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.
MR MARVIS
Coconuts Pinstripe * The Linen Shacket White
£179.00
MR MARVIS
On
Cloudsurfer Max White
£115.00
On
Ganni
Green Canvas Cap
£90.00
GANNI
On
Cloud X 4 White
£95.00
On
Fat Face
FatFace Etta Bleach Denim Capri Jeans
£48.00
FatFace
-45%
Levi's
Womens Levis Ribcge Wide lg in Scrp Travertine - Beige - Size 31W/30L
£55.00
£100.00
Secret Sales
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.
-49%
Pinko
Kamut Jacket - female - PINKO - Blazers - Black - XL - Jackets
£168.00
£331.00
Miinto
-50%
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
New Balance
Tapered Logo-Print Shell Track Pants Blue
£180.00
Mr Porter
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.
-40%
La DoubleJ
Picket wool-blend polo sweater Red
£282.00
£470.00
Mytheresa
-61%
Blumarine
Wool Blend Jumper - female - Blumarine - Round-neck Knitwear - Pink - XS - Knitwear
£401.50
£1,042.50
Miinto
-46%
-30%
Joseph
Isaak silk satin midi-skirt Black
£241.00
£345.00
Mytheresa
-40%
-30%
Asceno
Roma silk twill maxi skirt Green
£199.00
£285.00
Mytheresa
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.
-37%
Fat Face
FatFace Leanna Black Leather Jacket
£125.00
£199.00
FatFace
Fat Face
FatFace Bethany Burgundy Red Quilted Biker Jacket
£199.00
FatFace
-15%
Infinity Leather
Womens Burgundy Biker Jacket - Delhi - Size 14 UK Red
£79.99
£93.59
Secret Sales
Fat Face
FatFace Light Brown Slim Ballet Suede Trainer
£49.50
FatFace
-50%
Sandro
Maxi dress with lace details
£219.50
£439.00
Sandro
-39%
Fat Face
FatFace Fifi Ivory Vintage Bloom Petite Cami Blouse
£30.00
£49.50
FatFace
-50%
Serena Bute
Silk Slip Dress with Lace Trim - Emerald Silk Green
£248.00
£495.00
Serena Bute
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 MV Siren Muse Large Hoop Earrings
£159.00
Monica Vinader
-60%
Monica Vinader
Gold Alta Capture Charm Cocktail Earrings
£95.60
£239.00
Monica Vinader
Valentino Garavani
Valentino V Hoop Earrings Gold
£100.00
HEWI
Monica Vinader
Gold Fragments Coral Huggie Earrings
£89.00
Monica Vinader
-30%
Roger Vivier
Metallic leather ballet flats Silver
£448.00
£640.00
Mytheresa
Ferragamo
30mm Jelly Ballet Pumps - Womens - PVC Silver
£375.00
Browns
-20%
XY London
Womens XY London Womens/Ladies Bubbles Pointed Flat Ballerina Flats - Gold - Size: 7
£28.91
£36.11
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