How to Continually Put Effort Into Your Appearance

Achieving the elusive effortless style can be confusing at times. Do you put in a lot of effort? Or do you put in no effort at all? Is effortless style truly effortless?

Don't worry, by the end of this post you will know the answer to that, and you will know exactly what it takes to achieve effortless style.

In this post we will be covering the following:

Is effortless style actually effortless?
Effortless jewellery
Effortless hair & makeup
Effortless clothes

If you would prefer to not read the whole post and watch my YouTube video instead, you can find that below.

Is effortless style actually effortless?

I often get told that my style is effortless, and when I hear someone say this to me, I think "wow that's really nice, but actually I've put a lot of effort into my style over the years, I wouldn't necessarily call it effortless."

What this person doesn't see is the time, learning and practice, that I have put in over the years to achieve this effortless outcome.

Effortless style takes time, experimentation and practice to achieve. The exciting thing is though, once you have put all this time and effort in and you have learnt what it takes to create an "effortless" outfit, the process now truly becomes effortless.

So how do we get ourselves to that final destination of effortless style? Well, firstly we take a big dose of patience, and then, we get to work. Like any sport, practice & routine will make it easier.

My Tips to Create Effortless Style

According to the thesaurus (AKA: my best friend), other words for effortless are:
– simple
– uncomplicated
– light
– un-troublesome
– no sweat!

These are the types of words we're going to tap into in the next part of the post.

Effortless Jewellery

For jewellery, I like to keep things simple, mostly dainty fine jewellery of good quality, so it doesn't tarnish and look cheap. I choose gold because I have a warm skin tone, but if you have a cooler skin tone, you might prefer to wear silver. I would test both out and then stick to one hardware, just to make it easier for yourself.

My favourite high quality, simply jewellery I am wearing at the moment is from Linjer. Linjer produce sustainable jewellery. Most of their gold and silver is recycled, and their gemstones are sourced responsibly.

I've purchased cheap, fast fashion jewellery in the past, and I've always regretted it. Spending a little bit more on good jewellery that won't tarnish after a few wears is far more sustainable than buying cheap jewellery that needs to be replaced often. Also, having a special, fine piece of jewellery and wearing that with pride on repeat, is a sure way to come across as effortless.

For 10% off Linjer, use code emilyelizabethmay10

Linjer jewellery is the epitome of effortless jewellery. It's simple, uncomplicated, and light. It's dainty and delicate. However, it is clear that much thought and effort go into their pieces. Pieces like this show that you care about your personal style, but you are not trying too hard, hence, effortless.

I do also like the occasional bold earring. However, if I am wearing a bold earring, I will usually never wear a necklace and I will also keep my hand jewellery to the very minimum. Less is more.

effortless style guide - Linjer — A few of my Linjer pieces. The pearl drop earrings are favourites of mine and I've hardly taken them off. For 10% off use code emilyelizabethmay10

Effortless Hair & Makeup

Of course, when it comes to hair and makeup, some effort is required to achieve the effortless look. However, it's good to keep those words in the back of your mind again, simple, uncomplicated, light, untroublesome, no sweat.

Once again, less is more.

For me, my simple less is more makeup starts with skincare. The aim is to achieve glowing hydrated skin before applying any makeup. Before makeup, I will apply a hydrating moisturiser and sunscreen. It's important to let each layer of skincare dry before applying the next. Your makeup will apply much better this way.

I add 1 drop of brightening oil to 1 pump of mineral foundation, mix together on my hand and apply to my face using my fingers. I follow with concealer, brush my brows, apply blush, powder my t-zone, curl my lashes & sometimes apply mascara.

For my hair, it depends on the season and if I'm having a good or bad hair day, but usually, I like to leave it as natural as possible for an effortless look. Sometimes I require a small amount of argan oil to tame the frizz, and sometimes I use the straightener to create delicate waves around my face. But I will always pull my fingers through these waves once they cool down, so they don't look so forced. I like to use dry shampoo for texture, this helps achieve the not-so-perfect look. The effortless look.

Obviously, hair styling will be very different for everyone, as hair types vary significantly, but try to work with what you have naturally been given to achieve that effortless look.

Effortless Clothes

The latest trends should not be what makes up your entire wardrobe. Finding things that you love to wear year after year, should be the types of items that make up your wardrobe if you're looking to achieve effortless style.

I am not going to tell you that if you buy an oversized white shirt you will look effortless. When it comes to clothing, it's not about the exact items you wear, it's about how you wear them. So let's go over a few tips to achieve effortless style in your clothes.

The 3 colour rule: Only use 3 colours in your entire outfit. I explain the 3 colour rule in more detail in this YouTube video, along with other useful tips to dress better.
Choose quality items. Quality items that don't look cheap, will make you look more effortless. Focus on buying fewer pieces, but quality pieces. Two things to look out for when buying quality clothes are fit and fabric. Avoid polyesters and invest in natural fibres. And ensure everything fits you well to achieve an effortless look. A quick trick to the tailor is always worth it!
Avoid too many brand names and logos. This is the opposite of effortless style. If you are someone who likes brand logos and names then I would stick to just one in an entire outfit, but personally I like to skip them all together to achieve a truly effortless style.
Know what colours suit you. Spend some time working out what colours look great on you and what colours don't do you justice. Avoid any colours that make you look sick, and wear colours that make you look alive! This helps to achieve an overall effortless look.
Choose a signature 'thing'. When I think of style icons with effortless style, there is something that they all have in common, and that is that they have their signature thing. Take Jeanne Damas, her signature things are her bangs and her lipstick. Over time you will be known for your signature piece which will make you look effortless. A signature thing can be as simple as a pendant necklace that you wear over and over.
Be true to yourself. If you're told that a trench coat looks effortless, but you've never really liked trench coats that much, then don't buy the trench coat. Anything that looks forced, will not come across as effortless. If you try to copy someone else's effortless style, and find that you are uncomfortable in those items, then you will not achieve the same effortless look that they did.

Effortless style is about being comfortable & confident in what you are wearing. So if I have said something in this post that has not resonated with you and your personal style, then don't try to adopt it. Be true to yourself.

If you want to continue your effortless style journey, I would suggest subscribing to my YouTube channel. You can also find me over on Instagram where I share more slow fashion outfitting ideas too.

Until next time,
x Em