This Designer's Genius Styling Hacks Will Finally Make Your Closet Work For You

By Hannah Weil McKinley
Courtesy of Misha Nonoo

As the designer behind a collection meant for year-round, all-occasion dressing, Misha Nonoo's something of an authority on making your closet work for you and your life. We tapped the design guru for a few of her styling hacks. Put them into practice and you might just find you have an outfit for everything.

Knowing how to dress when the weather is transitioning between seasons is key, but even more important is knowing how to transition your outfits from one intention to the next. As modern women, our lives are not confined by a traditional 9-to-5 schedule. We're reinventing the definition of work-life balance and interweaving business and pleasure throughout our entire day. We're meeting Tinder dates on our lunch break and taking investor meetings from rooftop bars. Below are some tips and tricks to make your clothes work hard for you and complement your contemporary lifestyle. Use these hacks to spend less time thinking about what to wear and more time pursuing your goals and passions.

  1. Dress For the Life You Want: You've probably heard the phrase "dress for the job you want." I like to take that concept one step further. When you leave the house each morning, you never know who you'll run into or what opportunities await, so dress as if you're about to meet your future flame or business partner. This way you'll feel confident no matter what the day — or night — has in store.
  2. Learn to Layer: You choose to live a full life, but that usually doesn't leave much time to run home for an outfit change between events. Dressing in smart layers solves this problem. To look professional during your 9 a.m. presentation, style a neutral colored, wide-leg jumpsuit with a crisp collared shirt and relaxed blazer.

When you're meeting an old boyfriend for lunch and want to look pulled together but not too stuffy, simply lose the blazer.

Remove the collared shirt, swap your flats for heels, and add a pop of red to your lips before heading to your favorite charity's annual black-tie fundraiser.

  1. Plan to Be Spontaneous: This might seem like a contradiction, but if your outfit is versatile enough, it won't hold you back from being impulsive. For a busy day in the office, wear a long blazer over a black turtleneck with your go-to work skirt.

    Then, when the barista you've been flirting with for months finally gains the courage to ask you to his restaurant opening that same night, your clothing won't hold you back from saying "yes." Just slip off the skirt and button up the blazer to transform it into a dress. Voila, you're first-date ready.

  1. Swap Your Shoes: Always keep a change of kicks in your office. If you're embracing the comfort shoe trend like I am, you prefer to spend the majority of your time in a sneaker or flat. But, there's no denying that adding a heel instantly upgrades your look and typically raises your confidence. Storing a pump or block-heeled boot at your desk will ensure you're prepared when your boss calls you into an impromptu meeting or when your friends take you for a drink to celebrate a well-deserved promotion.

    2. *Note, the key here is choosing a pair of heels that fit properly and you can actually walk in.

  2. Double-Bag It: From makeup bags to protein bars, women usually carry an arsenal of supplies with them each day. We toss essentials and emergency items into an oversize tote and lug it to the office. Whilst I won't harp on the importance of editing down these must-have items — that's another story for another day — I will share one of my favorite tricks for easily transitioning your look from day to play. In your larger bag, add a medium-sized pouch that holds your credit card, ID, keys, cell phone, and lipstick. This accessory doubles as a wallet when you're running out to grab a quick afternoon coffee and as a clutch when you're meeting your man for a romantic dinner.