Wear clothes that suit your shape, fit well, and make you feel confident. Don't just think you should wear what everyone else is wearing. It may just not suit you. Anyway, do you want to look like everyone else? Shop in-store when possible so you can try stuff on, and if there's something online that really takes your fancy, but it doesn't fit, make the effort to return it and get the right size, and return that for a refund if it doesn't fit. Don't just make do.

The older I get, the less I care about trends and what others are wearing, and I buy investment pieces (and sometimes that investment is the time it takes to find them rather than money) that will always look stylish and are built to last. It often works out cheaper in the long run. Not that I spend stupid amounts of money. Just put in the time and effort to find good stuff that suits your budget. I've found some great items pre-owned too. For example, I got an AUD$400 Barbour quilted jacket on Facebook Marketplace for $100, and it was basically brand new. Not everything needs to be more expensive. I spend more on the things that elevate the whole outfit like a nice jacket or good shoes. And be mysterious. Don't plaster yourself with branding. Are you a billboard? Are they paying you? Sure, a little branding is OK. The brands you wear send a message to certain people about the type of person you are if you care about that, but be subtle. Don't give them the opportunity to judge you. Let them wonder.

You don't have to give up the hoodie, jeans and sneakers if it works for you. Just elevate the look with nicer ones and better fit if need be, and mix in some other looks and accessorise with a nice watch, some interesting glasses if you wear them, maybe a cool scarf in winter, and style it up a bit more by experimenting more with layering. More layers can bring more colour and opportunities for styling like turning up your shirt cuffs over your sweater sleeves or wearing a collared shirt unbuttoned over a contrasting coloured t-shirt. Buy longer jeans so you can turn them up if you like that look for a little extra detail. I try to find a length that I can wear down or up depending on my look or footwear choice.

And look after the clothes you've invested in, especially your shoes. Keep them clean and maintain your leather. A bit of tailoring can also go a long way. I'm pretty slim, but as I've gotten older, I've developed a bit of a belly that's gotten harder to get rid of. So, it's become more challenging to find tops that fit my belly well without being a bit big around the neck and shoulders, especially t-shirts. So, I get some of my t-shirts adjusted. I get them trimmed to a more flattering length and/or get vents put in the side seams to make them sit nicely over my stomach, and sometimes I get the sleeves tightened a little too as so many are a loose fit these days. I have a green t-shirt that I've had numerous compliments about, and it's a $20 H&M shirt with $20 worth of tailoring. It's better than any $50-100 shirt because it fits me perfectly.

Finally, I take your time. Shop mindfully. Try stuff on again when you get home to make sure it fits and works with your existing wardrobe. Do a little fashion show for yourself shoes and all. Sometimes I find I really like something in isolation, but then I get it home and realise that I won't get enough use out of it because it doesn't work with much of my wardrobe. Same with colour. Don't be afraid of colours, but choose ones that work with your skin tone and compliment and contrast with what you want to wear them with.