Glancing at photos of runway models, passing a trendy girl on the street or even just trying on clothes at the mall, most women have shared the same thought at one point or another: “I could never pull that off.”

That phrase is a sentiment that surrounds us all the time — we’re taught that some clothes look good only on certain body types, face shapes or even personalities. Friends with the best intentions might say that a skirt is too preppy for you, or that a jacket is too edgy.

Worst of all, some people think certain clothes are too trendy for them, and that they aren’t stylish enough to wear them. I am officially denying that claim. Anyone can try out the latest trends, no matter how crazy those styles may be. Fashion is not limited to a certain personality.

When we look at images of street-style stars or fashionable celebrities, half of the appeal is the styling — the way they wear it, the matching accessories and the hair and makeup. While some people have great instincts when it comes to dressing, the ones who struggle can learn styling tricks to pull off any outfit. The best way to style a look depends on the trend.

Say you want to try flare jeans and work the ‘70s trend that is seen all over the runways. Skinny jeans might be easier to wear, but that doesn’t mean you can’t pull off a new look. Shirt-tucking tricks make a huge difference to the outfit. Whereas skinnies look better with a chunky top that is half-tucked or not tucked, flare jeans look great with a fully front-tucked lightweight top. The full front tuck shows off the waistband of the flares, and makes its silhouette balanced from top to bottom.

There are also times that you may love a trend, but feel unsure of how to pull it off in a certain setting. If you’re always wearing your black suede over-the-knee boots for going out to the bar but want to try them for class, a change in styling is all you need.

Since the boots may have a sexier connotation, play them down with the opposite styles of tops — covered up, heavyweight, solid styles. Avoid V-necks and anything sheer or cropped. Hair and makeup play a huge part in dressing down an item as well. Go light on the makeup, and throw your hair into a topknot bun or another style that reads, “fashionable but serious.”

Maybe you have mastered basic trends and want to try something really out there. I’ll use the high-fashion trend of “pajama dressing” as an example. Most people who look at the models strutting down the runway in silk button-up pajama shirts and matching bottoms would not dream of wearing the look out of bed.

But fashion is meant to be fun, so if you want to try it, why not? Just pay attention to your styling. Every accessory — jacket, shoes, jewelry, bag — needs to be fashion-forward so that the look is purposeful. Use layers to create a look that is more than just the top and bottom. Plenty of simple, layered jewelry creates a dynamic look that is chic without overpowering the rest of the outfit.

The most important element in pulling off any look is confidence. Look like you know what you’re doing, and people will believe you. If you’re walking to class with the same demeanor wearing a bold new style as you have wearing leggings and a T-shirt, no one will question it. In fact, they’re probably only thinking one thing: “I wish I could pull that off like her.”

Jackie Homan is a sophomore magazine journalism major. Her column appears weekly in Pulp. You can email her at jahoman@syr.edu or follow her @jackie_homan on Twitter.

Published on February 1, 2016 at 9:48 pm