Outfits Together

Hi. I still don't understand how to put outfits together in the morning. I don't like to wear the same one with the same parts. Can you help?


If you have progressed past the stage of wearing an outfit in the same (perfect) way every time, and you want to mix it up, start with an anchor piece. It could be a top, bottom, or shoes. It's best to start with a piece that has a distinctive (tricky) color or texture, and pick support pieces (neutrals) instead of beginning with a neutral, and then loading that with accents. You may overload, or you may wind up with an ensemble that's too plain in the end. So, look for a print (floral top); or a distinctive texture (gray sharkskin) and start there. The first item will also define the underwear (Flesh tone? Or Black?) and that's a good step. Once you have that tricky item chosen, the support pieces are narrowed down. Floral top requires solid or supporting print: White pencil. Sharkskin requires an office vibe: Crisp shirt. Even though the unmatched mixtures look like they are composed of independent items, they aren't. The items have an underlying dependence on each other; that connection may be season, texture, or design vibe. It's complex, but that's what makes it so nice.