The 4 things stylish people do differently when they get dressed.

Some people have an innate sense of style that seems to come naturally to them.

You know the types: they're the ones who always look effortlessly chic, even at the supermarket or walking the dog.

When you ask them where they found that cool piece they're wearing, it's inevitably vintage.

Their look isn't some aggregation of what's trending in the algorithm — it's more individual than that. More curated.

Watch: Wait… are skinny jeans making a comeback? Post continues below.

Fashion content creator Des Awefoso, who goes by 'Style Strategist' on her social channels, says there's a way to tap into the habits of severely stylish people.

"Have you ever seen that fashion girlie come across your feed and you're looking at her like, man, how does she stay so cool?" Awefoso asked in a recent reel posted to her Instagram.

She went on to explain that it's not actually something that stylish people are born with — it's an ability they've honed to think about fashion differently. And they're channelling that energy into better outfits.

Image: Instagram/@stylemaxdes.

Forget the overly prescriptive "rules" and cookie cutter micro-trends you're being served on your socials.

According to the content creator, true style relies much more heavily on something like intuition. On breaking rules.

And as someone who's worked in fashion for two decades, I'm inclined to agree with her.

So what, exactly, do stylish people do that sets them — and their outfits — apart?

Here are four habits to take note of.

1. They think out of the box.

Stylish people approach dressing in unconventional ways in order to develop their signature look.

"They see everything as an opportunity for a fashion moment," Awefoso explains.

They might choose to wear something the wrong way, for example, or look for hard-to-find pieces on Depop.

It's not necessarily about spending more, but having more rarefied taste. All of this helps them manifest their style identity.

Everything is a fashion moment for influencer Grece Ghanem. Image: Instagram/@greceghanem.

"Stylish people think out of the box," she says. "Maybe it's not something that you would ever wear… but you can look at them and tell that it's working for them."

Speaking of clothes working for them…

2. They ignore the sizing on the label.

Everyone knows there's no standard sizing across the board, and many brands indulge customers in vanity sizing, which only creates more confusion.

Awefoso says you should only be using the number or letter sizing on the tag as a suggestion — if you pay any attention at all. It's much more important to consider the way a piece fits and makes you feel.

The content creator says nothing will stop a stylish person from wearing the clothes they want to wear — whether they're from the women's, men's or maternity section.

That's where a good tailor comes in.

This fit is perfection. Image: Instagram/@nataliakrslovic.

3. They use references.

You can't create good style in a vacuum. Well maybe you can, but you'd probably be better off with a little help.

The most fashionable people use the resources at their disposal to help them curate looks — what was once archival editorial imagery in magazines has evolved into Pinterest and Saved folders on Instagram.

Whatever your preferred method, start pulling together your own references or moodboards to help you conjure up the kinds of looks you want to create.

Influencer Ines Richard is perpetually on my moodboard. Image: Instagram/@ines_rcdd.

As mentioned, it's not about copying someone else's style — it's about getting that spark of inspiration.

Maybe your 'summer' moodboard is all sun-drenched photos of the Mediterranean and seasonal colours that are resonating with you right now. It might be interiors.

It doesn't need to be clothes — it can literally be a mood that inspires how you want to feel in your outfit that day.

4. They create outfits in their imagination.

A dream jewellery stack. Image: Instagram/@_tamaradavis_.

Awefoso has a beautiful analogy for the way stylish people bring their dream looks to life.

"Remember when you were a kid playing with Lego and you knew exactly what you wanted to make? You weren't going to stop until you had all the right pieces together to build your vision," she says.

Fashion-forward dressers do the same thing, only with clothes.

"They use their imagination, or their style eye, to get a sense for what they want to express through their styling," Awefoso says — and then they make it work with the tools they have.

That, or they go shopping.

These habits can take some time and experimentation to learn, the content creator adds, but it's a worthwhile practice if you want to cultivate the kind of style that feels unique to you.

For more helpful style advice and shopping recommendations, subscribe to the weekly Nothing to Wear Substack, listen to the Nothing to Wear podcast or watch Nothing to Wear on YouTube.

Feature image: Instagram/@_tamaradavis_, @greceghanem, @nataliakrslovic.