Mixing and matching clothes can be a lot of fun, but the best part is being able to create your very own unique style. Whether you’re mixing fabrics, prints, patterns, colours or accessories, there are a lot of eye-catching styles you can design and wear every day. You could choose the looks that reflect who you are and what you love to wear.
Here are a few guidelines to help you mix and match your clothes to create an authentic style:
- Select your colour palette
There are colours that you love and colours that look great on you. However, it’s not necessary that your favourite colours flatter your style. Recognise what looks good on you and create a colour palette with that as the centre.
Envision the colour wheel. The primary colours are red, yellow and blue. These pairings are bold and contrast well, but best in their toned versions. Analogous colours are those next to each other on the wheel. These pairings are less striking, yet create a serene look. Once you select your colours, use neutral shades like black, white and beige to balance them. For instance, if yellow is a colour you would like to start your palette with, you could try pairing the bold ginger yellow Valentine pants with a subtle sand beige camisole for a chic look.
- Invest in basic tops
Investing in a few basic tops can widen your scope for mixing and matching your clothes to suit various occasions and looks. A classic white shirt may be paired with formal pants and a blazer for a business look. If your personal style is free-spirited and casual, a flowing, feminine dress or skirt will speak volumes. If rock chic is more you, then you could sport a bomber jacket over a casual T-shirt and jeans. Keep experimenting and discovering what makes you look and feel like you!
- Accessorise
Accessories have the power to turn a simple ensemble into a stylish one – you just need the right ones. A tote bag, jewelry, shoes and scarves are perfect accents to your look, giving your look a little flavour, colour and character.
A chunky chain necklace or bracelet are bold statement pieces that call attention to you and up your style quotient. Gemstones can add a burst of colour, so wearing a gemstone necklace over a simple white top can transform your look. A colourful scarf has the same elegant effect.
- Pair prints with solid colours
Mixing too many printed items usually causes some dissonance in your outfit. The trick is to match printed items with solid colours in the same tone. Of course, if you wish to go bold and mix two different prints, you can tie in the two with transitional pieces like a jacket or cardigan.
The animal print has always been coveted, and wearing an animal-printed shirt dress matched with a pair of white sneakers can create a casual chic vibe. You can also flaunt a bold, geometric print when mixed and matched with a neutral colour, like a printed skirt with a cream-coloured top.
- Identify your fashion personality
This means, expressing your unique characteristic through your ensemble. It could be expressive, romantic, classic, or relaxed – and mixing and matching your pieces can help create your unique fashion personality and thereby, your authentic style.