Except going crazy about details, using the word ‘fashionable’ and talking about hitting a fashion level, I’m pretty good at talking about contrasts too. That one should be contrasting details in an outfit and that it should exist a balance in the outfit etc. So it’s about time that I do a post on how to balance your outfit!
Why you should balance your outfit
To balance your outfit means that you are contrasting different elements. For instance, preppy and street, vintage and modern, bohemian and urban. It can also be more specific, like balancing colors or finding a balance in your silhouette. It’s nothing wrong with going full embrace on a specific style, not at all. What will be missed though is the excitement an eclectic style comes with. For instance, when you balance the cute part of a blouse with distressed jeans. It creates some friction between the elements, which results in a balanced outfit. You know how they say that opposite attracts? Apply that to fashion and you’ll get quite the fierce outcome!
How to balance your outfit
As written earlier, there are different ways you can balance your outfits. By style, by silhouette or by colors. I’ll give each of them their own post in the future, as for now though, let’s break them down more generally.
Balance the silhouette
To balance the silhouette is to find a favorable balance between your body and your clothes. I could write a book on the subject really, but with different body parts comes certain clothes/silhouettes that are more favorable on you than others. If you’re bigger on the hips, you should balance it by adding fabric/silhouette by the shoulders. If you have wide shoulders, you should add fabric by the hips. It all comes down to finding harmony in your silhouette, that there is not too much “weight” on one body part.
To balance the silhouette also comes down to pairing defined pieces with boxy ones. If you’re for instance wearing a faux fur top that is quite fluffy, you should pair it with defined pants as it’ll give a nice balance. If you’re working a tight skirt, you might want to add some volume to the top. If you’re wearing an oversized midi-coat, wear tights or defined pants that will contrast the heavy look of the coat. It’s all about meeting the main part of the outfit with the opposite.
Balance the styles
This is my favorite part about finding a balance in an outfit/style and I live by it. Balancing different styles is the definition of going eclectic. I love eclectic fashion and I think there’s so much fun to explore the contrasts of different styles and elements. Sticking to one style only sounds rather boring if you ask me.
Well, to the point, balancing styles is about contrasting different elements in an outfit. Remember on Monday when I wrote that a sheer floral top is perfect with heavy materials? That’s balancing styles. If you feel like your outfit is being too preppy, or too bohemian, add an element that embodies the opposite. If you’re doing a patterned flowy maxi dress, add a statement necklace and see the chic outcome. If you wear a pink dress, add the leather jacket. Is rather simple actually, as you might can tell. A favorite of mine is to wear knitted sweaters with faux leather, read more about it here.
Balance the colors
Lastly, balance the colors. Finding a balance between colors is not necessarily a must, but it is a nice detail in an outfit. I love both monochromatic outfits and outfits in different shades, but outfits are equally as good when in contrasting colors. If you wear an all grey outfit, contrast it with colorful details. If you wear klein blue, pair it with bright orange or popping pink. Pick a color and contrast it with opposite colors, the clash is often quite the statement and chic. You can, of course, also do this with more subtle colors too!
White and black is the most common balance you can do with “colors” and it’s not for nothing it’s called a classic. But it couldn’t be more true either! It’s, obviously, the dark of the black that meets the bright of the white. They contrast and balance each other perfectly. It’s classic and fantastic (just getting the rhymes coming here).
Final note
So know I’ve given you several fashion rules now. I’m really just going to end this post though by stating that rules are to be broken. Even though the rules I’ve written already might be breaking the idea of sticking to one style and a few colors, these newly given rules can be broken too! Buy ignoring balance and going one color, or ignoring contrast and dress all in knit (or something).
Folks! What are your best tips on finding a balance in an outfit? Hit me with a comment below! Xx
I’ve always admired people who have such a beautiful sense of fashion, like yourself, and manage to balance their outfits so effortlessly! I think it’s a talent, really, I usually just throw on whatever I feel like on a given day, and just hope that it doesn’t look too terrible. 😀 You’ve given some fab tips here, though, and perfect for a fashion newbie such as myself! Thanks for sharing, my darling. <3 You're my fav fashion guru! xoxo
Kay
http://shoesandglitter.com
Haha thank you love, you’re the sweetest! So happy you enjoyed the post and hopefully has found it helpful! Xx
https://www.thefashionfolks.com
I’m also a huge fan of ‘balancing’ outfits. I often find thinking about it in terms of photography helps – for example, working in groups of three; that’s where hats come in handy! Gorgeous style selections for this blog post by the way – dreamy handbags!
