Let’s face it: The everyday grind can be pretty uninspiring. You wake up, put on whatever outfit is clean, eat, go to work or class, eat, come home, do whatever you do to unwind, eat, and do it all again the next day. Sometimes what you need to break free from the mundane everyday routine is a little inspiration—style or outfit inspiration, that is, because you should never underestimate the power of a good ’fit. As Marilyn Monroe is rumored to have once said, “Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world.”
And speaking of quotes, what better way to motivate yourself than with a few inspirational sayings about style? Keep scrolling for the 40 best fashion quotes from designers, models, celebrities, icons, and more. Once you’ve found one that speaks to you, put it on a wall poster, drop it in your social media bios, jot it down on a sticky note, or get it tattooed on your body—whatever you need to stay inspired not to put on the same pair of sweatpants again (unless sweatpants are your brand, then by all means, carry on).
“I like my money where I can see it—hanging in my closet.” —Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City
“I’ve always thought of accessories as the exclamation point of a woman’s outfit.” —Michael Kors
“Playing dress-up begins at age 5 and never really ends.” —Kate Spade, Manners
“As far as I’m concerned, leopard is a neutral.” —Jenna Lyons, The Cut
“Don’t dress to kill. Dress to survive.” —Karl Lagerfeld, Twitter
“Great personal style is an extreme curiosity about yourself.” —Iris Apfel, HuffPost
“Growing up, I didn’t have a lot of access to fashion. But as far as I could remember, fashion has always been my defense mechanism. Even as a child, I remember thinking, She can beat me, but she cannot beat my outfit.” —Rihanna, CFDA Fashion Awards
“She can beat me, but she cannot beat my outfit.” —Rihanna
“A woman is never sexier than when she is comfortable in her clothes.” —Vera Wang, Twitter
“I’m just trying to change the world, one sequin at a time.” —Lady Gaga, Independent
“If there is one rule for dressing, for fashion, it’s pretty much the same rule as for everything else in life: Don’t go against yourself, don’t go against your own nature. It’s only going to show.” —Diane von Furstenberg, Diane von Furstenberg’s Book of Beauty: How to Become a More Attractive, Confident and Sensual Woman
“Buy less. Choose well. Make it last. Quality, not quantity. Everybody’s buying far too many clothes.” —Vivienne Westwood, The Telegraph
“Taste is constant; style varies from season to season.” —Bill Cunningham, Fashion Climbing
“I’ll stop wearing black when they make a darker color.” —Wednesday Addams, The Addams Family
“Fashion needs to make one happy. It is a luxury and should enhance one’s quality of life.” —Tom Ford, Racked
“What is comfortable fashion? To be comfortable, that can’t be in the vocabulary of fashion. If you want to be comfortable, stay home in your pajamas.” —Donatella Versace, Interview
“The ultimate customer is stylish, not fashionable. To be fashionable, all you need is money.” —Marc Jacobs, Vogue
“It’s impossible to be stylish without confidence, you see.” —Jane Birkin, Harper’s Bazaar
“Style has become very important, the whole idea of style, what your personal style is. It’s your identity.” —Patricia Field, Harper’s Bazaar
“My feet are still on the ground. I’m just wearing better shoes.” —Oprah Winfrey, Dr. Phil
“Cinderella is not only an iconic character when it comes to beauty, grace, and fairy-tale love but also shoes.” —Christian Louboutin, Twitter
“When a woman says, ‘I have nothing to wear!’ what she really means is, ‘There’s nothing here for who I’m supposed to be today.’” —Caitlin Moran, How to Be a Woman
“If you want to be comfortable, stay home in your pajamas.” —Donatella Versace
“Florals for spring? Groundbreaking.” —Miranda Priestly, The Devil Wears Prada
“I never, ever wear flats. Every time I wear them, I fall over! The only flats I own are my sneakers, which I only wear when inside the gym and always with black and diamonds.” —Donatella Versace, i-D
“The best things in life are free. The second best are very expensive.” —Coco Chanel
“Real style is never right or wrong. It’s a matter of being yourself on purpose.” – G. Bruce Boyer, True Style: The History and Principles of Classic Menswear
“Fashion isn’t a necessity. It pulls at your heart. It’s a whim. You don’t need it. You want it.” —Marc Jacobs, Vogue
“I just can’t concentrate in flats.” —Victoria Beckham, GMTV
“A lot of men said they were jealous of me because my shoes excite women in a way they can’t.” —Christian Louboutin, Interview
“Just throw me in my coffin now with these earrings on.” —Rachel Zoe, The Rachel Zoe Project
“The fact is, sometimes it’s really hard to walk in a single woman’s shoes. That’s why we need really special ones now and then to make the walk a little more fun.” —Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City
“The greenest thing you could do in fashion is to buy something you’re going to use for years.” —Michael Kors, Twitter
“The fact is, sometimes it’s really hard to walk in a single woman’s shoes. That’s why we need really special ones now and then to make the walk a little more fun.” —Carrie Bradshaw
“The way I dress may be ‘different’ or ‘eccentric’ to some who feel the need to label, but that’s of no concern to me. I don’t dress to be stared at; I dress for myself. When you don’t dress like everyone else, you don’t have to think like everyone else.” —Iris Apfel, Accidental Icon
“Some people dream of having big swimming pools. With me, it’s closets.” —Audrey Hepburn
“I’m a very down-to-earth person, but it is my job to make that earth more pleasant.” —Karl Lagerfeld, Glamour
“If I’m going dancing, then I wear the highest heels with the shortest dress.” —Kate Moss, Sunday Times
“Keep your head, heels, and standards high.” —Lola Stark, Tattered Love
“I will never be the woman with the perfect hair who can wear white and not spill on it.” — Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City
“Over the years, I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it.” —Yves Saint Laurent
“A shoe has much more to offer than just to walk.” —Christian Louboutin, Twitter
“I may be a beginner at some things, but I’ve got a black belt in shopping.” —Phyllis Nefler, Troop Beverly Hills
Brooke Shunatona
Brooke Shunatona is a contributing writer for Cosmopolitan.com.
