13 Styling Tricks Fashion Girls Live By

Fashion girls aren't above the basics; they just know how to rock them. T-shirts, skinny black pants, and a classic pump are all among stylish women's must haves.

In a fashion girl's closet, a sheath dress isn't just a sheath dress, it might also be a jumper. They look to transform staples like a great LBD into a fabulous day dress by adding a collared shirt or pretty blouse underneath. Just start experimenting with your layers; you never know what combinations you'll love.

Whoever said you couldn't wear stripes with polka dots had no idea just how cool they would look together. Fashion girls never play by rules like that, mixing up splashy prints with ease. If you're new to the print game, look for patterns that have a similar color scheme to start, then work your way up to bolder, brighter combinations.

Tucking in your shirt has become something of an art form, and naturally fashion girls are really, really good at it. The half-tuck has been embraced by bloggers and street style darlings for its effortlessly chic feel, and getting the tuck just right is sort of like styling 101 for them. Just tuck the front in and let the tail hang out for the right effect.

Tees are meant to be twisted, rolled, and knotted — and stylish girls are adept at working them all the right ways. Knotting them at the waist is an essential styling trick that helps define your figure and can help you repurpose a dress as a skirt. Simply add a button-down or t-shirt over your dress and knot it at the waist to create the illusion of a top and skirt. How's that for layering?

For waist definition or an added outfit perk, girls like Olivia Palermo know the value of belting it. A skinny one like hers lends polish to finish an ensemble, while a wider leather belt can define curves and slim the body.

Outerwear becomes infinitely more chic when it's draped nonchalantly over the shoulders, rather than worn with the arms through the sleeves. It's fashion, not function.

. . . just not all at once. You'll never see a really chic girl going full-throttle into this season's trends. Instead, fashion girls like Hanneli Mustaparta take on the season's must-have pieces, like overalls or statement shades, and mix them with no-fail favorites, like ankle-strap heels and a great tee, to give it their own spin.

It goes beyond dresses and jackets; fashion girls get creative with their layers. Try adding a tube top or crop top over a button-down or t-shirt, and watch the compliments roll in.

Sure, fashion girls are bold and brave when it comes to trends, but they're also pros at crafting their own personal style, and no one does it better than Emmanuelle Alt. Her pared-down, Parisian-chic aesthetic is her signature, and it gets her photographed as much as any blogger peacocking around the tents during Fashion Week. Sometimes, it's not about knowing every trend, it's just about knowing what works for you.

While boyfriend jeans are cool, fashion girls know they're even cooler when you juxtapose them with more sophisticated, dressed-up pieces, like heels and great jewels. It's the fashion girl's take on sexy, and it works every time.

It's a known fact in the fashion world that striped shirts go with everything. They're perennially chic and easy to style, calling to mind great Parisian fashion icons every time you do. What's more stylish than that?