If you have a new piece of clothing you've been dying to wear, consider anchoring your outfit around that one piece. If it's a nice shirt, find pants and shoes that complement that shirt. If your inspiration piece is a new dress, add a statement necklace to take the dress to the next level. You can also use shoes or an accessory as your base piece. If you have a cool new hat, you might want to choose a more subdued outfit so your hat can take center stage. Try the entire outfit on in front of a full-length mirror (including the shoes). Shoes can make or break an outfit, so it's important to see what the outfit looks like with all the pieces. If you're running late, you may not have the time to put together an entirely new outfit. Think back on outfits you've worn in the past and gotten compliments on. Save these outfits and wear them when you find yourself in a hurry or style rut. Take pictures of your standby outfits and save them on your phone. This will help you remember what you wore the last time you wore the outfit. To change the outfit up slightly, substitute new shoes and accessories. A color scheme should consist of two main colors, with the option to add in additional colors as accents. If you're dressing yourself in the fall, combine mustard yellow and gray. If you're planning an outfit in spring, try pairing two different pastel shades. Your color scheme should serve as a jumping off point. Don't feel like you have to restrict your entire outfit to only two colors. Instead of choosing a color scheme, choose a printed piece of clothing and track down clothing pieces that pair well with that print. If you constantly find yourself struggling to pick out an outfit in the morning, consider selecting your outfit the night before. You'll have more time, so you won't feel as stressed, plus, picking out a fun outfit to wear will give you something to look forward to in the morning. Try your outfit on in front of a mirror to make sure you like it and all the pieces work together. Make sure to check the weather before planning your outfit; there's nothing worse than picking out the right outfit for the wrong weather. Everyone is shaped differently and sometimes, if you don't like your outfit, it might be because of the way it fits. On days where you feel uncomfortable in your own skin, reach for pieces that you know show your body off to its fullest potential. If you have an hourglass figure, select a dress with a belt to show off your small waist. If you carry weight around your middle, try a high-waisted skirt to draw the eye to the smallest part of your torso. If you carry weight around your hips, wear boot cut jeans to make your lower half look more proportional. Make sure your figure enhancing pieces are comfortable. You're not going to reach for them if they're too tight or restricting. When all else fails, ask someone to weigh in on your outfit choice. Take pictures of one or two outfits you're considering and send them to someone you trust, like your best friend or mother. If you can't reach anyone and you need to make a decision quickly, you can also utilize apps like StyleIt to help plan your outfit. Invest in a full-length, tri-fold mirror. A mirror like this will allow you to see your outfit from all angles and will aid in the decision making process.

Summary: Build an outfit using one piece as inspiration. Have a several outfits on standby. Choose a color scheme. Plan your outfit the night before. Dress for your body type. Get a second opinion.

Once you've established yourself as a popular, fashion-conscious person, you may find yourself starting trends without realizing it. Just wear whatever you want and think looks nice. Your peers are likely to adopt aspects of your personal style to be more like you. If enough people follow suit, a new trend is born. One popular strategy among fashionistas is to be a contrarian. Look at whatever trends are hot in the mainstream and craft a look around something completely different. More people will notice your look and are more likely to think of you as a trendsetter instead of a follower. For example, if everyone is wearing baggy pants, try wearing skinny jeans. Or, if you notice many of your classmates with the same short pixie haircut, consider getting long hair extensions. Don't go too overboard. If dark colors and long pants seem on trend, don't start wearing bright yellow shorts in the middle of winter. Make sure to maximize visibility for whatever look you want to trend. If it's something simple and not too flashy, such as a dark pair of pants, you can wear it up to once a week. However, if it's more memorable, such as a bright patterned blouse, make sure to bring it out only about once every two weeks. Consider getting multiple versions of your item of choice that look different enough that people won't think you're constantly wearing the same thing. For example, if you want a certain style of shoe to catch on, buy pairs in multiple colors. That way, you can encourage the trend every day. Setting trends is a creative process. You will need quiet time to take in and process all of the information you absorb in a day. Getting too caught up in forcing yourself to come up with the next big thing may actually stifle your ability to do so. If you have a sizable following or friends list online, you can start trends without leaving your house. Start posting about or reblogging things related to whatever trend you want to start. Mention how much you and your friends love the potential trend. Think of it as a method of marketing where the product you're selling is something's popularity. Be sure to also keep posting your usual content to avoid losing followers.
Summary: Be yourself. Do the opposite of what's in style. Wear an item of clothing frequently if you want it to catch on. Take time to be creative. Use your own social media influence.