When people find out that I’m a fashion designer, aside from the cliche assumption that I design and make my clothes (which I don’t!), they usually presume that I have a particular clothing style and that I spend a lot of money when I shop for clothes. In reality, neither of these misconceptions is true. I don’t have a defined fashion style. The way I dress depends greatly on occasion, location, season, current trends, time of the day, and my mood. Many times, I’ll actually use fashion styling to get myself in a certain mood. When I’m asked for styling advice, I’ll reply with “How do you want to feel?” I think fashion and styling posses a power that can make you feel a certain way. In this article, I’ll share a few “Designer Tips” on fashion styling. I’ll start with some very important fashion advice- how to shop for clothes.

Since my outfits usually turn a few heads, people assume they are really expensive- yet another false impression. Not to say that I won’t occasionally splurge on something expensive; I just appreciate a good bargain when I see one. The only time I’ll overpay for an item is when I LOVE it and I know I won’t be able to find it anywhere else. Like the Diesel jacket I bought for $165. It was exactly what I was looking for and I knew that no one else would make something even remotely similar. Casual, but chic; sporty, but girly – I knew it would last for a few seasons. That’s actually one of my fashion shopping rules: if I pay more than $150 for something, it has to last for a few seasons. If I’m shopping for something very trendy that will probably be “in” for only one season, I won’t spend more than $100, better yet, no more than $50.

So how do I manage to look expensive? Designer tip number one is good fit. If something doesn’t fit right, no matter how cheap it is – I won’t buy it. Why would I wear something that pulls and gathers in the wrong places and looks awkward on me? It doesn’t matter how much salespeople try to “help”, and say it’s not noticeable. I notice, and others will too. They might not be able to pinpoint exactly what bothers them, but they’ll notice something’s off. The same concept goes for details and accents – many people think they don’t notice little details, but they do. Some details may not stand out on their own, but they definitely contribute to overall appearance.

Once I went on a blind date wearing a plain black jersey skirt slightly below the knee that I bought for $20. I paired it with a black tank that had a touch of lace ($15), and killer looking shoes. They were pointy high heels in faded metallic pink, which created a vintage look ($55, a lucky bargain buy!). Two men accused me of trying to cause a traffic accident as I crossed the street! Men and (more remarkably) women were turning their heads. Needless to say, my blind date was more then relieved! His first remark to me was that he “loved stylish women”. Bottom line: my outfit was totally chic- and all under $100.

Another shopping tip: to make an ordinary outfit look chic, I’ll throw in something expensive, such as an accessory. I went to a party wearing a black jersey dress with bishop sleeves ($25), and accented it with a hip shaped beaded belt I bought in London for almost $250. I know it sounds overpriced, but that belt breathed new life into a lot of older outdated garments that I loved dearly. I had this gorgeous chiffon dress that I bought 7 years ago. I loved the mysterious color effect created by layers of different color fabrics and the way the skirt flared. Even after the silhouette went out of style, I couldn’t bear to part with that dress! By adding my beaded belt, I successfully reshaped the dress creating a low waist retro kind of look, and wore it to my best friend’s wedding- with complements!

The truth is that I love fashion, and I love women. It makes me happy when I can make a difference in their often complicated, yet extraordinary lives. Ladies, keep in mind when it comes to fashion, nothing is written in stone. What is a fashion disaster today may be on the runway tomorrow, and vice versa.

The off camera Lucy Liu is anything but the tough characters that she always portrays on screen. She is usually seen wearing hairstyles that are classic and elegant while still being on a trend setting edge. The assorted jewelry of hers became famous during her early appearances on the Ally McBeal show. Whatever style you wish to have, or hairstyle you wish to wear and jewelry you wish to use, I am sure that Lucy Liu’s choice offer sophistication and glam that would complement and enhance any style.

During the movie Charlie’s Angels, Liu’s character was seen wearing lots of fun hairstyles like a simple ponytail that is pulled way up that emphasized her sharp cheekbones and delicate neck bone. If you want this look, use a gel or a hairspray and curl a curling iron to make waves on your hair, and then pull your hair back with an elastic band to hold the ponytail in place.

If you want a more playful flipped hairstyle, start by using a mousse or pomade while your hair is still damp. While blow drying your hair, use a round brush to flip the ends of your hair. And then apply a shine enhancer to smoothen your hair and give it shine.

Liu keeps her wardrobe simple and minimalist, making way for her accessories to shine through. She prefers brooches and butterfly pins. At the latest awards night, she used a lizard shaped pin. Make sure you keep your outfits simple if you use her accessories to not overdo it. Look at her, she is a picture of simplicity and elegance.

Do you want some of the greatest tips from the best fashion coaches in the industry? Well, follow the fashion guides below to looking your hottest-coolest self.

1. Get a long mirror.

The most common fashion mistake that we can make is that we only get a snapshot of what we look like. The problem is as soon as we step outside the door, everyone else gets a panoramic view. So know when your pants are dragging or your skirt is hiked up in the back by checking yourself out in a full length mirror.

2. Just because you could – doesn’t mean you should.

I ask you, what if your grandmother wore a belly button ring, now this is just an example so don’t send me nasty notes, is that what you want to imagine yourself looking like years from now. One of the least attractive fashions is the midriff bearing tops. Don’t you think that some folks would have been better off keeping that bouncing tummy to themselves? I am just keeping this real.

3. Keep the receipts.

Oh the joy of shopping – but the blessings of returns. If the fashion doesn’t resonate with you in a week or so. Return it. Save yourself the closet stuffing.

4. Good color is not a suggestion – it’s a mandate.

Anyone can wear every color, but hold out and wear only the ones that look good on you. Color in fashion should be used to enhance your own natural coloring and your face. One great myth is that no one sees the weight you gained if you wear black.

5. Wear the outfit – don’t let it wear on you.

You are only buying the fashions that complements you. Think about that little black dress everyone believes is mandatory. If the color is harsh on you people will only focus on the dress. What you really want is someone to make complements about you – not than just what you are wearing. Remember, the dress never says thank you.

6. If it doesn’t fit, it doesn’t fit.

Why do you want to keep it, reminding yourself of money you could have better spent. The odds are that it will be out of style by the time you could fit into it.

7. The most expensive fashion you can buy is the one that is on sale that matches nothing.

No truer words were spoken.

Follow these tips and you will be on your way to capturing flattering attention and complements every time you step out of the door in high style and fashion.