Top 10 Rules from TLC's What Not to Wear

TLC's What Not to Wear has been helping women look their best since 2003, and I have been paying attention to it since season one. Even though every nominee has a different body shape, personality, and overall purpose behind her wardrobe, the rules remain the same for everyone. Stacey and Clinton repeatedly dish out the same suggestions to all of the people they help. They just present it in a different way. Here are nine seasons of What Not to Wear rules condensed to 10 simple points.
1 – Add Something Interesting (Color, Texture, Pattern, Shine)
Every outfit needs at least one interesting element to make people pay attention to it. Color, pattern, texture, and shine are all great tools to jazz up an otherwise boring wardrobe. Pair a printed bag with a solid colored dress, and you have an instant outfit people will want to look at.
2 – Dress the Widest Part of Your Body
You can always tailor something to hug closer to the body, but you usually can't expand it. Thus you need to dress your butt, boobs, or belly so that your clothing fits the right part of you. Don't be scared by the sizes. The fit is more important than the number.
3 – Emphasize the Good, Not Hide the Bad
If you draw attention to your favorite body features, the bad ones will naturally fade into the background. You might want to show off the gorgeous girls you have up top, and that will eliminate the pooch below you're worried about. Try to define your waste, and let the fabric flow out from there. You'd be amazed what a little camouflage can do.
4 – Pick Colors That "Go," Not Match
You can pair a teal show with a black, white, and purple dress if the shades look right together. You need to pull colors that have the same general tone, but they don't need to be the same exact color. A little accent could be all you need to jazz an outfit up.
5 – Dress Your Current Body, Not the One You Want to Have
Quit focusing on the weight you want to lose. It may never happen. For now, you need to work with what you've got. If you get clothes that really fit your body, you may not be so self-conscious about it. Your attire could be a real confidence booster.
6 – Find Versatile Pieces to Mix and Match
Try to get pieces that will work for all areas of your life. You could turn a simple dress from office wear to date night attire just by changing the accessories. It's all a matter of getting the right jackets, pants, and other elements to turn your "clothes" into an actual wardrobe.
7 – Show Your Personality with Accessories
You can make basic pieces look spectacular by using the right accessories. Sometimes your clothing is going to be nothing more than a blank canvas, so you have to use shoes, jewelry, bags, and belts to make that clothing into a signature look for you.
8 – Dress to Fit Your Life
Make sure you dress for your age and general activity levels. Don't wear six inch pumps if you spend most of the day running around with the kids. Don't get a Hello Kitty sweater if you're over the age of 12. Find ways to make your clothing complement your life, and you'll be much better off in the end.
9 – Comfort Does Not Mean Frumpy
You can be comfortable without looking like a slob. Replace your husband's oversized beer shirts with cute summer dresses, and you can still feel free without looking frumpy. People are looking at you all the time, even when you want to fade in the background. You might as well give them something to really look at.
10 – Take Time for You…Just You
You can't be afraid to be a little selfish every once and a while. Use shopping as a way to reward yourself for being such a hard worker, and you'll feel happy enough to continue the work in the future.