Tan France Shares 4 Tips for Taking Fashion Risks

While some were first introduced to fashion expert Tan France on the Primetime Emmy-nominated Netflix show Queer Eye in 2018, the prolific stylist has been in the fashion and styling business for over 20 years. Before the fashion guru appeared in the hit makeover show reboot along with the rest of “The Fab Five,” co-stars Bobby Berk, Antoni Porowski, Karamo Brown, and Jonathan Van Ness (JVN), he had helped thousands of people find their personal style and find a look that makes them feel like the very best version of themselves. Since the breakout success of Queer Eye, Tan has become one of the most visible, sought-after personal stylists in the world—making history as the first openly gay South Asian man on television. In 2019, he published his memoir, Naturally Tan, which became an instant New York Times bestseller. In 2020, Tan co-hosted the fun and fast-paced 2020 Netflix fashion design competition series, Next in Fashion, with Alexa Chung.

“You can have good style without taking risks,” says Queer Eye star Tan France. A little black dress or oversized sweatshirt with leggings can be stylish with the right accessories. However, if you want to be a standout while walking the red carpet or selecting streetwear, you have to take some risks. Check out the following fashion tips from style icon Tan France:

1. 1. Start slow. “If you are feeling daunted by the idea of taking risks, try integrating smaller risky options, ” Tan says. Start with colorful accessories. Injecting color into your attire in a subtle way will help build your comfort level. If your wardrobe features a darker color palette, purchase a bright-colored handbag, socks, or shoes to bring life to your look. A distinctive pair of loafers can liven up a black suit, and pairing a yellow purse with a navy blue jumpsuit can make the outfit pop. Try working with colors that are outside of your normal color palette.
2. 2. If it’s too risky, tone it down. If a new pattern or print seems too risky, you can offset it down with something neutral. “You may not want to go from solid colors to paisley. There's a way of toning this down,” Tan explains. If you don’t feel comfortable in a paisley suit, start by layering patterns with solid colors. Pair a paisley vest with your navy blue suit. Tone down your zebra-striped crew-neck T-shirt by pairing it with a solid color cardigan or blazer. Avoid wearing anything that makes you feel awkward or uncomfortable.
3. 3. Pay attention to how you feel. “When you start to break the rules, when you start to take risks, there's no right way or wrong way of doing it,” Tan says. Initially, you may be unsure if you’re pulling off the new look, but if it makes you feel good, it’s the right look for you. It’s essential that you feel confident in your choice. The success of smaller risks will empower you to take bigger risks in the future.
4. 4. Mix patterns and prints. “A lot of people think that you can't mix prints, but you can,” Tan says. Clashing prints and patterns is a great way to take a fashion risk. “There are certain prints that are classic and simple. These are your foundation prints: a stripe, a polka dot, an animal print, and a floral,” Tan explains. Start by layering the print or pattern with bold colors. If you’re wearing a black suit, pair it with a paisley button-down instead of a conventional white dress shirt. If you wear a lot of prints, add a patterned layer. For instance, if you are wearing a striped T-shirt, layer it with a collared polka dot shirt. By mixing prints, like stripes and animal prints, you can open up a whole new world of outfit ideas that can move you beyond the standard T-shirt and denim jeans look.

Get a MasterClass Annual Membership and let Tan France be your very own style spirit guide. Queer Eye’s fashion guru spills everything he knows about building a capsule collection, finding a signature look, understanding proportions, and more (including why it’s important to wear underwear to bed)—all in a soothing British accent, no less.