A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN
PINK AND BLUE DENIM IS A COOL COLOUR COMBO THIS SEASON. YOU’LL LOVE IT, SAYS EMMA JOHNSON
ARE YOU STUCK IN AN OUTFIT RUT?
Once upon a time I had a client book me for a wardrobe refresh. On arrival at her house, I spotted Polaroids on the inside of her wardrobe with carefully photographed outfits including shoes and bags.
If you are wondering why this person needed a wardrobe refresh, so was I. Then I probed further.
My client won’t mind me sharing this story, she has great taste and the photos contained some excellent looks, but the “outfits” were the reason she was struggling with her wardrobe and felt like she needed to start all over again. My client was stuck in the ‘outfit rut’.
The outfit rut is an easy one to fall into. It starts off with you buying things you love. You have the right shoes, it all works together and when the occasion arises, you have a ready made outfit.
So far, so good.
But then the next occasion arises and what do you do? You buy a whole new outfit, right? WRONG.
Outfits are made to be broken up; wearing a look in only one combination is a fashion sin. How can each garment ever reach its full potential treated this way?
The only exceptions to this rule are dresses and jumpsuits which can’t be deconstructed. You can change the vibe by changing your accessories but ultimately it’s one piece.
Everything else: blouses, tops, skirts, trousers, knitwear are made to be worn in different configurations , or as my mum would say “mixed and matched”.
It’s fun to take a sledgehammer to an outfit. This means really breaking up the way you wear it, changing the proportions so it looks different and the end use isn’t the same.
A good example of this is the silky midi skirt. Of course it looks great worn dressed up with heels and a blazer, but it is as a day skirt that it is my favourite. Wear it in summer with a long T-shirt and trainers/sandals; in winter team it with a longer length knit and loafers and socks, (chunky knitted socks or knee length hosiery) or with flat, knee-high boots.
To break down an outfit you have to question the details. Long trousers need heels, or can they just be worn rolled up? Does that top have to be worn tucked in? Does it have a pretty collar and could be layered under a sweater? Separate your co-ords and split up your suits.
Goodbye outfit rut, hello infinite outfit possibilities!