Matching clothes and creating outfits can seem daunting to many people. With different colors, patterns, and styles in your closet, putting together a cohesive look might appear difficult. However, there are some simple tips and tricks that can help you easily coordinate your wardrobe.
Assess Your Closet
First, take a look at everything you own. Go through each item and make sure it still fits properly and you like wearing it. Get rid of anything you don’t wear anymore or that doesn’t flatter your body. This process will help pare down your options to only pieces you feel great in.
Next, organize your closet by item type and color. Group tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, shoes and accessories. Then arrange each section by color. This will give you a bird’s eye view of what you have and make matching easier. You’ll be able to see any color gaps you might have as well.
Know Your Color Palette
Determine what color palette flatters you most. Are you a spring who looks best in warm tones like peach, yellow and olive? Or are you a winter who shines in cool hues like royal blue, magenta and emerald?
| Season | Characteristics | Best Colors |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Warm skin undertone, frequently blonde hair and blue or green eyes | Warm and light colors like coral, peach, lemon yellow, ivory |
| Summer | Cool skin undertone, frequently ash brown or black hair and blue eyes | Cool and soft colors like sky blue, mauve, sea green, gray |
| Autumn | Warm skin undertone, frequently brown hair and eyes | Warm and muted colors like mustard, terracotta, sage green, camel |
| Winter | Cool skin undertone, frequently dark brown or black hair and eyes | Cool and bold colors like emerald, royal blue, fuchsia, bright white |
Knowing your best hues will make matching easy. Build outfits using your seasonal colors as they will inherently work together.
Stick With The Same Color Family
Matching colors from the same family is a foolproof way to look put together. Monochromatic outfits using different shades, tints and tones of one color automatically complement each other.
| Term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Shade | Color mixed with black to darken it | Navy blue, emerald green |
| Tint | Color mixed with white to lighten it | Baby blue, mint green |
| Tone | Color mixed with gray to mute it | Dusty blue, sage green |
Some examples of monochromatic pairings are navy pants with a chambray shirt, wine colored sweater with maroon skirt, or olive jacket with khaki pants. The slight variations in the same color family will work seamlessly.
Match Neutrals Together
Neutral basics are essential for any wardrobe. Pieces like white tops, black pants, nude heels, and tan jackets can be mixed and matched endlessly.Neutrals act as anchor pieces that naturally go with almost anything.
Some easy neutral combinations are:
- White top + blue jeans + brown booties
- Black trousers + gray sweater + tan trench
- Navy blazer + white shirt + nude pumps
Having high quality neutrals makes getting ready effortless. Simply build up an outfit from your neutral basics adding pops of color with bags, scarves, or jewelry.
Pay Attention to Patterns and Texture
When combining patterns and textures, follow a simple formula to avoid clashing. Pair plain with plain, texture with texture, and small patterns with big patterns. Some flattering combinations include:
- Striped tee + solid jeans
- Floral dress + plain cardigan
- Herringbone blazer + polka dot blouse
- Lace top + velvet pants
Scale and contrast are key. Patterns work best when there is a visual break between them. Don’t be afraid to experiment with fun pairings like stripes and florals. Just ensure there is enough contrast.
Conclusion
Matching clothes and creating outfits is easy when you know some basic guidelines. Strategically shop for your seasonal color palette. Build a wardrobe of high quality neutrals. Pay attention to color, pattern and texture combinations. With practice, you’ll be able to effortlessly pull together chic looks from your closet.
Matching clothes is also an art and reflects your personal style. Don’t be afraid to break the “rules” and get creative. Wear colors and patterns in new unexpected ways. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and confident in your outfit choices.
