and polyvore.

14. Look at pieces and accessories with a new eye.

That scarf could be a belt, or possibly a halter. That necklace could be a bracelet if wrapped around the wrist a few times, or even a headband. Some earrings can work as brooches. A skirt with an elastic waist might work as a strapless dress. A shorter dress might work as a blousy top if tucked into jeans.

15. Stand in front of your mirror and try out items you’d never dreamed of wearing together.  

You never know – pairing those motorcycle boots with a gauzy spring dress could actually make a wonderful style statement (just get a second opinion before going out in something too avant-garde).

(Read also: 10 Top 10 beauty influencers that we love)

16. Take some pieces in your closet to a good tailor. Ask them for ideas, such as reworking for a more flattering fit, or for covering a tear or permanent stain.  

Wardrobe items you love don’t always have to be thrown away.  A tailor might be able to breathe new life into them.

17. Have a clothes-swapping party with friends.  

We all get tired of our own clothes, even if they’re terrific. So invite some of your favorite style-savvy friends over and ask them to bring over the pieces they’re ready to swap. One person’s tired piece might be another person’s treasure.

18. Don’t forget to layer.  

By layering different pieces you can camouflage the fact that you might be wearing last season’s pants or that you only have a few basic staples in heavy rotation.  

19. Don’t be afraid of change.

If you’re bored with your wardrobe, don’t just go out and buy a similar wardrobe simply to have a new one. Step outside of your comfort zone and buy different styles.

20. Work with a free online stylist service (such as mystylit.com) and have them suggest outfits based on your body type, budget and personality.

Above all, don’t underdo it. A lot of women make the mistake of getting 80 percent ready before they walk out the door. By that, I mean that we put on the shoes, skirt and top, but we stop there instead of adding the scarf and bracelets and extra makeup and attention to our hairstyles.  

This is your style. This is you. So be bold and express yourself.

***

Heidi Nazarudin is a former CEO turned style blogger, public speaker and event host based in Kuala Lumpur, Los Angeles and New York. She has worked with brands such as Saks 5th Avenue, Giorgio Armani, Salvatore Ferragamo and Mont Blanc. She is the blogger-in-chief of TheAmbitionista.com and co-founder of Blogger Babes. She resides in Santa Monica, CA by the beach and lives on Instagram @theambitionista.

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