Staple or timeless clothing will give you more wiggle room to mix and match outfits. It will also allow you grow and evolve your style over time without having to continuously purge your wardrobe. It is good to have a mix of solid-colored dress shirts, sweaters, and T-shirts. Simply styled tops can be easily paired with bold skirts or leggings year-round. Additionally, a neutrally-colored cardigan can tone down printed blouses, or dress up simple T-shirts. Have a variety of dark and light-washed jeans, and neutral-colored leggings, skirts, and dresses. Black leggings or dark jeans can be paired with just about any color or printed top, and are versatile enough to be worn during the day at school, or at night when you hang out with your friends. Contrasting your staple pieces with bold clothing items is what will turn your everyday outfit into a personal style. Think about colors, patterns, or fabrics that you really like, and incorporate those preferences. If you are really into music, you can pair those plain black leggings with a graphic T-shirt of your favorite band, or an oversized sweater that is embroidered with music notes. If you are an aspiring actor with a bold personality, layer a long, multi-colored cardigan or a checkered blazer over a plain T-shirt and dark-wash jeans. The unconventional patterns will complement your fun and spirited personality. You want at least two jacket or coat options of varying thickness and materials in your wardrobe. Pick one coat that is of a thick material and lined for the winter months, and one that is lightweight for the chilly fall and early spring months. For your winter coat, gravitate towards neutral colors or shades like a navy blue or a solid black that will be easily paired with any outfit you wear. For the lightweight jacket, branch out and pick a color that is missing from your overall wardrobe, and use it as a pop of color for your outfits. For example, throw on a deep purple jacket or a patterned jacket. Pair the jacket with black leggings and a sweater dress. Any shoes you buy need to be comfortable, and practical for your everyday routine. Try and stay away from purchasing heels or platforms as your everyday shoe, and opt for unique sandals, sneakers, and flats that embody your new style. Pair your beaded sandals or colored flats with a solid-colored dress to make the shoes the focal point of the outfit. Lace up your embroidered sneakers, and pair them with dark wash jeans and a T-shirt for a quick outfit that has a pop of color. Accessories are not just simple jewelry pieces or hats. Accessories can be different colors, textures, and statements that bring your outfit and personal style to life. If you find that you weren't all that daring when you went shopping for clothes, use simple accessories to showcase your personality instead. Think about getting different scarves or hats to dress up your outfits in the fall and winter. Look for jewelry that goes beyond the standard silver and gold aesthetic. Find woven or beaded necklaces, rings carved from wood that are hand painted, or even a simple pendant or brooch that incorporates your hobbies or inspiring quotes. At the end of the day, you will be wearing the clothes, not the girl that sits next to you in class. Make sure that you are comfortable and confident when wearing your new style. Even if your style greatly differs from what others wear at school, the confidence you show will instead make you a trendsetter. As time passes and you grow older, continue to play with your style and alter it to fit whatever point you are at in life. The clothing you wear today should represent who you are now, and not who you were 5 years ago. As you get older, you might want to gravitate away from graphic T-shirts with whimsical prints, and wear blouses with fun patterns of music notes or giraffes instead. When you transition into the workplace, instead of grabbing your black leggings and pairing it with a colored button-up shirt, tuck your shirt into a sleek pair of black dress pants.

Summary: Build each outfit around a single, staple garment. Add a statement piece to make your outfit more interesting. Invest in a neutral-colored coat and brightly-colored jacket. Wear shoes that are sensible, but full of personality. Add accessories to put a personal stamp on any outfit. Have confidence in the style you created. Continue experimenting with your style.

to your desired length. To start, simply do a routine trimming. Take your shears and trim your beard like you normally would, snipping the ends so the beard is the rough length you want.

Summary: Trim your beard

Chat about your hobbies or ask what she has gotten up to over the weekend. She may immediately volunteer some information about whether she is single or not. She will most likely tell you if she has plans with her significant other. This is more casual than a formal date but still may be viewed as one. If she hesitates, it may be because she is not single. Better yet, she may say yes because she is single and views it as a date. Make sure you know whether she thinks that it is a date or just something between friends. You can casually ask her, "is this cool with your boyfriend?" She may laugh if she's single or appreciate how respectful and considerate you are but either way, it can put you in her good graces. While she may recoil, breaking the touch barrier establishes a connection and certain dynamic. She may naturally be flirty or very self-conscious, in any scenario apologize if she recoils. She may tell you exactly why she is not comfortable, which may include that she is not single. Touching lets her know that you want to get close to her. Touch her casually after a joke or after complimenting her hair or outfit. You may touch her lower back if escorting her through a door or elevator. You may also read over her shoulder if she is classmate or coworker. While this may seem innocent, subconsciously she will know that you're trying to get closer to her. If you are in a social setting and she has her arms crossed and does not maintain eye contact, she may not be interested in having a conversation with you. In contrast, if she is touching your arm or leg during the conversation, it is a good sign that she is engaged in the conversation. " If she seems overly talkative, you may be able to surmise that she is open, friendly, and that she has a busy schedule because she is single. For example, if she never mentions a boyfriend but tells you that she goes to yoga every day, takes French lessons, and she is still looking for more activities, there is a good chance that she is single. If you are obviously probing, she may be turned off and not be forthcoming. Say something similar to, "I was just wondering," and ask if you could take her out or even just get her number if you just met. If you are going to be direct and straightforward, make sure that you have established a rapport. She might find it offputting if you ask her without getting to know her at all.

Summary: Keep conversations casual. Ask her for coffee or lunch. Break the touch barrier. Read her body language. Ask yourself "how much is she telling me? Be casual and polite.

If you want your bruise to look real, you've got to pick a good spot for it. Some places don't actually bruise that much, so you've got to pick a good fleshy place on your body, or a place where you might be injured. The best places for fake bruises are usually: Your forearm. Anywhere on your leg. Your forehead. Your chest or shoulder. Don't put a fake bruise near or around your eyes. Real looking bruise in place? Check. Unsuspecting friend in sight? Check. Wait for a good moment, when you're both doing something physical or playing in some way, then fake an injury. Wait until your friend comes close and then grab the area with the fake bruise suddenly and start hollering. Really play it up. Pretend that you're in pain and look angry. It's a good way to build some sympathy or freak out the victim of your prank. If you don't want to go through all the acting trouble, you could always just whip out your bruise and say something like: "You should see the other person." "I got this working on an oil rig." "I fell off my dad's motorcycle."
Summary: Pick a good spot. Fake an injury.