Fashion should elevate your look and mood, but it can do the opposite if you wear the wrong piece, ignore fit, or attempt tricky and dated trends. These fashion items are total confidence killers, so steer clear and follow this style advice instead.
1. Maximalist Bling
Over-accessorizing can quickly transform you from chic to chaotic. When you wear too many statement pieces or pile on the jewelry, it feels more like a costume than an outfit, which can seriously undermine your confidence.
Fashion Fix: Stick with one bold accessory. If you wear a statement necklace, skip the oversized earrings. And if you’re rocking a bold bag, keep the rest of your look subtle.
2. Low Rise Jeans
Every wardrobe needs the perfect pair of denim, but nothing will kill your style vibe faster than a pair that hangs or pinches in all the wrong. Hello, 2000s low-rise jeans. Whether too tight, baggy, or low, bad jeans make you feel uncomfortable and look sloppy.
3. Killer Heels
We love to rock a killer pair of heels, but it’s not worth it if you’re wincing with every step. Painful shoes, whether too high, tight, or clunky, turn your confident strut into a hobble—and nothing will kill your mood or your evening faster.
Fashion Fix: Look for shoes that give you height without sacrificing support, like block heels or platform sneakers.
4. Sheer Tops
There’s a fine line between sexy and too much. Wearing something that requires constant adjustment, pulling up, or covering up will make you feel self-conscious all night. Confidence comes from owning your look and not worrying about wardrobe malfunctions.
Fashion Fix: Choose outfits that make you feel sexy and secure. Highlight one feature—like legs or cleavage—while keeping the rest balanced.
5. Oversized Everything
Baggy can be chic, but oversized everything will make you look like you’ve given up. Drowning in excess fabric can make you look shapeless or bigger. There are some rules to follow when pulling off the oversized look.
Fashion Fix: Pair oversized pieces with something fitted. If you wear a slouchy sweater, balance it with skinny jeans or a more tailored bottom, and vice versa.
6. Wrinkled Clothes
Even the most stylish outfit can turn into a mess if it’s wrinkled or stained. Wrinkles also give the impression that you either don’t care or are too broke to own an iron.
Fashion Fix: Keep a steamer handy and refresh your clothes before leaving the house. You’ll instantly feel sharper and more put-together.
7. Outdated Trends
We’ve all held onto a trend a little longer than we should have—hello embellished jeans, big shoulder pads, chunky sneakers, and too much animal print. But clinging to dated looks can make you feel out of sync with what’s current, leaving you feeling out of place rather than on point.
Fashion Fix: Stay true to your style, but update it with a few new season trends. It’s better to create a wardrobe of classics and dip into affordable on-trend pieces.
8. Cheap Synthetic Fabrics
Cheap, synthetic fabrics have a way of looking great in the store but falling apart—or worse, feeling like plastic—after a few wears. They don’t breathe, they cling in weird ways, and they often look, well, cheap. This can leave you feeling less than luxurious.
Fashion Fix: Invest in quality fabrics like cotton, silk, or wool. They last longer, feel better, and elevate even the simplest outfit.
9. Skin-Tight Tops
Nothing crushes confidence faster than a too-tight top. Whether it cuts into your arms, rides up, or showcases every lump and bump, it can make you feel like you’re suffocating.
Fashion Fix: Opt for tops that skim your figure rather than cling to it—a chic button-down is a fashion classic that will never date. Breathable fabrics with a bit of stretch give all-day comfort.
10. In Your Face Logos
You might love your designer pieces, but wearing clothes with huge logos splashed across them can come off as trying too hard. It’s easy to feel less authentic when your outfit is more about the brand than about your style.
Fashion Fix: Choose subtle branding or avoid logos altogether. Let your personality and styling skills speak louder than the label.
11. Clashing Colors
Color can make or break an outfit. If you’re wearing shades that don’t work together—or worse, don’t work with your skin tone—you’ll feel like you’re fighting your outfit all day.
Fashion Fix: Stick to colors that complement each other and flatter your complexion. If you’re not sure, neutrals are always a safe bet.
12. Worn-Out Basics
Basics are the backbone of any wardrobe, but it’s a total confidence killer when they start to fade, stretch out, or develop holes. Wearing an old, beat-up t-shirt out can leave you feeling like you’re slumming it.
Fashion Fix: Regularly refresh your basics. A crisp white tee or a fresh pair of jeans will make you feel infinitely better.
13. Tricky Pieces
Nothing kills confidence like wearing something just because it’s trendy but doesn’t feel right for you. Some culprits include harem-style pants, peplum tops, and pajama dressing. If you’re not comfortable in your outfit, it will show, and no amount of styling can fix that.
Fashion Fix: Always stay true to your style. Don’t wear something just because it’s “in” if it doesn’t make you feel like your best self.
14. Matchy Matchy Pieces
Trying too hard to mix and match everything in your closet can confuse and overwhelm you (and your look). Overcomplicating an outfit makes you feel like you’re trying too hard, which is the opposite of confidence.
Fashion Fix: Simplify. Pick one statement piece and build your outfit around it. Clean, effortless looks often speak louder than anything too overdone.