I wanted to expand a little on an outfit side by side that I recently shared on Instagram. Which, side note, in my silence here is where you can see what I’ve been wearing daily. I wore the outfit on the left over the weekend; an easy neutral look which would feel right at home as part of my spring wardrobe. Hard to believe bare shoulders and sandals were still a possibility a few days out from the start of winter. That’s Sydney for you, I suppose!
L: Uniqlo U knit tank (similar here & here); Urago trousers; Boden slides; Oroton bag
R: Everlane silk shirt; Urago trousers; Boden slides
I talk a lot about columns of colour. They’re visually appealing on the eye, but also have a lengthening effect as there’s nothing “breaking” up proportions of your body. It’s why I wear tonal looks so often. Helps that it’s an effortless way to dress. The pants I’m wearing, from Urago, are quite straight cut through the leg, and are a medium-rise, which you might be able to see here highlights the length of my torso. In this instance, it’s a boon to continue that colour in my top. It means that the break in proportion is a lot more subtle and isn’t dragging my shape down (as low rise is want to do).
In the second iteration, which was me playing around with styling options for the day, I decided to reach for a cinnamon-hued silk blouse. This is a vibrant piece by comparison, and really stands out. It’s the focal point, and the first thing my eye rests on. In this instance, I decided not to tuck in the blouse. This was intentional. I knew by doing so, it would serve to highlight the mid-rise of the trousers, and my long torso. Made more obvious of course, by the fact that the top is a richly saturated colour. Instead, I wanted to create one long line with the actual shape of the pairing of items. The shirt is boxy by nature, and the way it falls is practically in sync with the straight silhouette of the trousers. Here, the colours are book-ended, meaning the top and the shoes are similar in tone. All in all, another pleasing outfit, but one that is a completely different vibe. More relaxed.
Where fit is concerned, I find it’s simple enough to pair looser items together if you consider the outfit as a whole. Do you have slim elements exposed? In both instances, my arms are bare. I’ve kept the shoes the same, a simple slip on slide which highlights my ankle – the smallest part of my leg. This creates harmony and visual balance. What I find interesting is how small tweaks to your outfit – in this case, changing the top and the way it’s styled – can completely transform the rest of what you’re wearing. I feel like this can lean a lot into how certain pieces feel on, and sometimes it’s just a matter of playing around with outfit combinations until you find the right mix (for you).
Would love to know which of the two outfits you preferred. The full tonal look I actually ended up wearing, or the second look with the cinnamon blouse?
