Styling Hacks For Selfies — Not to Be Used IRL

By Hannah Weil McKinley
POPSUGAR Photography | Rima Brindamour
POPSUGAR Photography | Rima Brindamour

As a seasoned designer and fashion insider, Misha Nonoo is a style guru. Thankfully, she's sharing her wisdom with all of us and breaking down the tips and tricks the pros use behind the scenes. Here, she spills on the secret styling hacks that'll transform your everyday outfit snaps.

Thanks to filters and apps like Facetune, what you see on Instagram is not always what you get. Instead of criticizing the trend, embrace it and apply these same tricks to styling. Want to transform your long chain-link necklace into a choker? No problem. Know your #OOTD would be perfect if only you had those high-waisted, vintage jeans? Fake them. Follow these styling hacks to temporarily alter your outfit and create the perfect selfie.

1. In a Bind

  • To make a loose top appear fitted, gather the shirt's excess fabric behind your back and fasten it with a large binder clip. This trick prevents the material from awkwardly bulging and blousing in unflattering ways.
  • Use the same binder clips to transform baggy boyfriend jeans into a high-waisted style. Pull the denim pants up to your true waist. Tightly secure the extra denim at your lower back and tush for a pair that looks like it fits you like a glove. Just be sure to angle the clips away from the camera or photoshop them out later.

2. Packing Tape Pick Me Up

  • If FedEx can rely on clear packing tape to secure a fragile shipment as it travels around the world, then you can trust it to keep your boobs in place. When you want the girls to look perky and alive in a low cut jumpsuit follow these simple steps: lift, separate, tape, repeat.
  • You'd never want to permanently shorten your extra long, wide-leg pants. When paired with superhigh heels they turn your 5'4" frame into a statuesque 5'9" and give you legs for days. If you want to pair the trousers with cool trainers for an Instagram shot, temporarily tailor them by folding the hemline under to the desired length and adding the adhesive on the inside to keep the cuff in place.

3. Mask It

  • The shoes you ordered online are way too uncomfortable to actually wear but their beauty deserves its own hashtag. If you can't resist snapping a picture before you return them, line the bottoms with strips of masking tape before stepping into frame. The adhesive will protect the soles from dirt and scratches and also pull away gently when you remove it from the shoe.

4. Safety First

  • One minute chokers are the hottest accessory and the next it's all about long necklaces. Optimize your jewelry inventory by altering lengths with safety pins. To make a navel-grazing statement pendant appear shorter, push a safety pin through one side of the chain link or fabric. Once the necklace is adjusted as desired, secure the other side and clasp the pin behind your neck.
  • If an extension is what you're after, loop several safety pins together and clip them to your necklace ends. Hide the silver pins behind your neck or cover them with your hair before snapping the shot.

5. Flat Iron Fix

  • If you're taking a close up picture of a monogramed shirt collar or cuff but don't have time to properly press or steam the entire top, don't. Quickly run a hair flat iron over the wrinkled sections for the illusion of a completely crisp top.