barbiejhaki.com: ***The MAGIC of MIX n MATCH***

Friday, October 21, 2011

The MAGIC of MIX n MATCH

Hey Lovelies,

I just want to share with you my outfit the other day and how I mix and match this ensemble.

Actually there is nothing new about this one aside from my sunglasses which I bought at Mint, Glorietta 5.

Although new fashions are unveiled every season, most people simply add a few new items to their wardrobe rather than replacing it entirely. Learning to mix and match your new and old clothing will help you create many outfit combinations that will be interesting and varied even if you repeatedly wear certain items.

I decided to wear my Kamiseta top with my green pencil cut skirt and fuchsia pink pumps and purse and then Voilà!!!

Here are some of the tips:

Take an inventory

Before you go shopping, take a stock of your current set of clothes. Discard what you are never going to wear. A simpler way would be to see what you haven’t worn in the past one year and just give it away. If you haven’t worn it last spring, you are not going to miss it this next spring!

Separate out neutrals

Of the pieces that you have left, separate out the ones in neutral color – this would be all the solid or lightly patterned blacks, whites, khakhis, greys, navys and browns. These will form the foundation of your wardrobe. You are going to buy or build your wardrobe around these pieces.

Create Outfits

Now start pairing the other non-neutral pieces with the neutrals you have. Almost all the colors can be paired with any of the neutrals. Be creative. This season’s hot trend is to pair light pink with beige. Ever thought of that?

You can also pair one neutral with another – though, personally, I would avoid brown and black together. I think it’s too dull, unless you have some bright accessories to go with the outfit.

You will be amazed at the number of outfits you are able to create just by using the pieces you had in your wardrobe.

Shopping for new clothes

You should always look to buy clothes that will go with your existing wardrobe. If you buy something that is drastically different, you are never going to find an occasion to wear it. Unless you are starting afresh, always look to buy stuff that will blend with your existing wardrobe – the key to keeping up the illusion of a new outfit each day.

You should invest in some good classic pieces. Pieces that don’t fade with changing fashion trends.

I personally believe, every woman should have the following:

Formal pieces:

- A black straight-leg trouser

- A black skirt

- A grey skirt / trouser

- A beige / khakhi skirt or trouser

- A pin striped suit (preferably dark gray)

These are the basics. You can then add other neutrals – navy, brown, white, depending on your personal preferences.

Casual:

- A pair of perfect fitting bootcut dark wash jeans

- A smart short jacket (denim, cotton or corduroy – your choice as long as you don’t pair denim with jeans!!)

Party:

- A little black dress – always a savior!

You should be careful about buying stuff that’s currently in vogue. These may be out of fashion in a couple of months. So you don’t need to spend a great deal on them. Just make sure they don’t look outright cheap.

Mixing patterns

This can be quite tricky. The general advice is to not mix too many patterns. If you are wearing a flowery skirt, keep the blouse simple, preferably one solid color. Don’t mix horizontal stripes with vertical. You can mix plaid with stripes only if both the patterns are very subtle. Never mix 2 bold patterns.

Accessories

Once you have the outfits in place, you can look even more stunning by using the right accessories. They don’t cost a great deal but give just the extra touch your outfit needs.