How To Coordinate Outfits!
So first of all, with any fashion subculture, you need inspiration. There are hundreds of thousands of different sources, which leads me to my first section on this topic: INSPIRATION
* Finding inspiration can be hard, but once you have your likes and dislikes set, it's much easier! Hate lace/frills? Steer away from sweet styles, and stick to the more edgy/rock styles. Don't like monotone? Look at brands that use more colour than others.
Once you have a better idea of the style you're aiming for, here's a few ways to get the inspiration ball rolling:
- download/purchase/subscribe to magazines. Unlike many other magazines, gal magazines focus more on outfit coordination/makeup/hair/etc. They are a great way to keep yourself up to date with current gal styles and trends, and get tips on how to coordinate one specific piece of clothing in multiple ways. I've seen Popteen and a few other magazines do a "month" of one model using the same set of clothing in multiple ways! So definitely magazines.
- read model blogs. Many models you see on the pages of your favourite magazines have different tastes in their everyday life, and much smaller wardrobes. They are perfect examples for finding inspiration for daily wear, and how to coordinate within a smaller wardrobe. Yes, they shop a lot, but they are still great! You can also get tips on hair and makeup for everyday use.
- create a scrapbook/Tumblr/etc for clothing you like. And it doesn't have to be only clothes! You can include those MA*RS shoes you love, or Romihi's most recent hair colour! Anything that inspires you, anything you dream of buying, anything that is relevant to your style! A fashion journal, if you would. Use Polyvore to create coordinates that you want, and then you can eventually purchase the pieces! It's like having an enormous closet of clothing you don't have. And it's really fun.
Anyways, now that you've got your inspiration, you need to think about the next section: OCCASION
When you're coordinating an outfit, do you think about the occasion? The dress code? What's socially acceptable? There are a lot of things you should take into consideration when coordinating an outfit.
* Weather, dress code and occasion are only a few of the things you need to take into consideration when coordinating. Pay attention to these various things when you are coming up with a rocking outfit!
It's not hard. Think about it like writing a news report:
- Where are you going? School? Work? Out for dinner? To a club? To the bar? Shopping? Just plain running errands? Your location matters when picking out an outfit. You're not going to wear your hottest clubbing threads to work or school, just like you wouldn't wear your formal wear for running errands. School and work are places where you don't (or sometimes CAN'T) dress up to your full potential. Basic coordinates with lighter makeup and hair are usually enough.
Going out for dinner, clubbing or bar hopping is a different story! These are occasions when you can pull out all the stops if you feel like it. Don your 4 inch heels, put on the glitzy dress and fluff your hair up as much as you like!
Shopping can go either way, but not to close to the going out wear. Casual coordinates are good enough here, but keep your hair and makeup looking tip-top. Gals gotta represent! Here are some examples for each category:
Two coordinates from DURAS' S/S '10 line, ideal for school.
A cute MA*RS look, ideal for going out at night.
A street snap of a girl whose outfit I really like, ideal for shopping!
- What are you doing? Dancing? Sitting around? Hiking around a shopping complex? You don't want to wear uncomfortable shoes for walking around for hours on end, save those for a time when you won't be doing much walking (or anything really). And you don't want to wear jeans when you're going to a fancy restaurant! Think about what you're going to be doing before you do it, and plan your outfit around that. It will help you out a lot.
- Who are you going with? Although it's rare, on occasion, you will find yourself in an awkward situation where your company doesn't like what you're wearing for whatever reason. For example, you may be going out with a girlfriend so she can introduce you to her guy friend who she wants to set you up with, and you decide to wear a sexy dress with a nice pair of heels. Only to find out he is very conservative. As I said, things like this are RARE, but they can happen! If you know you're going out with a bunch of friend who know you well, where what you would normally! But when going out to meet someone for the first time, keep the skimpier outfits at home, and go with a little extra length.
The final section you should concern yourself with when coordinating your outfits is: BODY TYPE & PERSONAL STYLE
(GILFY)
* Body type and personal style are important things to take in when you make an outfit. If a certain cut or colour doesn't help you're look, why are you wearing it? Paying attention to your body type is key.
Body type, in this sense, isn't just about your shape and size. I also mean your hair colour, skin colour, what ever. And I don't mean this in a racial sense, heavens, no! I mean that paler skin looks better with some colours, whereas some colours will wash that person out. Anyways, on to the tips! Follow these points when coordinating and buying clothes!
- Start with the basics. You don't want to build your entire wardrobe on super trendy pieces! Sure it may look cool NOW, but when the next season comes around, you'll be rushing to get new pieces, and have nothing to fall back on! That's why I suggest starting with buying things in basic colours, and cuts that will NEVER EVER go out of style. Like t-shirts.
- Get things that can transfer over seasons. It's important to have lots of things that can transfer from warm weather to cold weather at the tip of a hat, especially in areas where the weather is very finicky (like where I live). Cardigans are a GREAT investment, as well as long sleeved tees that are made of slightly lighter materials. If you have pieces that can transfer over seasons, in a sense, you have doubled your wardrobe!
- Pay attention to cut and colour. You have to dress to your body if you want to look good. If you have a small chest, get tops with embellishment near the chest regions to emphasize what you DO have! Empire-waists are good to hide tummies, and high waists have a slimming effect.
Also, certain colours can be very flattering. And others... not so much. Like if you don't look good in baby pink, why are you wearing it? Does yellow wash you out? Wearing aqua or blue make your tan look orange? When you look for clothes, find a palette that suits you! And always keep lots of neutral colours in your wardrobe. An acronym I learn in grade seven that has been eternally helpful:
C - P - T - S, Color - Pattern - Texture - Shine! Colour is one thing. Patterns, texture and shine; a whole other concept. But still goes by the same rules. Just because something is trending, does not mean it is for you! And sometimes, for ANYONE. So keep that in mind when you're shopping and coordinating.
That's all for now on coordination help! These are the things I try to remember when I am coordinating and shopping, and they ALWAYS work for me!
As always, thanks for reading, and stay awesomely fashionable always!
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