aglassofice.com
x
That’s so true though! If it comes off great on camera, it’s usually a great choice! And a hat always gives a great balance due to the silhouette! Xx
https://www.thefashionfolks.com
I’m into balancing the silhouette and colors. I think that with these two, one can be fashionable, stylish and comfortable all at the same time. Rules can be broken but still there should always be balance. xx
http://www.prettyweirdbombshell.com/super-easy-trout-recipe/
That’s so lovely though! Rules can be broken indeed, but the truth is definitely that there always are some fashion rules that are being respected! Xx
https://www.thefashionfolks.com
These are really good tips, thanks for sharing! There is a lot to think about if you want to create a stunning outfit, practice makes perfect! 🙂
Hope you have a great weekend ahead! 🙂
Away From The Blue Blog
Indeed, some better than others! But always so important to try and see where it takes you! Xx
https://www.thefashionfolks.com
As always, this was a very informative post. Balancing an outfit isn’t an easy task, but so fun to do, since everyone perceives it differently.
xo
http://www.carinavardie.com
Yay, so happy you enjoyed the post! It is fun indeed and it definitely adds something to the outfit! Xx
https://www.thefashionfolks.com
These are such great tips!
xo
Siffat
http://icingandglitter.com
So happy you like them! Xx
https://www.thefashionfolks.com
Love everything about these outfits!! Thank you for sharing, its given me some great inspiration!
Darriyan xo | http://www.darriyancateland.co.uk
So happy you do! There are some chic ones! Xx
https://www.thefashionfolks.com
I’m not good at fashion and balancing the outfits but one of the things I try to do is to balance the colours. Contrast colours make the outfit stand out. Balancing the styles is one of the things I struggle, so I try to stick to one simple style that I know won’t go wrong. Great post 🙂 x
Ela BellaWorld
Contrasting colors is a great way of doing it! Try to just add a small piece that is contrasting and see how it feels! Xx
https://www.thefashionfolks.com
great read! I struggle matching layers and styles in winter, it is all about the balance I agree, not just colours but styles as well! 🙂
Have a great week!
♥ Josune @ Your Beauty Script
http://yourbeautyscript.com
So true! It’s important to keep a mix of different things, or at least it’s fun to do so! Xx
https://www.thefashionfolks.com
I love the idea of balance, great tips
xo
http://www.laurajaneatelier.com
Yay! Xx
https://www.thefashionfolks.com
I absolutely love ur blog, its so insightful and informative,…great tips you have listed on here..Thanks for sharing this hun….xoxo, Neha
Thank you love, so happy you enjoy it! Xx
https://www.thefashionfolks.com
Love everything about this post! So cute!
Love, Hadasah Love
http://www.styletolove.com | Instagram @hadasahlove
Thank you love! Xx
https://www.thefashionfolks.com
These tips are great for people like me who struggle to put outfits together – I’m ok at finding individual pieces but never know what to wear them with! I’ll give these a try 🙂
alicered.co.uk
That’s so good, happy that you find the post helpful! Xx
https://www.thefashionfolks.com
those are spot on tricks that i follow too!
http://www.thestyletune.com
that’s so awesome though!! Xx
https://www.thefashionfolks.com
I remember the days when we use to match the shoes to our belts and bags hahah now fashion less restricted and more experimental!
XoXo,
Tamara – LoveofMode.com
Hahha well, that was definitely something else! Xx
https://www.thefashionfolks.com
It’s alllll about the balance! It can totally make or break your look. Love this post!
http://www.prettyinleather.net
Right?! So important to keep it sane! Xx
https://www.thefashionfolks.com
I really couldn’t agree more with all the tips you’ve shared here, beauty! You know I’m an advocate for working with our bodies to create the perfect balance, which always results in a more polished and put together outfit! I also love balancing out both styles and colors, too! I agree, they make for a more interesting, unique, and eclectic pairing. I’m not one who favors one particular style over the other, I think it’s so much fun to challenge ourselves to try different styles, it keeps things interesting! Thanks so much for sharing, beautiful, and I hope you have the most amazing day!
XO,
Jalisa
http://www.thestylecontour.com
Well, a high five for great fashion minds thinking alike! Eclectic fashion is so much fun and definitely more interesting than just sticking to one style. I think it’s partly due to the fact that eclectic fashion tells more about a person’s ability to style than just sticking to one look!
Same to you love! Xx
https://www.thefashionfolks.com
Such a great post! Totally agree it’s all about balancing your look!
Have a Happy Thanksgiving, love!!!
xoxo, Vanessa
http://www.WhatWouldVWear.com
It definitely is, such a great fashion hack that works whenever! Xx
https://www.thefashionfolks.com
Great post and really interesting. Hope you are having a great day! Gemma x
http://www.jacquardflower.uk
Thank you love! Same to you! Xx
https://www.thefashionfolks.com
Balance is so key in every aspect of your life – especially in your outfit 😉 It can be a difficult thing to achieve! Agreed that rules are mean to be broken. In the end, balance it however you’d like! Great tips xx
http://www.qustomquinns.com/blog
Haha indeed! It’s definitely just do decide on the balance you value and go for it. May it be color, texture, silhoutte or a style! Xx
https://www.thefashionfolks.com