Reader Request: Go Versus Match

by Sally on July 3, 2018 in the category: accessories, color, reader requests, style

Reader Roxane posed this great question:

What’s the difference between accessories that “go” and ones that are “matchy-matchy”? For example, if you’re wearing all silver accessories (necklace, bracelet, shoes) is that matchy-matchy? Would you need to mix metals to have things that “go” and still stay metallic?

I wonder which assumes the need for a large supply of accessories (and thus perhaps a larger budget) – being matchy-matchy or having things that “go.” (Of course, if you stick to a very small color palette, this isn’t an issue.) read more

Originally posted 2015-08-19 06:16:59.

Reader Request: Styling Difficult Colors

by Sally on August 8, 2016 in the category: color, reader requests

Reader Ruth submitted this question in a comment:

What do you wear with ‘difficult coloured’ or in this case ‘difficult plus white’ coloured clothes? I recently bought a skirt from Boden which is bright orange and white. The model is wearing it with a light blue shirt but that looks rather random to me. Her shoes are orange too, but you know that in reality they would be a different orange. So what do you wear with something two-coloured without it looking random – especially if it is a shouty colour that doesn’t go with its near neighbours (unlike say greys or blues which often go well together). I was really dull and settled for a white t-shirt and black sandals on first wearing. But I think it is a general problem with clothes where there is no way to pick up the main colour. It’s always somehow difficult as well to incorporate clothes which aren’t your ‘core palette’. You might feel adventurous, but they just don’t go with anything. read more

Reader Request: When Matchy-matchy Makes Sense

by Sally on June 30, 2015 in the category: reader requests, style

Reader Patricia had this request:

I know you mentioned a little while ago that soon you’d write a post about the benefits of matchy-matchy — yes please! I’d also love to see that expand into something about the different attitudes and situations when matchy-matchy works, as opposed to more contrast (if that makes sense?).

I must’ve been born too late, friends, because 50’s style matchy-matchy STILL makes more sense to me than looks that “go.” Pretty much across the board. I feel that matched accessories create unity and visual harmony, and that striking the right balance of complimentary but different accessory colors is often more trouble than it’s worth. Two matched accessories total is a good cap – when your belt, shoes, bag, and earrings are all the same color, it can get a little overwhelming – but those two matched accessories are like outfit bookends. Neat, harmonious, unifying. read more