Style Guide: Turn 1 Outfit into 3 Styles
So far with my fashion blogs, I feel like things have been going well. We cover some unique outfits and have a good dialogue on where you can get the items and how they can be put together to craft a similar look. Feedback has been promising and people are taking notice. So great – I should keep taking this approach and not change a thing, right? WRONG. I believe that people should always find ways to take their workings to the next level and not allow themselves to get too comfortable with routine. Still trying to take my own advice, and I completely understand that finding the inspiration that will allow you to break out of routine is not always easy to come by.
Fortunately for me, I recently had a co-worker inspire me – and she didn’t even mean to. My team and I were headed to a client meeting and my outfit became a quick topic of conversation (which not to brag, is a common occurrence). My co-worker mentioned how my outfit was nicely coordinated and fit the weather perfectly (gray to reflect the rainy weather we were having at the time). She continued to mention how she loved the jacket I was wearing and proposed the following blog topic – 6 different ways to wear the same clothing item.
Absolute genius – I have always know that the “X-number of ways to do this or that” is a content approach that people gravitate to, but I guess it never dawned on me to explore how I can bring that kind of content to life on my blog. Even when I was planning my most recent content shoot, I still planned on taking the same approach I have been. "This is my single outfit, and this is how I styled it." But during the shoot, I found myself looking at the clothes I packed and thinking about how I could mix and match items to highlight multiple outfits and styles. So, in this first attempt, let’s talk about how to take (1) outfit, and generate (3) different looks with some simple styling.
All About That Base
You will want to start by figuring out what your base outfit is. It can be as simple as a shirt, pants and shoes – that’s it. Think about a simple outfit that you find yourself wearing often and fits your type of dress. In my case, I find that a fresh button-down shirt, some jeans and a favorite pair of boots fits my day-to-day. I got this lovely shirt on sale for only $20 from Zara – I’m already obsessed with it. The material is super soft, it has great length (which is helpful for tucking into pants without too much bunching) and the color is so refreshing. The jeans are just another Topman favorite, and of course, we’re rocking the beloved Steve Madden boots. Super simple, right? Now let’s look at three very easy ways to style this outfit.
Mr. Freeze – Coat/Jacket & Beanie
It’s technically still Winter and the weather continues to call for layers. But just because you need to remain bundled up, doesn’t mean you can’t maintain your style. I obviously recommend getting a wool pea coat or long-coat – these easily exude sophistication. I’m wearing my OG Kenneth Cole coat that I’ve had since 2012. It nicely complements the button-down shirt and further reinforces a classy look. You could easily top off a dapper fit like this with an ascot cap, beret or bolero hat – however, I live in NYC, so I wanted to keep things urban. I usually wear a beanie during cold seasons, so it was a natural choice. But that still works for this look because the beanie links up with the jeans and boots for a street style touch, which is a fun contrast to the more formal coat and shirt.
Mr. Fancy – Suit Jacket/Blazer
If you’ve been reading the latest, you know how I was recently inspired by a couple of suits that I bought from Topman late last year. Since we know that a suit can do a lot of heavy-lifting as far as style, then the same idea applies to suit jackets/blazers by themselves. Of course, choosing the right blazer is important - you want something with a little character to help give that extra touch of excellence. Continuing my "What I Haven't Worn" series, here I am wearing a blazer I got from Guess years ago - finally tapping into this piece now that my dapper game is strong. Whether you wear it draped around your shoulder and are wearing it in its full glory, you can't neglect the opportunity to elevate your outfit with a proper jacket. And this is not exclusive to men - ladies are killing the business wear game these days, so definitely take note.
Mr. Fly - Scarf
Let's say it isn't Winter and you have no intent to overheat yourself with a heavy coat. Or maybe you don't want too dressy of a look and wish to skip the blazer. You love your base outfit and don't want to cover it up with unnecessary clothing items. No problem - that's where accessories come in. In this case, I propose something as basic as a scarf to help differentiate your style. They're flexible in that you can wear them during Winter, Fall and transitions between hot and cold seasons. And they're not too obtrusive (depending on the scarf you get), so your shirt will still have an opportunity to shine. Of course, you're not limited to a scarf, you can go with a tie, hat or even a vest if you want to strike that middle ground between an accessory and another article of clothing. Just make sure you're keeping yourself looking fly.
You're A Fashion Stylist Now
Do you feel like a stylist yet? There is a lot more that can go into it, but styling can be as simple as switching out clothing items to find the right look for your mood. Now if you don't have much of a wardrobe, then this can def be a lot more challenging. But honestly, it's in challenging yourself that you can discover some nice new looks for yourself. I have to admit, it was pretty fun writing this one for two main reasons:
- I feel like we covered some great aspects of fashion and styling that I don't always cover in my individual outfit blogs.
- I really like naming my looks. Part of fashion is embodying something, so giving names to looks helps bring them to life even more.
While I will certainly be doing more blogs where I cover multiple looks, I will still be doing my outfit highlights. Balance is everything, and I am sure we'll strike the right mix of content as we continue through this fashion journey together.
