Nina Dobrev is a style ''chameleon''.

'The Vampire Diaries' actress has likened herself to the colour-changing lizard because she loves adapting her look to suit her ''mood and environment'', although she insists she doesn't like to show too much skin.

Speaking of her boho-inspired look at this year's South by Southwest Festival, she told PEOPLE: ''I fell in love with this Elie Saab dress, but it was a little fancy for SXSW, so my stylist decided to pair it with flat flip-flops and do a bohemian sort of messy, laid-back hairstyle with braids, and lots of bangles and jewels.

''I'm kind of a chameleon depending on my mood and depending on my environment.

''I wasn't going to show my legs and my boobs at the same time, and I also wore flats because I didn't want it to be too va-va-voom.

''I like to always be as classy and timeless as possible.''

The brunette beauty, 26, also shared her wardrobe staples and counts a 10-year-old pair of shorts as the one clothing item she couldn't live without.

She explained: ''I have this pair of American Eagle short-shorts that I wear in Atlanta [while filming] or to music festivals or just day-to-day life.

''They're short, they're comfy, they're cute, they make my butt look cute, and I feel comfortable in them. I swear I've had them for maybe 10 years and they're so torn up, but I can't get rid of them! They're my favourite.''