Here’s how to use “Contrast Dressing” to improve your style
We all know the feeling of trying on a myriad of different outfits and none of them feel quite right. When you’re tempted to give up and reach for the same old jeans and top remember that style is a muscle that needs to be exercised, and luckily there are tips out there that make getting dressed in the morning more intuitive—and fun!
“Contrast Dressing” is our new fave styling hack developed by Allison Bornstein, the stylist who brought us the “Wrong Shoe Theory”. Not only will “Contrast Dressing” make you immediately more stylish, but it’ll also help you create balance for pieces that seem “stuck” in one specific style.
Bornstein considers “Contrast Dressing” as an expansion of the “Wrong Shoe Theory”. Creating contrast is (as the name suggests) at the core of “Contrast Dressing”, and the best way to create contrast in an outfit is through juxtaposing styles, textures, or accessories.
Here are five examples of “Contrast Dressing” that we just love.
Pairing masculine bottoms with a more feminine top and vice versa is a great way to give dimension to an outfit, and also makes those baggy jeans feel much more grown-up and polished. The good tension between masculine and feminine is also at the core of the Blokette aesthetic making rounds on social media right now.
-30%
Closed
X-Lent tapered jeans - Black
£150.00
£215.00
FARFETCH
-30%
Clarks
Howard Cap Standard Fit Black
£49.00
£70.00
Clarks
Closed
racer tank top - Black
£106.00
FARFETCH
Clarks
Westlynn Bella Standard Fit Black
£65.00
Clarks
Diesel
D-Akemi wide-leg jeans - Grey
£180.00
FARFETCH
-50%
Citizens Of Humanity
Ayla mid-rise wide-leg jeans Blue
£190.00
£380.00
Mytheresa
Diesel
1996 D-Sire low-rise wide-leg jeans - Black
£130.00
FARFETCH
-40%
A Gold E
Ren high-rise wide-leg jeans Grey
£198.00
£330.00
Mytheresa
Another perfect style pairing for “Contrast Dressing” is formal/casual. Pairing high and low elements gives you an effortless and super-chic outfit. Try styling your favourite joggers with an oversized blazer and elevated shoes and accessories for the perfect off-duty-model look.
-30%
Frankie Shop
Lyra houndstooth oversized blazer Beige
£276.00
£395.00
Mytheresa
-40%
Frenken
TUX XXXL Oversized Ringed Blazer Black
£395.00
£659.00
Labels
-50%
Joseph
Joffrin oversized blazer Black
£322.00
£645.00
Mytheresa
-80%
Claudie Pierlot
Tailored Blazer Blue
£429.00
£2,145.00
Claudie Pierlot
-45%
Maison Ullens
BOTTOMWEAR - Trousers on YOOX.COM Orange
£112.00
£204.00
Yoox.com
Needles
Technical-jersey Track Pants - Mens - Green Multi - M
£225.00
MATCHES
Le 17 Septembre
Knitted track pants - Gray - FR 38 Grey
£275.00
The Outnet
Varley
Slim Jersey Track Pants - Womens - Taupe - XL Grey
£95.00
MATCHES
Playing with textures is a great way to do “Contrast Dressing”, even if it might not be super intuitive at first. One of the easiest texture pairings to achieve is shiny/fuzzy: just pair your fuzziest knit (mohair is a great option here) with a shiny silk slip skirt.
-60%
AllSaints
Mohair/Wool Kit Relaxed Fit Jumper, Size: M White
£71.20
£179.00
AllSaints
Circus Hotel
diagonal stripe oversized jumper - Pink
£183.00
FARFETCH
-60%
AllSaints
Mohair/Wool Kit Relaxed Fit Jumper, Size: L White
£71.20
£179.00
AllSaints
-40%
Isabel Marant
Morena sweater Beige
£237.00
£395.00
Mytheresa
-30%
Velvet
Eza velvet maxi skirt Purple
£192.00
£275.00
Mytheresa
Gucci
1970s pleated maxi skirt - Red
£230.00
FARFETCH
-50%
Jacques Wei
Midi skirt Grey
£176.00
£353.00
Mytheresa
-28%
Alysi
Alysi Silver
£162.00
£224.00
Balardi
Juxtaposing “hard” and “soft” materials is another great option for “Contrast Dressing”. Leather jackets, skirts, or trousers make perfect examples of a “hard” material, while lacy, light, or see-through tops and dresses make the perfect “soft” component.
-32%
Infinity Leather
Womens Classic Brando Biker Jacket-Loughton - Green Lamb Leather - Size 10 UK
£84.99
£124.99
Secret Sales
AllSaints
Leather Clay Funnel Neck Suede Cropped Jacket, Size: L Brown
£479.00
AllSaints
-15%
Infinity Leather
Womens Black Shearling Sheepskin Aviator Jacket-Kiev - Size 22 UK
£304.99
£359.99
Secret Sales
adidas
Three-Stripe zip jacket - Brown
£104.00
FARFETCH
AllSaints
Polyester Arlea Tulle Maxi Skirt, Size: UK 16/US 12 Black
£199.00
AllSaints
-38%
Roman
Lace Top Overlay Pleated Midi Dress Blue
£50.00
£80.00
Roman
Clarks
Orinoco3 Derby Standard Fit Black
£75.00
Clarks
-58%
Clarks
Orinoco Club Womens Navy Blue Boots Leather (archived) - Size UK 3.5
£52.99
£124.99
Secret Sales
Lastly, accessories can definitely help you add contrast to your look. This look featured in Valentino’s Haute Couture FW23 show Un Château is a perfect example of how a statement earring can add some spice to a simple look. Also, as Bornstein reminds us, having two similar elements at the top and bottom is useful to create a cohesive look: in this case, the silver earrings “connect” with the silver slippers tying everything together.
Monica Vinader
Sterling Silver Siren Muse Large Hoop Earrings
£150.00
Monica Vinader
Vivienne Westwood
Lucille Orb drop earrings - Gold
£185.00
FARFETCH
Versace
Greca and Medusa earrings Yellow
£330.00
Mytheresa
-30%
Marc Jacobs
The Mini Icon earrings - Silver
£98.00
£140.00
FARFETCH
-50%
Clarks
Sensa 15 Shine Standard Fit Gold
£35.00
£70.00
Clarks
-30%
Charles & Keith
Metallic Pointed-Toe Slingback Flats Silver
£38.50
£55.00
Charles & Keith
-30%
See By Chloé
Chany leather ballet flats Yellow
£220.00
£315.00
Mytheresa
Charles & Keith
Emiko Metallic Bow Mary Jane Flats Gold
£59.00
Charles & Keith
