I often get asked from colleagues and friends alike what my style is, and I am always stumped for an answer because I have…none. No seriously, I am all over with my style and choices. I choose what I like and I wear what I want. Yup, as easy as that. And then of course the next question that comes is, “Then how do you put together what you wear every day?” From answering these types of questions over the years, I have noticed that a few common patterns have emerged. My go-to answer is: It’s all in the mixing…mixing in right proportions, of course. Creating the right balance is so important! Allow me to share a few of my rules.
Ok, full disclosure before you read further: I am no fashionista, nor do I claim to be. I am a fashion loving, ordinary working mom and wife sharing a few things that have worked for me.
1. Mixing Trendy with Classic
You decide what works best for you. Personally for me trends have never worked. I totally missed the “velvet fervor” or the pencil skirt look amongst many others. Am I blind not to notice them you ask? Not at all! In my defense I looked and said “nah, that won’t work for me” and moved on… It’s not like I am unaware of trends; I just incorporate the ones that work for me and always in small doses. Again it’s all about mixing trendy pieces in small doses with classics for me!
2. Mixing the High End–Low End Look
Ok, if you get me started on this there’s no stopping me…I am a HUGE believer in mixing low-end with high-end pieces! My clothes are super affordable. All my money goes towards…ACCESSORIES. Love them, can’t live without them, and they are the true heroes of my look everyday! Shoes, bags, shawls, bracelets, rings—I am obsessed with ALL. For bags, I gravitate towards Hermès with a sprinkling of Chanel. For shoes, I am a Louboutin fan for life, although I do own other brands and wear them – but not nearly as much as my Louboutins. For shawls, I am a Hermes groupie, but own and wear Louis Vuitton, Gucci, McQueen, Burberry, and the like. Some people invest in clothes while I invest in accessories. MORE IS BETTER—don’t judge!
3. Mixing Neutrals and Bright Colors with Equal Ease
Don’t let bright colors intimidate you. Blend them seamlessly with neutrals, and you will get the va-va-oom look! For me, if I am wearing a bright blouse, I will tone it down with black or neutral slacks or jeans and, definitely, nude shoes. On the other hand, if I am wearing neutral clothing I will incorporate pops of color with a handbag or other accessories just to play up the look. It’s all about mixing in the right proportions!
4. Mixing Textures
Cottons, silks, denim, cashmere, lace, chiffon, leather, wool, and metallics are all so different, yet if you mix them in the right proportions it can create that WOW effect! Textures can add a totally different dimension to your outfit and make the entire look so much more interesting. Delicate silk or chiffon with rugged jeans look amazing! A chunky cable knit sweater with a slim long skirt or cotton tights is another combo I love. Imagine a cotton tee, tweed jacket, and denim jeans. Interesting combinations right? Now imagine a cotton tee, cotton pants, and cotton jacket. Seems a tad bit boring maybe? Have fun with textures in the right proportions! You can also incorporate different textures with accessories, such as suede boots or shoes, or a cashmere shawl or silk scarf, to create interesting and memorable mixes.
5. Mixing Prints/Patterns and Solids
I can’t pull off prints, period! I know of fashionistas who can totally do it, but I am not even close…for me solid-colored t-shirts and blouses work the best, but I love prints, so the way I have learned to incorporate them in my everyday look is through accessories. For me the easiest way to do this is through shawls and scarves. Just throw one on, and it pulls the look together plus creates that balance between prints and solids. If I ever do dare to wear patterns, I make sure to balance them with a solid colored shawl. And I NEVER wear large prints on areas I want to hide…instead of hiding it, the large print screams “look at me.” I just make sure I don’t overload myself in prints in my entire outfit!
Over the years, I have realized fashion isn’t about WHAT we wear as much as it is HOW we wear it. The key and vital ingredient to carrying out any kind of look is our confidence, and confidence isn’t something we can buy off of the shelves (how easy would it be if we could, right?). It’s something that gets ingrained in us over time, through trial and error, as we learn what works best for us and what doesn’t. So my friends, don’t forget to “mix” in this golden nugget called “confidence” in every look you wear and in everything you do. Own it like a boss and you will appear as one!
I would love to hear from you my friends about the rules you live by when it comes to fashion!
Love always,
@eternalove4bags
Read related articles below:
She Claims to be a “Big Bag” Kind of Girl
What’s Your Holy Grail Bag?
