Little known fact about me: I’m a little bit of a grammar nerd. You might not believe this based on some of my social media posts, which are usually done using talk-to-text and “edited” without my readers, but I spent much of my career as an editor, and words and punctuation and all of those little details are important to me. I even took a couple of grammar books (Verbatim, Eats, Shoots & Leaves) with me on our honeymoon, almost causing my husband to rethink his decision to marry me.
What does this have to do with outfits? I’m getting there. :) I told you this story to illustrate that rules can be helpful, even to fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants rulebreakers like myself. There can be a comfort in knowing that A+B=C, and in style, there is SO MUCH that is subjective, open to interpretation, and based on personal preferences that guidelines that gives us structure can a be a refreshing change of pace.
And while these outfit creation rules are less set in stone than the Oxford comma (I will ALWAYS put a comma before an “and”), they are no less helpful, and can give you some strategies for creating outfits that are modern and flattering.
You’ll find them all in today’s video.
Opposites Attract
This foundational tip will help you create outfits that appear balanced and complete. By adding something to the outfit that isn’t already there, or “filling in the blanks,” you create a visually pleasing outfit composition.
Pair Long With Short
Long layers look best worn over shorter outfits, like shorter dresses and shorts, or outfits with very defined waistlines.
Pair Short with Long
One of the hardest looks to pull off is a long layer over a long dress or tunic. Instead, try short jackets with dresses for a more flattering look.
Pair Loose With Tight
A balanced outfit can often contain a balance of fitted and flowy elements. You can do 2 fitted elements pretty well also, but 2 flowy items is a hard look to pull off.
Pair Bare With Covered
Exposing only one area of skin a time creates a balanced and flattering look.
Pair Structured with Flowy
Flowy + flowy is always the hardest to wear, but combining a flowy piece with a structured one adds balance.
Pair Simple with Decorative
More detailed pieces pair beautifully with simple ones, creating a nice balance.
Layer Effectively
Layering is tricky at times, and can often be the result of trial and error, but by following the principles above, you’ll create chic layered looks every time. As a general rule, structured shorter layers are the most versatile and flattering overall.
Fill in the blanks
Add what’s missing to an outfit with accessories. For example, a simple neutral dress could benefit from color, pattern or texture or shine.
Connect the Outfit
Sometimes an outfit feels more like 2 separate pieces rather than a total look, especially when pairing color with color. Connect the pieces and create a more cohesive look by using a belt, a jacket, or a color “sandwich”.
Dress It Up, Dress It Down
Get inspired by playing with ways to dress a basic outfit formula up or down by a simple switch of accessories.
Show Some Shape or Skin
Balance an outfit and keep it modern and flattering by showing either a little shape or a little skin.
How do you wear color?
There is no right or wrong here, but it is helpful to ask yourself what your favorite color pairings are: Neutral with Neutral, Neutral with Color, Color with Neutral, or Color with Color.
Which of these outfit principles hit home with you the most? And what would you add to this list? Let’s discuss in the comments!
Carole says
Food for thought: A pop of color in an accessory for a neutral outfit.