A fashion expert has revealed the fashion faux-pas that can make any outfit look cheap and how you can elevate your wardrobe.
Natalia Denise said to avoid clothing with ‘frumpy’ elastic waistbands, exposed zippers can ‘cheapen’ an outfit and that skinny jeans, especially those with distressing, are a ‘big no-no’.
She shared some simple changes style lovers can make to look more expensive like opting for straight instead of skinny jeans, buttons over zips and structure over elastic.
The fashionista shares her hot takes in a series of TikTok videos which sparked a lively conversation among viewers and left many divided.
Natalia, from the US, said to steer away from ‘oversized and shapeless’ tops that have a long neckline and a lot of excess fabric.
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Style guru Natalia Denise (bottom left) has shared her fashion pet peeves saying exposed sips can instantly ‘cheapen’ an outfit so to instead opt for button details
Natalia said to steer away from ‘oversized and shapeless’ tops that have a long neckline and a lot of excess fabric (left) and go for cotton crew neck shirts (right) instead
‘Opt instead for t-shirts that have a higher crew neck, that have longer sleeves, that are made of pure cotton. You want them to still offer more structure even if you’re going for the oversized look,’ she recommended.
Next, she took aim at skinny jeans saying those that are ‘skin tight and stretchy’ are a ‘big no-no’.
‘They’re so unflattering and cheapen any outfit especially when you add this distressing. Opt instead for straight leg denim that will create the illusion of longer leaner lines,’ Natalia said.
‘You want to look for jeans that are made from pure cotton. You want the hem to end at the ankle. You still want them to be form fitting just not overly tight and no distressing.’
Next, she took aim at skinny jeans saying those that are ‘skin tight and stretchy’ (left) are a ‘big no-no’. She advised opting for straight leg denim made from pure cotton (right)
Natalia said to go for ‘classic silhouettes’ made from quality fabrics (right) and that fit perfectly over clothing with knotted, folded and scrunched features (left)
Natalia advised against clothing with knotted, folded and scrunched features.
‘Especially the tops that have that excess fabric at the bottom where you can tie a knot or a bow, that will cheapen any outfit,’ she said.
The style guru instead suggested ‘classic silhouettes’ made from quality fabrics and that fit perfectly.
‘That way you have the flexibility to wear them anyway you like them, you can tuck them, puff them or fold them and you’re not tied to any specific style,’ she added.
In a follow-up clip, Natalia predicted she would get ‘a lot of hate’ this take, but slammed dresses with elastic waistbands.
‘Especially the ones made out of cheap material with a lot of excess ruffling. It’s a way for brands to get away with not having to do precise sizing but it can easily look frumpy,’ she explained.
‘Instead you want to pick form-fitting dresses that have a lot of attention to detail and hug you in all the right places. When something fits properly, it just looks more expensive even if it isn’t.’
Natalia predicted she would get ‘a lot of hate’ this take, but slammed elastic waistbands: ‘Pick form-fitting dresses with attention to detail and hug you in all the right places’
She said to stay away from trousers with elastic waistbands and excess ruching or fabric (left). Alternately she suggested tailored pants that sits ‘perfectly at the waist’ (right)
Similarly, she said to stay away from trousers with elastic waistband and lots of excess ruching and fabric around the waist.
‘I know these are comfortable and they could work if you wear them with a longer top that covers the waistband,’ Natalia said.
‘Nothing will ever compare to a tailored pant that sits perfectly at your waist, has a zipper and a button, hugs you in the right places, creates long lean lines and just looks like it was just made for you body.’
Natalia’s final fashion pet peeve is garments with visible zippers she said are ‘the easiest way to make an outfit look cheap’.
‘It looks like it was an accident or done by mistake. I know they’re often times used as a design element but it’s not timeless and feels very juvenile,’ she said.
‘If you’re still looking for added detail buttons are a great alternative, they provide subtle accents and dimension but it doesn’t look like it was a mistake in the production line or like somebody sewed something on incorrectly.’
The two clips drew in a combined 3.4million views and sparked a debate in the comments as many disagreed with Natalia’s take on skinny jeans.
‘Disagree about the skinny jeans. They are way more flattering than the wide leg in these pictures,’ one viewer wrote.
‘Hmm it’s all in the eye of the beholder! Those women in skinny jeans look fantastic and not cheap at all,’ a second replied.
‘Not me watching this with my distressed skinny jeans with a pre-scrunched t-shirt,’ joked a third.
But hundreds sided with Natalia and were thankful for the savvy style advice.
‘This video is basically teaching us going into our thirties how to dress! Thank you!’ one viewer said.
‘I’ve never heard the elastic waistband thing and now can’t unsee it,’ a second commented and a third replied: ‘Strong agree on the elasticated waists. Hate them on all clothing and wish some of my fave brands would stop doing them!’
‘My mom has been right all this time,’ laughed one woman.
‘Thank you for offering a solution and not just focusing on the problem! I need more of these,’ someone else added.