10 Ways to Give Classic Clothes a Trendy Lift

It's not so much what you wear. It's how you wear it. That's why pretty basic clothes often look appealing on retail sites and in ads and magazines, but blah in real life. There's nothing wrong with them; there's just no fizz. Fashion stylists use a closetful of tricks to give everyday clothes a style boost, spice up classics and expand versatility. My quickie master class of 10 tips will turn you into a pro, too.

Rene Russo, Sharon Stone, Jennifer Aniston, Isabelle Huppert

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1. Mix summer whites with winter wools.

Most women store spring and summer clothes away at the first chill. Savvy dressers resist, and wear white jeans, pants, tees and tanks all year long as a bright, cheery base for button-down shirts, sweaters, tailored jackets and their all-purpose black leather boots and bags.

Martha Stewart, Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman

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2. Style your clothes instead of just wearing them.

It's the little things that count. Every time you get dressed, adjust your clothes for fashion impact. You might untuck or half-tuck a top, open one button on your blouse or shirt to create a flattering V-neckline, turn up and scrunch jacket sleeves, roll your jeans to above the ankle, or belt your tailored blazer.

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3. Tailor dresses for your legs and bust.

On photo shoots for retail sites, magazines, advertising and catalogs, an expert seamstress nips and tucks classic sheaths and A-lines to give them a current look and a couture-like fit. Even a half inch makes the difference between frumpy and fabulous. Ask your neighborhood tailor to raise the shoulder line for a smooth fit over the bust and to hem dresses at your perfect at-the-knee length. Then add nude pumps (matched to your skin tone) for a leggy, energetic look.

Sarah Jessica Parker, Martha Stewart, Sharon Stone

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4. Layer clothes in a contemporary way ... imperfectly.

Forget about looking too neat, pressed and buttoned up. Allow T-shirts and tanks to dangle in plain sight beneath sweaters or jackets, and let tanks and camisoles be visible under wide or deep necklines. It's cool to let linen or silk shirts crease, and to give cuffs an irregular rollup. The only things to avoid are stains, loose threads and body odor. Relaxed, but fresh, is the idea.

Diane Keaton, Annette Bening, Meg Ryan

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5. Play with proportions.

Think about the shapes your clothes make and aim for contrast. Vary the scale. Pair oversized tops with slim bottoms and vice versa. Wear short, wide items over long, narrow ones. Layer long tanks and T-shirts under shorter, wider relaxed ones. Try a cropped sweater or jacket over a long tank with a skirt, and wide full pants with a tucked-in turtleneck. Give a boyfriend blazer or tunic blouse a narrow base like slim jeans or a pencil skirt. How it looks on the body — not the hanger — is what counts.