I’m Kayla. I’m 5'6", size 10/12, warm olive skin, short torso, long legs, narrow shoulders. I live in a rainy city, so layers matter. I care about clothes, but I like easy wins. And yeah, I tested a stack of looksmaxxing pieces to see what really made me look…well, sharper. Sharpman actually sent one of their writers on the same 30-day quest, and his candid takeaways on looksmaxxing clothes are a fun side-by-side read.
You know what? Some ideas were great. Some flopped hard. Here’s the truth, from my mirror to yours.
Wait, what do I mean by “looksmaxxing” clothes?
Not a magic trick. It’s just clothes that make your face and body look balanced:
- Good shape (top and bottom play nice)
- Good color (works with your skin)
- Clean lines (no stiff bunching, no weird pull)
Simple idea. Real work. Let me explain.
My quick fit baseline (so you can map it to you)
- Jeans: 30–31" waist, straight or wide-leg
- Tops: Medium/Large
- Blazers: 8/10
- Shoes: 8.5
- Face shape: oval; big cheeks when I smile
- Shoulders: narrow, so wide necklines can swallow me
I learned fast: shape beats trend. Every time. That mirrors the lesson in Sharpman’s brutal review of men’s flannel shirts—even a classic pattern fails if the cut is sloppy.
Wins I kept wearing on repeat
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Aritzia Effortless Pant (Short length, size 10)
These hang straight from the hip. I had the waist taken in 1". Cost me $18 at my local tailor. Now they skim my belly and make my legs look long. With a tucked tee, I got two “did you lose weight?” comments. I didn’t. -
Levi’s 501 ’90s, medium wash (30)
No whiskers, no harsh fading. They sit higher and don’t cling to my thighs. I did a light cuff to show some ankle with white sneakers. Clean and easy. Coffee date approved. -
Uniqlo U Crew Neck Tee (L)
The shoulder seam hits right at the bone, which makes my arms look slimmer. The dark olive color warmed up my skin without screaming “green!” -
J.Crew Regent Blazer, black (10, Regular)
It has shape at the waist. Not boxy. I wore it over a white tee and Everlane Way-High Trousers (10, 31" inseam). Looked like I actually tried. Boss said “sharp,” and he never says much. -
SKIMS Fits Everybody Bodysuit (M)
Smoothing, not suffocating. Under a ribbed skirt, it keeps lines flat. In summer though, it gets warm. I sweat. But for photos? It’s a win. -
Adidas Samba OG, white/black (8.5)
A little retro, low profile. They don’t cut my legs at the ankle the way chunkier shoes do. Paired with cropped pants? Chef’s kiss. -
Small, firm crossbody bag in tan (Madewell, old)
Sits high on the rib cage, so it doesn’t widen the hip. Also, hands free. I fidget less, which weirdly helps my posture.
Color rules that actually changed my face
I’m warm-toned. Black is fine, but cream, camel, rust, and olive bring my skin to life.
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Good: navy blazer + cream tee + gold hoops
My eyes looked brighter. My skin didn’t read dull. -
Bad: bright lemon sweater
Fun in theory. Made me look tired in photos. I kept rubbing my under eyes, thinking it was me. It was the color. -
Trick that works: one dark, one light
Cream top + dark pants. Or dark top + light pants. The contrast shapes your middle without a tight belt.
For authoritative insights on selecting colors that complement warm olive skin tones, I leaned on this Woman & Home guide and Vivaldi Color’s detailed breakdown. Both confirmed that earthy neutrals and saturated jewel tones beat pastels every time.
If you want to see color theory taken to the max, Sharpman’s breakdown of gay fashion for men shows how strategic hues can elevate any frame.
Shape games (the simple rule of thirds)
This rule saved me. Long bottom, short top. Or long top, slim bottom. Not both long. Not both oversized. Not for me.
- Cropped jacket + wide pants = longer legs
- Long blazer + straight jeans = lean line
- Oversize hoodie + cargo pants = marshmallow (on me, at least)
It’s the same proportion play that gives rockabilly style its magic—high waists, cropped jackets, long legs.
Tailor talk (the real hero)
I hemmed the Effortless Pants 1.25" for sneakers. $12.
I took in the waist on two trousers by 1". $18 each.
That tiny nip at the waist made my tops sit better. My mom noticed on FaceTime. Moms notice. Honestly, that small nip feels very French fashion—subtle, but everything hangs better.
Misses that looked cool on Instagram, not on me
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Big cargo pants with side pockets
The pockets sat on the widest part of my thigh. Guess what that did. -
Bodycon ribbed dress, midi length
Every line showed, even with the bodysuit. I kept tugging. Clothes you tug are never a keeper. -
Super chunky dad sneakers
Made my legs look shorter. Also, heavy to walk in. I’ll keep them for travel days and call it a day. -
Oversized hoodie + biker shorts
Looked comfy, sure. But I felt like a sleepy gym coach. Not the vibe.
All-black can read chic, but pile on too many heavy pieces and you tip into costume territory; Sharpman’s test drive of gothic fashion for men is a masterclass in dialing it back.
Little things that made a big difference
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Gold hoop earrings (small, 20 mm)
Warmth near the face. Simple. They “finish” a look. -
A leather belt with a small buckle
Defines the waist without shouting. -
Sunglasses with soft corners (Ray-Ban RB4171 Erika)
Round-ish frames play nice with my cheekbones. Classic wayfarers felt too harsh. -
Steamer over iron
Wrinkles kill a clean line. I use a tiny travel steamer. Takes two minutes. Worth it.
Rainy-day test and heat test
- Rain: Uniqlo Blocktech trench over a navy set. Doesn’t bulk up. Hood stays put. I felt put-together, not soggy.
- Heat: Linen blend pants from Abercrombie Sloane (10, Regular). Light, wide, breezy. Needs a half-tuck on the tee so I don’t look shapeless.
If you’re packing for a festival with desert days and chilly nights, their Coachella menswear road test has smart layering hacks that translate.
Work vs. weekend
- Work: Black trousers + cream tee + black blazer + pointed flats (VIVAIA Aria 5). I look sharp. Not “trying too hard.”
- Weekend: 501s + Uniqlo tee + Samba + tan crossbody. Grocery run to patio lunch without a change. Easy.
Need something dressier? Their candid recap of prom fashion for men is basically a crash course in formal fixes.
Budget swaps I tested
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H&M wide trousers (12)
Fabric is thinner. Needs nude underwear. But the hang is decent for the price. -
Zara cropped tweed jacket (L)
Great shape, short length. The buttons feel cheap, but it photographs rich. Go figure. -
Uniqlo Heattech scoop in winter
Thin, warm layer under blazers. No bunching. Makes winter looks sleek.
Before you impulse-buy, skim Sharpman’s weeklong experiment with men’s fashion icons for a cheat sheet on which signature pieces are worth copying.
Care and wear notes
- Aritzia pants