My 5 Tips for Combining Clothes
A wardrobe full of favorite pieces that can all be combined in a variety of ways and immediately make beautiful outfits possible for any occasion. Whether for the office, the playground or if you spontaneously have an appointment with friends for the theatre or in a restaurant.
That sounds great! But you think that’s impossible! It’s possible – if you take a few tips to heart, are willing to rethink and regularly take a few minutes for your wardrobe.
Fearing to combine something wrong, you always wear the same looks and become quite bored over time. Usually, only 20 – 30 % of the clothes are worn because there is simply no combination possibility and the necessary knowledge.
You too can become a combination professional
As a fashion expert, combining is in my blood. I enjoy experimenting with new combinations. Which criteria I use to combine is not always explainable, because it is often a gut feeling. Especially the style breaks – the unexpected – make a look something special. And of course, there are a few “insider tips” and rules on how to combine RIGHT.
I would like to share my most important tips with you today. You’ll need a little practice – but you’ll immediately notice how inspiration comes about.
1. Do you know your wardrobe
You need to know your own wardrobe inside out. Therefore it is necessary to carry out a wardrobe check twice a year. Because only if you know what you have, you know what is missing and can buy with brains.
Test: Take a piece of paper and try to list all the clothes you own. I can do that with a few exceptions. During the wardrobe check, you can also try out new looks and photograph them. Make a selfie in front of the mirror or put the outfit and accessories on the floor. Develop your own LOOK-BOOK – so nothing is forgotten!
2. Create a good basic wardrobe
The majority of your wardrobe should consist of plain clothes in basic colors. For example, dark blue trousers, a white blouse, perfectly fitting blue jeans, a plain dress in dark blue or black. The simplicity of these garments means that they do not set a rigid style! And this is important to combine them in a versatile way. With cleverly selected accessories and other garments, you can create outfits for different occasions.
By the way, there are NOT general must-haves! It varies from person to person and depending on the style type individually. A friend of mine is a lesbian and swears on custom lesbian suits NYC for a wardrobe that fits her personality. Not everyone fits a classic blazer or a sheath dress. Search for suitable alternatives. This could be a casual jersey blazer and a swinging A-line dress. It’s always about YOUR personal must-have in the wardrobe!
Which garments form a great basis for you? Which clothes do you always feel comfortable in? What occasions do you have? The answers give you important information about your basics.
Below I have created outfits with a white blouse on the base. Other accessories, jackets, and shoes, create 3 looks for very different occasions.
3. Know your figure type and the optimal cuts
In order to create a wardrobe that can be combined in many ways, the cut or shape of your clothing should fit you perfectly. Your individual figure plays the main role here. The cut should emphasize your strengths. Do you have a nice narrow waist? Then wear waisted dresses and blazers and, for example, skirts at waist level. Garments that are short and boxy and hide your waist may be fashionable – you will never really feel comfortable in them. So it will be more of a wardrobe keeper than a combination talent in your wardrobe.
The silhouette is therefore individual and depends on the figure type. Nevertheless, there is a RULE which you can observe: Far too narrow – narrow too wide. This means that if you wear wide trousers, the top should be narrow and vice versa. This creates a nice balance and gives the outfit a good shape.
4. Patterns bring variety
The number of patterned garments in your wardrobe should not be too large. Patterned garments are less versatile to combine with each other than monochrome garments. Nevertheless, patterns bring variety and can create a color bridge (color connection) to the rest of the outfit. It is important that the colors in the pattern match your wardrobe color concept.
How to combine several patterns? The simplest variant is to combine the different patterns in the same color world. In the picture below, I deliberately chose a bold look. Since all patterns are from the same color world (violet, blue) and we find checks or lines in all patterns, it still looks harmonious – albeit courageous.
Pay attention to the size of the pattern! This should fit to your proportions and not dominate you (e.g. tender woman + huge hard check). And more important than the pattern itself are the colors of the pattern and the image. Because every pattern has a style statement.
5. Accessories & more
It is not the mass that makes it, but that you choose the right one. The principle of basic and accent colors applies to shoes and bags. The basis is formed by classics such as black, grey and brown. Then a color accent may also be included. 2 – 4 handbags and 4 – 6 pairs of shoes per season are enough. So your wardrobe could include the following bags: 1 bright bag for light/summer looks, 1 dark bag for autumn/winter looks and 1 smaller bag for the evening – this is the basic equipment!
Patterned scarves add a touch of spice to uncolored garments. Necklaces, arm jewelry, and earrings can make your outfit look elegant or sportier depending on the material and shape.
Attention: Accessories are important! But please do not hang yourself like a Christmas tree. More than 3 eye-catching pieces of jewelry are too much in formal business. And also independently of the job one should consider that also a noticeably decorated belt and glasses are considered as accessories.