Some people would say clothes are not everything, but there’s something about how they are put together that tells a story of their wearer, where they’ve been, where they’re going, and what their goals are for the day. But the talent to style oneself is not innate in everyone. Atena Crain has made it her mission to help women look their best by guiding them to find their own style, and throughout her career, she has mastered four styling techniques to create outfits with ease. Founder and CEO of Styled by Atena, a brand she built over the pandemic, her strategies have helped many of her clients look effortlessly chic every day without having to break the bank by buying any specific luxury goods.
First, combine no more than three colors in an outfit. Keeping a cohesive color theme for an outfit is crucial. With the exception of black and white clothing pieces, as well as gold or silver jewelry, one should stick to combining only three colors. For printed pieces, Atena suggests pairing them with colors found in the print. The three-color technique is a safe zone for anyone wanting to avoid looking a bit ‘mishy-mashy.’
Second, add a third layer to shake things up in a relatively boring outfit to make it look more stylish. For example, one could wear regular jeans and a t-shirt, but adding a blazer would make the look more structured and polished. “I’ve come to believe that blazers are just magical. They can sharpen almost any look. You can even get away with wearing your graphic t-shirt to work under a blazer,” the stylist said.
Third, look effortlessly chic and modern by wearing similar colors from head to toe. Monochromatic outfits are embraced by many nowadays, and they would suit any shape or color. Atena emphasized that the key to making monochromatic outfits work is finding pieces in similar colors but with interesting silhouettes and cuts. She also added that they could be in different shades of the same color to create more dimension.
The fourth strategy is developed as a great hack for anyone to look good during the cold season–wearing an amazing coat. “You can throw a beautiful coat over the simplest outfit and walk around looking fabulous,” Atena said. “Michael Kors once said, ‘something ugly can be made better. Just put a fabulous coat on top.’ A fun way to wear your statement coat is by throwing it over your shoulders, which will also keep you cooler.”
Fueled by her creativity, Atena has always loved fashion as much as she loves entrepreneurship. Through both of her businesses, Styled by Atena and T&A Tax and Business Services, where she works closely with small businesses with their accounting needs and tax education, she is able to change lives.
“I spend a lot of time one on one with my clients to really understand their wants, needs, and lifestyles. I pay a lot of attention to detail, from figuring out the most comfortable and cute shoes for their event to strategizing on the look of their personal brand. When it’s time to shop, I look through hundreds, if not thousands of pieces, until I find the perfect one for my client,” she said.
Being her own boss gave Atena the freedom she always dreamed of, and she uses that freedom to empower others through her expert styling techniques. Without a doubt, Atena is leaving her own impact by changing the lives of professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, speakers, and many other women, one outfit at a time.
