Editors Note: I am so excited to share this article with you, because it comes from our newest contributor Haleh Nematzadeh!  She has made her name in the fashion community and is now here to show Bella Life readers how to find and own their own style.  Post questions below to get answers from the fashion maven herself and watch your wardrobe become more colorful. ~Nitika~

Often, I’m amazed at how clothing has added color to my world.  Some Bella Life readers may think that clothing seems like a trivial way to be content within.  However, as a fashion designer and Editor-in-Chief of the style site Haleh.tv, I can assure you that this idea is a way to align you to joy.

When I first started playing with clothes at the very young age of eleven, I was powerfully amazed at how a simple shift in expressing my tastes through what I wore changed my entire outer experience.  It happened quite innocently.  A young, shy girl in need of a way to put her desires out there for the world to see.  Upon doing so, the outside world completely mirrored my joys.  Now I am thrilled to have the chance to inspire you with the art of dressing fearlessly, lovingly, and to express who you are within and discover your own fashion-breakthrough.

What is a fashion-breakthrough? It is that moment in time where you dig deep and pull together an outer appearance based on that inner voice within you. The one that says you can look great in those short shorts.  It’s that night you go out looking like a million dollars simply because you tried the statement over the knee boots and ended up looking classy and chic.  Hooker stereotype gone.  By guiding you through a few rules and myths of dressing and listening to the voice within, you can enjoy the benefits I’ve received through my own consistent style transformations.

Steps To Your Fashion Breakthrough:

1) Believe in your body. Some feel you have to have an amazing body to wear fun fashion.  Every woman has a part of their body that stands out whether it’s their legs or shoulders.  Tap into the part of your body that you love. Highlight it consistently, and forget about the rest. No one is perfect, not even the ideal fashion model, so stop trying to be and enjoy what you have.  For instance, if you have a teeny waist, take advantage of the recent high waisted bottoms of the past few seasons.  Not every woman can wear them, so embrace the fact that you CAN and have fun with it!

2) Out with the old. Fashion is now ageless, timeless, seasonless and less rule driven.  Don’t be afraid to break these “rules”.  White boots can look amazing in the winter. Mini-skirts paired with tights and cardigans can work in the office, and you may still be interested in wearing the same clothes now when you get older.  Madonna is almost 50 years old and you never see her wearing suits and turtlenecks.  Granted it’s Madonna, but you get the point!

3) Think outside your box. Try something new and commit to breaking your old routines.  This is something you have to do weekly and stick to it in order to see results.  If you always wear jeans and heels, try flats and a mini-dress.  If you don’t wear loud make- up, go for a bright red lip. If you usually wear your hair straight, add some curl.  By adding variety, not only do you bring out the facets of your inner style warrior, but you also discover aspects of yourself you never knew existed, again showing how simple external changes can bring out and mimic the changes happening within.

4) Your personal style vs. trend. Getting to know who you are style-wise is more appealing than jumping on the bandwagon of every single trend out there.  Take a piece of a current fashion trend like military coats, but always make it your own by adding a belt to the waist, or some fun classic rock pins on the pocket that you can easily find on Ebay.  If skinny jeans are unwearable to you, ditch the trend altogether and embrace the longer length maxi full skirts  that are starting to happen now.  Wear them with flats if you’re tall, and if you’re petite make sure to wear them with a plain bodysuit so you don’t look like your swimming in it.  Not only will you begin to outwardly shine the best version of yourself,  but you will stand out as a mysterious true individual, bucking all useless trends and showing that the true beauty of style is expressing who you are to the world.  Take the time to play around and find out what you love.   Are you a true bohemian?  Do you tend to love vintage?  Who you are is far more interesting than a trend.

By playing around with some of these tips, you can get a sense of your own real style, which is a reflection of your inner essence.  While I can go on indefinitely about trends, styles, and tips, start with these few tips for now.  Unless you face your style fears, you will never know the joy of expressing who you truly are inside. Every month I will be sharing all things fashion with you and guide you through discovering new ways to dress and complete a new look.