This morning I gave a presentation to a group of professionals and I shared the statistic that 70-90 % of all communication is nonverbal. How you show up and what you’re wearing is a form of communication. One of the attendees actually shared that she knows her business is suffering because she has gained weight and is wearing clothes that are too casual because nothing fits. She struggles to put new outfits together and doesn’t know how to mix and match pieces to create new outfits using what she has.
She is not alone. I hear from clients, over and over, that one of their biggest roadblocks is not knowing how to mix and match pieces to create new outfits. I love finding new ways to wear old things and while I am not good at puzzles I can put an outfit together in a flash. When working with clients I always show them tips to mix and match pieces to create new outfits. It’s my super power.
I recently purchased a beautiful stripe shirt and I was thinking of taking it back because it was more than I would usually spend on a top. I decided that I would see if I could put together a few outfits to justify the purchase. My rule is the power of two; can I wear it for two seasons and can I make at least two outfits using what I have in my closet. I started to mix and match pieces to create new outfits and in less than ten minutes I was able to put together new SIX outfits using what I had in my closet. That’s a win! It’s a keeper and I will be wearing this shirt year round.
Here are a few easy tips to mix and match pieces to create new outfits:
- try pieces with a small print and pair with colors in the print
- pair complimentary colors together (purple & green, blue & orange)
- try monochromatic looks
- pair neutral colors together (navy, olive, maroon, ivory, etc…)
If you have a piece with a small print (floral, geometric, or stripes) try pairing it with another piece that is a similar color or the same color as what is in the print. For example, if you have an ivory blouse with a small flower that has pink or olive match it with a pair of olive pants.
If you have an olive pair of pants try pairing them with a complimentary color like purple or red. You could also try pairing anything green with other shades of green for a monochromatic look. A last example of my tips to mix and match pieces to create new outfits is to pair neutrals together like navy and olive, maroon and navy, olive and ivory, or navy and grey. There are so many ways to pair neutral the possibilities are endless.
When you have a closet full of pieces that you can easily mix and match endlessly for your everyday life as well as your work life it’s a game changer. For some reason women think they are supposed to know how to mix and match outfits but most don’t. Learning how to mix and match and create new outfits can truly save you time every morning. It also helps you know exactly what you need when you shop.
If you need help or are unsure how to start. Reach out. I am here to help.