I get asked a lot about fashion, from asking where I bought a certain piece, to being asked for style advice. Friends, family, even strangers will come up to me, inquiring about fashion. Today I will share my secret to how I build an outfit.
Are you ready? Paper in hand? Bookmark in place?
The key to my (hopefully) being chic and stylish, is a focal piece. That one piece that makes every one stop in their tracks and say “Whoaza!” Much like the visual mass theory in photography, One element, no matter how big or small will stand out. That is how I build all of my outfits, around that one piece. Once I have chosen that central element, much like architect designing a structure, I am building an outfit.
Cape, lace dress, necklace and earrings: Anthropologie // Leggings: Lululemon // Boots: Banana Republic // Bag: Lulu Lemon
It can be anything as big as a jacket or dress, or something smaller, like a statement necklace or a sassy pair of heels. I look at colors and take pops out of the central piece, and pick from my closet. All built on accentuating the article of clothing or accessory I have chosen to highlight.
Accentuating is important, it also keeps everything cohesive so I am not clashing with anything I wear, but everything is flowing seamlessly from one piece to the next. I liken in this to the group picture principle where people should choose three or so colors. I always try to tone everything else down so that that the focal piece will have its moment of glory.
Hat, Scarf, Cape: Anthropologie // Jeans: White House Black Market // Ballet flats: Tory Burch // bag: Lulu Lemon // Lobster Gauge Cuff: LightHouse Studios, Maine // Coffee: Starbucks and was absolutely heavenly!
One of my favorite pieces I own and which I consider the holy grail to my fashion collection, is a cape I bought from Anthro last year. I literally had my eye on this over two hundred dollar army green cape for months, until it went on sale and I scooped it up.
Cape, lace dress, and earrings: Anthropologie // Leggings: Lululemon // Boots: Banana Republic // Sunglasses: Tory Burch
Even if I had paid full price, I have more then made my moolah back. I wear it all the time. It is one of my favorite pieces to style. Every time I put it on, I receive compliments and it is a piece I generally build my outfits around. It is also the one article of clothing that makes me actually beg for cold weather.
Shoes: Tory Burch // Jeans: White House Black Market // Cape: Anthropologie // Bag: Louis Vuitton // Scarf: Lulu Lemon
Because of the woodsy coloring of the green, I can wear it with most things, though I tend to stay on the neutral palette spectrum. I love pairing it with dresses as much as I do with jeans, loving the way the blues accentuate the green. It is a piece I can also dress up or down, switching it up with heels or ballet flats depending on my mood and the condition of my poor feet.
Do you have a favorite piece in your closet? How do you build your outfits? As always comments and opinions welcome!
Cape: Anthropologie // Jeans: White House Black Market // shoes: Tory Burch
