In Fashion by Sharon Mosley

The trick to dressing stylish is not just wearing all the latest looks from the fashion runways. You may end up looking like you stepped out of a Halloween costume shop if you insist on being a slave to the popular trends du jour. Think huge shoulder pads, ripped jeans, cat eye makeup and teetering stilettos ... and you get the picture of the ultimate fashion victim.

Real style is all about making your clothes work for you, not against you. Put your own twist on those runway trends and come up with a personal fashion statement that makes you stand out from the crowd in a good way!

Here are some "tricks" to create a stylish wardrobe, so you don't get caught in the fashion "victim" trap:

— Find your own look. This is easier read than done. Experimenting with different looks is one thing, but if you never settle on a "signature" style, then you'll be constantly waking up to a closet where you find nothing to wear. Choose one special piece (I have a wide silver cuff a friend brought me from India that I wear almost every day) or a flattering color (another friend wears some version of purple all the time), and you'll have a distinctive "look" that sets you apart from the fashion pack.

— Think about what makes you feel good and make a list of your favorite pieces. Are you a bohemian hippie in disguise, but wear only tailored clothes that make you want to itch your way out of them the minute you get home from work? Or do you dream of dressing up in ladylike pumps and plaids instead of boots and jeans? Narrow down your "identity" — classic, bohemian, minimalist, romantic — and suddenly shopping will become a real treat.

— Edit, edit, edit. For some of us, the recession has made this easy. We may only buy what we really love, instead of picking up every sweater in every new color. Being on a budget forces us to be more selective and choose wisely. Stick with a few of your favorite colors and build a "slower," gentler wardrobe. Less is more can be a good thing when it comes to developing a chic wardrobe.

— Use color strategically. This is one of my favorite tips that has worked for me for years.

In fact, I've almost developed a "uniform" around it. I call it my "column" dressing theory: wearing one color head to toe. I usually wear black, but any neutral would work. Then I add some special accent — a colorful cardigan sweater, an artsy jacket, a bold necklace or a ruffled scarf. Create a more casual look by wearing dark jeans; switch to black pants or a skirt for a more dressed-up occasion.

— Learn about proportion. This is another way to find your most flattering looks. My favorite tricks are easy to remember: long over short or short over long. These two tips seem to work most of the time, whether I'm wearing a knee-length jacket over a short skirt or a cropped jacket over a longer top. Now that designers are offering us so many ways to layer our clothes, proportion can play a major role in creating fresh looks in our wardrobes.

— Experiment with volume control. Here are a few more tricks with proportion: Get a head-to-toe slimming effect by using the tricks of illusion. Wear a fuller cowl-neck sweater on top with skinny, pegged ankle pants on the bottom; or belt a puffy fur vest and pair it with a narrow pencil skirt. Lengthen your legs with colored tights.

— Freshen up your basics. Buying a new wardrobe every season is so yesterday. But when you want to perk up your tried-and-true classics that you turn to every day, consider taking a new approach. Add a feminine touch to your menswear suit by layering a blouse in a loud print underneath your jacket, or add a sparkly metallic scarf or an eye-catching brooch.

— Don't give up trends entirely. You don't need to wear them head to toe, but sometimes a little fashion attitude is all you need — consider trying a new pair of shoe boots, a colorful clutch handbag, a ribbon necklace or a sequined tank top. Sometimes by adding just one new piece, you'll get all the boost you need to keep those fashion "tricks" rolled up in your stylish little sleeves.

Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters Association. To find out more about Sharon Mosley and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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