Why One In and One Out? And No More Than 10 Bags
The Perfect Work Bag (PWB)
Exclusive Interview With Hermès Collector Jamie Chua
Updated: July 5th, 2017
Comments
11 Responses to “It’s All in the “Mix””
Love it! Great article as always my friend. I’m like you, lots of solids and prints in accessories. What I tell my friends who are afraid of color or mixing too many colors is to keep to a max of three colors (solid) and then use accessories for prints to tie it all together. I too like mixing high and low and do it also with clothing. Love your combinations.
XoXo
Thank u so much my friend for sharing your beautiful style tips! Sticking to no more than 3 solid colors is ????????… Like u I feel prints through shoes or scarf etc. adds such a nice touch to an otherwise boring all solid outfit.
Alléluia for you being You????I am in love with all your pictures, it represents what I love ❤️ too bad I can’t afford it ????????but you bought the Louboutin shoes I fell in love with ❤️The map of Paris❤️❤️❤️I was so tempted but I couldn’t justify it, perfect heel and all.. it’s refreshing to read you, I don’t follow fashion either, I instantly know what goes with what and at night I prepare my clothes, bag, shoes and jewelry and somehow I don’t even need to think about it, in the summer all I wear is dresses, can’t stand anything fitted in this weather and everything else falls into place, my thing is I never look at myself in the mirror but I know I would be fine isn’t crazy? I don’t take myself seriously but I have been told I am not like the others around me and stand out, I don’t see it but for me it’s a nice compliment and for someone who doesn’t like attention I learned how to say thank you and appreciate it ????I ❤️YOUR STYLE BEAUTIFUL LADY ????????????
Thank u beautiful ????… some people have amazing style without trying and u my dear r one of them????❤️… I have made quite a few errors before finally figuring out what really works for me and I am glad to say now that I have, I am experimenting even more as I gain more confidence … of course experimenting within the parameters of what works for me ????.. style and fashion should be fun NOT stressful! So mixing makes it enjoyable and interesting ❤️❤️
I grew in a very classic way with a loving but strict Mom with a very strong sense of what’s right and elegant, I was told what to wear even as a teenager and never rebelled but embraced it, easy when it is what you like…my Dad reminded me of an English Lord ????I had a really hard time to incorporate color in my wardrobe, I was wearing neutrals all the time so I would not stand out from the crowd and it was safe, for years one of my girlfriends tried to break my habits, but nope..(my Mom only wears neutrals) once fashion changed it has been more and more difficult to find beige around and I still don’t understand why.. here like I said before light clothing is the only thing I can stand so I was forced to take what I could find ???? Which means patterns too, which is not me really and I started laughing at myself, so much for blending in .. but when it’s 95 every day ????So I was finally forced into colors but I am still craving one color skirts I could match with tops, I am not giving up either but I almost wish I could sew haha, by the way, a few years ago my Mom threw away a black Kelly my Dad bought her, because she used the get mad and frustrated with the opening of the bag, she had it for many years and never really used it…because I was thinking the same I didn’t stop her and now when I see all those Kelly’s on IG I am like ????I wish I had it…back then I wasn’t really paying attention that it was a Hermès, It was just not practical ????????
I know somewhere someday, I will find the clothes I like again, but like you I rather spend it on shoes, bags or scarves ????I miss my childhood when elegance was around, beautiful cotton and silk and linen was everywhere, and thank you for the beautiful compliment ????????????
Omg! That K would definitely have been a classic piece to have! But it’s ok you can now buy things that suit you and your aesthetics????…and maybe start with a small bright colored item instead of a piece of clothing? Maybe a pair of shoes or clutch? Especially since you have always worn neutrals, breaking the habit can be difficult but incorporating color in small doses could be the key. ❤️❤️
Look what I have ????This Epi Borneo Trocadero is ancient, I left it sitting pretty at the bottom of my closet in Switzerland for over a decade and @pursebop convinced me to bring it over here and I am using it again along with the monogram same Trocadero, it took me awhile to not be ashamed to use 25 years old bags… Now I don’t care ????????I used to be dressed all in black and loved that burst of green, and I love my scarves too, but it’s so hot… I enjoy using it again specially LV doesn’t make that green anymore if they even do green nowadays ????????❤️
And I love love love the Orange from Hermès in a Birkin ????????????????
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/947b589b45d1b298464f17695523c54aa90b61f91ab9bb1b13798747a367c304.jpg
Love H orange and the green btw is soooooo beautiful! I hope u wear this green beauty all the time????????????