Hair

Hair is very important in an outfit.  It can turn an outfit from day to night in an instant.  If you have a chic black blazer, white tank, black skinny pants, and black patent platforms, with a down side ponytail, it looks pretty work/day.  But with the same outfit with a chic and easy up-do, it turns into night/club/party outfit.  Hair accessories are very important, too.  The afore mentioned outfit and first hair with a sleek black headband is day/work, but with a silver sequined stretch headband makes it night/party/club.

Accessories

You have a little black dress, and it's pretty boring, all you have to do to make it your own is add funky, girly, vintage, modern, or whatever you personal style is (if you don't know, check out my personal style blog) accessories.  So the dress is strapless, you should add a cool necklace and/or ring.  Or a bracelet and earrings.  If it is long sleeve, you should add either: necklace, ring, earrings, or a combination of two (not all three).  If it is halter, you should add a bracelet (or a couple), ring, earrings, or a combo of two.  If it is skinny straps, you should add a necklace, bracelet(s), ring, or bracelet, or combo.  Colors that would be good: everything EXCEPT black.  Unless it is black mixed with other colors, no black.  Purses: clutches are best for evening because if you have a strap, it isn't very evening.  Sequins, sparkles, crystals, etc. are good because they add something special to the outfit without jewelry, but you can add some if you please, just not too much.  Shoes: if you have a short dress, platforms are good, so are strappy heels, and chic boots are, too, but wedges/sandals/sneakers may not be the best for evening.  Tights or leggings are good if it is short.

How to Find the Right Shoe for the Right Dress

So here's the story: you find this GORGEOUS dress that's a weird color: magenta.   I mean, who carries a magenta shoe?   Well, all you have to do is: 1. If you have an iPhone or iTouch, all you have to do is download the Application called Stylish Girl.  You can search for shoes, clothes, jewelry, purses, hats, etc. Then type in: magenta shoes and voile! You have your magenta shoe options; and all you have to do is click buy and you can buy it right then and there.  If you do not have an iPhone or iTouch, all you have to do is go online and you're looking for those magenta shoes, you can go onto Smartbargains.com and look for designer deals.  Or you can go into your local department store and ask a consultant or sales person if they carry magenta shoes, and if they don't, just pick a different color to go with that magenta dress.  Maybe nude, black, brown, white, silver, gold, etc.  A.K.A., neutral colors that go with everything!  And if not, get a new dress.  

Personal Style

The first place to start when styling yourself is figuring out your personal style.  Personal style is the one of a kind style that only YOU have.  For example, Rihanna has a very modern and creative.  Sarah Jessica Parker has a style that is all her own, she has a kooky and fun style with a touch of sophistication.  Me, I like to dress fun, edgy, different, unique, and most importantly, ME.  I don't like to follow trends, I don't wear skinny jeans, plaid, leather jackets, high waisted skirt dresses, etc.  I like to cut up shirts, dresses, skirts, and jackets that don't fit me anymore.  I love to sew on appliqués and iron-on patches.  Also, hair, makeup, and jewelery are very important in personal style.  For example, you know you're watching either the Hills or the City when you see girls with long straight and wavy hair with a twist or braid off to the side of their head.  Personally, I wear crazy headbands; such as one with black feathers sticking up, one with a black beaded and sequined flower pinned to it, and many more.  Makeup is also important, Dita Von Teese rocks bright red lips, pale skin, black cat eye eyeliner, light rosy cheeks, and a faux mole under her left eye.  While Lady Gaga wears tan skin with light pink glossy lips, and some crazy decal of some sort.  Jewelery is another story, though.  I like to wear costume jewelry with some nice pieces.  Hilary Duff likes to wear jewelry that matches.  While, Paris Hilton wears diamonds galore.  Shoes and purses are another story, though.  I like to wear high heels with simple shapes, designs, and patterns.  Peep toes, closed toes, and sandal-style are the kind I like to wear.  Gwen Stefani likes to wear simple shoes like black patent leather closed toes heels or platforms.  Although Anne Hathaway likes a more statement shoe that isn't something that everyone would pick.  Purses that I like are clutches that have some sparkles, hobos with fun prints, and backpacks with crazy patterns.  While, Victoria Beckham likes to have a nice rectangle shaped leather purse in various colors.  Jessica Simpson likes to carry large hobo bags with snake skin prints on them.  So, whether you like to be trendy or unique, crazy or classic, everyone has their own personal style, so before just putting something on, find out what yours is.