How to Dress Cute

Co-authored by Joanne Gruber

Last Updated: January 13, 2023 References

When it comes to dressing cute, there's no one-size-fits-all formula—but there are some essential guidelines you can follow to ensure look great every day. If you're interested in choosing cute outfits and accessories that complement your body type, personality, and unique style, read on!

This article is based on an interview with our professional stylist, Joanne Gruber, owner of The Closet Stylist. Check out the full interview here.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Accessorizing Your Outfits

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Let your personality shine. A positive, unique, and genuine personality is always in vogue. While your clothing and accessories reflect your personality, your personality does not consist solely of these material items. Rather, your words, actions, opinions, experiences, and environment combine to form your identity. Discover and express your true self in a cute outfit that you can rock with confidence. ^{[1]
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Enhance your look with cute jewelry. The right jewelry can instantly elevate your look from drab to adorable. Invest in high-quality necklaces, earrings, bracelets that complement your wardrobe. Mix-and-match classic pieces with trendy jewelry to add pizzaz to your cute outfits.
- Wear a necklace to add interest to an open neckline.
- Stack bangles and bracelets on your wrists.
- Wear a fashionable watch instead of a cuff.
- Put on a pair of statement earrings and keep the rest of your jewelry to a minimum.^{[2]
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3
Complement your look with a cute purse. Your accessories are a representation of your taste, personality, and creativity. Invest in a variety of purses, such as totes, cross-body bags, clutches, and backpacks, that represent your individual aesthetic. ^{[3]
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Research source} When you pair a purse with an outfit, consider if it complements your look, is appropriate for the occasion, and is an extension of your personal style.
4
Complete your look with the perfect pair of shoes. Shoes are more than an accessory; they are a fashion statement. While you should consider your shoe choices carefully, don’t be afraid to elevate the cuteness of your outfit by taking a shoe risk. You may choose to select a pair of shoes that perfectly matches your outfit or opt to wear the wrong pair. For example, you could wear elegant black pumps with your little black dress or a trendy pair of fashion sneakers. ^{[4]
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- Consider adding a few additional accessories. Elevate your custom cute look with a few additional accessories.
- A fabulous pair of sunglasses complements every look.^{[5]
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- Add texture to your outfit with a scarf.
- Belts not only highlight your waist, but they can also add a pop of color to you look.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Dressing for Your Body Type

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Accentuate your hourglass figure. If you have an hourglass figure, your voluptuous curves contrast with your tiny waist. The key to dressing cute is to accumulate a wardrobe that highlights your figure, not hides it. Consider purchasing the following pieces to complement your curves:
- Belted jackets
- Crop tops
- Pencil Skirts
- Wrap dresses
- Wide-legged pants with a belted waist^{[6]
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Complement your apple shape. If you carry weight around the midsection and have a slim lower body, your body is apple shaped. The key to dressing cute is to wear clothing that emphasizes your slim legs and narrow shoulders, thus minimizing your midsections. Consider adding the following pieces to your wardrobe:
- Swing jackets
- Flowy peasant tops
- High-waisted circle skirts
- Shift dresses
- Low-waisted straight-legged pants^{[7]
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Accentuate your pear shape. If your body is pear shaped, the widest part of your figure is around your hips. The key to dressing cute and flattering your shape is to accentuate your torso in an effort to elongate and balance your figure. Consider adding the following essentials to your closest:
- Structured jackets
- Embellished tops
- A-line skirts
- Fit-and-flare dresses
- Boot-cut pants^{[8]
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Complement your banana shape. If you are banana shaped, you carry weight around your midsection while maintaining a slim lower and upper body. The key to flattering your figure and dressing cute is to don garments that create the illusion that your hips and bust are proportional to the rest of your body. This is accomplished by highlight the narrowest part of your waist. Consider filling your closet with the following pieces:
- Cropped jackets with a banded bottom
- Ruffled tops
- Mini skirts
- Dresses with side cut-outs
- Tapered pants^{[9]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Refining, Updating, and Rocking Your Wardrobe

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Purchase the basics. Wardrobe staples, such as the little black dress, are classic, timeless, and never go out of style.^{[10]
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Joanne Gruber
Professional Stylist
Expert Interview. 30 July 2019.} The basics provide you with a chic canvas on which to accessorize. You can dress them up or dress them down. As you accumulate your cute, basics wardrobe, consider purchasing the following items in styles that complement your figure:
- Little black dress
- White button-up shirt
- Pencil skirt
- Tailored trousers
- Shift dresses
- Jeans
- Trench Coat
- Cashmere sweaters
- Invest in high-quality basics.^{[11]
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2
Skip the trends. Trendy does not always translate into cute. Instead of attempting to keep up with the never-ending cycle of fashion trends, be selective when it comes to purchasing this season’s runway inspired looks.^{[12]
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Joanne Gruber
Professional Stylist
Expert Interview. 30 July 2019.} If a trend complements your figure, embrace it; if a trend highlights the parts of your body you wish to minimize, skip it. ^{[13]
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3
Assess your current clothes and new purchases. A well curated, versatile wardrobe of eclectic pieces, trendy clothes, and timeless garments will supply you with an endless combination of cute outfits. To amass such a collection, you must assess your current collection of clothing, selectively shop for new items, and splurge on occasion.
- As you plan ahead for the next season, take a moment to examine your closet. Remove the pieces you can omit from your collection.^{[14]
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  Joanne Gruber
  Professional Stylist
  Expert Interview. 30 July 2019.} Make a list of the pieces you need to replace and pieces that are missing from your wardrobe.
- Make a shopping plan and stick to it.
- Instead of making superfluous purchases, spend your money on high quality items that you can dress up, dress down, and easily incorporate into your wardrobe.^{[15]
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4
Wear your clothes with confidence. Your sense of style is a reflection of your personality, experiences, and opinions. Don't apologize for your look—be proud of your fashion choices and wear your clothes with confidence.^{[16]
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Joanne Gruber
Professional Stylist
Expert Interview. 30 July 2019.} When you combine hot trends with classic styles and colors that accentuate your features, you will always look cute. ^{[17]
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Community Q&A

Question

I am 12 and I'm picky with my clothes in the morning because I want to impress my boyfriend. What do I do?

Community Answer

Choose an outfit at night so you don't have to worry about it in the morning when you're trying to get out of the house. This way you have time to try on a few outfits if you want, and choose the one you like best. Wear something you're happy and comfortable in, don't worry about your boyfriend. I'm sure he will like you no matter what you're wearing.
Question

I want to wear something rocker-ish, but I also want to wear something baggy, which style should I wear?

Community Answer

Do both! Wear a band t-Shirt with jeans (preferably skinny jeans) or sweatpants with elastic bottoms at the ankle. For a rocker look, skinny jeans or pants are pretty much a must, depending on the group. But for the top, band shirts or black flowing tops are good too. A black sweatshirt can also be fine.
Question

How do I determine my body shape?

Ilovegoatsforever

Community Answer

Measure you breast, you waist, and your hips. Rectangle: they are all relatively the same measure. Hourglass: breasts and hips are noticeably wider than waist. Full hourglass: breasts and hips are slightly wider than waist. Triangle: upper body slopes down to be bigger at your hips. Inverted triangle: upper body slopes down to be thinner at your hips.