These 14 Things Will Instantly Elevate Your Most Boring Outfits
by The Candidly Team
I have this experience when getting dressed. I’m curious if anyone else relates, because it happens to me pretty much every time regardless of the occasion.
Even on those rare, shiny days when I’ve picked out my most flattering pieces, followed a foolproof outfit template, and tossed in one of my most precious, splurgy items, I look in the mirror, and the result is just kind of…“meh.”
And I don’t mean self-hating “meh” or chronically dissatisfied “meh.” I mean something is clearly missing that would make the whole thing “sing” (for lack of a better/ more palatable word).
Even though we’re “cozy people” who prefer timeless things to trends, we still LOVE clothes and don’t want them to be a snooze. But we also get bored and busy, so if we’re gonna spice things up, we want it to be in low maintenance, throw-on-and-go ways that leave us feeling thoroughly unbothered but looking impossibly chic.
With that criteria in mind, we sourced 15 pieces that are guaranteed to instantly elevate our looks. Each of these gems alone can liven up the things we we love to wear, and…fine we’ll admit it, spark actual “joy.”
1. A More Interesting Pair Of Jeans
Everlane The Way-High® Sailor Jean
A stretchy, smoothing, supremely flattering pair of jeans that fits like a wide leg pant? An absolute no-brainer way to make our denim looks a wee bit more chic and original. This pair is one of our favorite things from Everlane...and maaaybe our favorite pair of jeans we own, period. Plus, they feel like a dream on our bellies, butt, and hips.
Price: $128
2. A Wash Of Color On Our Lids
A flush of color accentuating our eyes has a pretty splendid and immediate way of making us look put together. And we don’t say that lightly, because we are exceedingly picky about eye shadow. But this one is special. It’s creamy so no cakey, creasy mess. It’s soft - the prettiest blur of warmth, and it blessedly does NOT smudge. You can hear us carry on about why it’s essentially the only eyeshadow we’re willing to use HERE.
Price: $24
3. A Classic Leather Jacket
Quince 100% Washed Leather Biker Jacket
There’s yet to be something that up-levels an outfit as effortlessly as a well-fitting leather jacket. We love this one from Quince, because we’ve, quite frankly, never encountered this kind of impeccable quality for this price!
Price: $170
4. A Chic, Lightweight Layering Piece
There are quite a few ways to go with a pretty, oversized button-down, (including this incredibly cute cropped style you can see on our Editor-in-Chief here). It’s one of a very small number of items that works on its own to make us look instantly understated and put-together but can also be a crucial layering piece. In one breezy step, it makes whatever we’re wearing beneath it into an actual outfit. We chose this one because the boxy, oversized fit is bliss to wear. Plus, the stripes are “chef’s kiss.”
Price: $88
5. A White Chelsea Boot
We never even considered a white boot a thing until we duped this iconic and dreamy cream-colored wardrobe from The Watcher. And we honestly don’t know why, because it’s easily been one the most effective ways to make our outfits more enticing, while remaining in the realm of all that is classic and chic.
Price: $129
6. An Oversized Cashmere Cardigan
Quince Mongolian Cashmere Oversized Boyfriend Cardigan Sweater
No matter what lengths we go to to pick out perfect, tailored outerwear, a heavenly sweater is what we realistically end up turning to time and time again. We’ve even written entire articles about this phenomenon. But ultimately, there is nothing chicer than an oversized 100% cashmere sweater gracefully draping from our shoulders. Preferably in a color we die for and also at a price that blows our mind.
Price: $140
7. A Layered Necklace
We adore delicate gold jewelry, but adding one little layer to the mix makes whatever we’re wearing much more interesting. This necklace with a soft, scoop-neck tee or a deep-v button-down suddenly makes us look “styled.” And because it’s already connected, we don’t need to fuss over tangling chains and odd lengths. Just put it on and it sits perfectly all day.
Price: $118
8. A Thing You Tie Onto Everything
OK, so before you accuse us of being your high-tea attending grandmother who puts on lipstick to go the dry cleaner, hear us out. The hey-day of the silk scarf has not come to a close. It is still one of the most carefree ways to transform a bad hair day, elevate a handbag, and chicly decorate our décolletage. See? Just talking about it makes us use flowery, romantic words. Of course, it needs to be the right print. And you will not believe the gorgeous ones Lost Pattern is creating Just look! We want every single one.
Price: $48-$119
9. A Chic Mary Jane Flat
Madewell The Greta Ballet Flat
We prefer these to heels, because they have all the grace, all the chicness, and all the fanciness without an ounce of the foot pain. We’re wearing this shoe to dress up all of our jeans, pants, skirts, and dresses…so yes, everything.
Price: $110
10. A Hoop That Isn’t A Complete Snooze
We love when dressing more “interesting” means putting a little spin on something classic. A pretty chainlink hoop has the benefit of not being too loud or crossing over into costume, and yet, we never stop getting compliments when we wear them.
Price: $58
11. A Gloriously Cocooning Scarf
Splendid x Cella Jane Cashblend Scarf
We love this cashblend scarf so much we hardly shut up about it. It’s one of a very short list of winter essentials that transform our clothes into actual “looks.” We look 90% more put together every time we wear it, and we’re 90% cozier. So win-win.
Price: $78
11. A Distinct, Take-Everywhere Tote
Sometimes, the easiest way to elevate your entire look is to grab a bag on your way out the door. We love that this chic as all-heavens, NON-BLACK, soft leather tote carries all our-crap whilst making us look original, nuanced, basically like we’ve mastered the art of getting dressed. And the price is bananas!
Price: $189
13. A Divinely Glam Pair Of Sunglasses
14. A Hat That Actually Looks Good On Everyone
We get that this is a bit on the pricier side, but no one is making a more gorgeous, wearable, looks-great-on-everyone hat than Gigi Pip. Splurge once and wear it forever. Your crazy-making hair days will thank you.
Price: $146
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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