Fall is here and it’s time to pull out your cardigans, shrugs and furs. The cold months are all about dressing up to keep warm and look stylish at the same time. And how do you look chic when all you want to do is feel cozy in a baggy jacket? You layer your clothes!
Layering on clothes helps you stay warm and allows you to flaunt your wardrobe too. Why throw on a big brown coat every time you step out when you can dress differently every day?
Here are some tips that will help you layer your clothes effortlessly.
Look Through Your Wardrobe
If you have a wardrobe that’s ready to burst, it’s easy to overlook many items that you could put to good use. Go through your wardrobe in detail. Better still, get all your clothes out and lay them on your bed. Try to pair up your clothes differently and see what looks good. You may want to make a list of all possible combinations.
Here’s a list of some must-haves.
- You need to have a few vests in different colors and different necklines. These can be worn with dresses, pants, skirts, and over long-sleeved knits too.
- Two to three cashmere sweaters in nude or bright colors. These can be worn over collared shirts, skirts, leather pants, and everything in between.
- A couple of jackets will come in handy when you need to layer clothes. Yes! Instead of layering on cardigans and vests, try wearing a denim jacket, buttoning it up, and throwing on a wool jacket. It’s a popular trend in case you’re worried how it’s going to look.
- A fine coat. This will be what you’ll be wearing on the outside most of the time and people are bound to notice this item first. Whether in a nude shade or a bright color, a coat that is well-tailored is a fashion necessity.
- A handful of tees and tops of varying hemlines will prove to be useful when wearing them over a skirt or a summer dress.
- A pair or two of skinny jeans that will go with anything from leather boots to knit sweaters.
- A pair of leather boots. They work well with almost anything and you just have to flaunt a pair in the cold months.
- A pair of long gloves will accentuate the look of a cape or a jacket with 3/4th sleeves. Buy a pair if you don’t already have one.
Going About It
You should start with a basic top in a neutral or a bold color. You can also choose a patterned top. When layering tops, coordinate different necklines, hemlines, and sleeve lengths.
You may want to wear a shirt with a longer hemline underneath one with a shorter hemline. Full-sleeved t-shirts will look good under short-sleeved ones. Personalized t-shirts with a deep V-neck can be worn over tees with a boat neck.
Just because temperatures are dropping doesn’t mean you put away your tank tops. Wear a sweater or top that has a large neckline off your shoulder and pull a tank on top of that. Or simply wear a bright colored tank over a tee in a neutral color.
You need to layer on clothes on your bottom half too. If you have a mini skirt or a pair of shorts that you love wearing, just put on a pair of leggings or tights underneath. You can also wear the mini skirt over a knee-length skirt. Clothing items with trimmings can be worn underneath shorter hemlines for a unique effect.
Summer dresses can be worn with a vest, a bolero, or a shrug. You can also wear a blouse or t-shirt over a dress. A mini dress can be covered with a wrap-around skirt or a sarong.
Look Slim While Layering
Layering on clothes can add bulk to your body structure. You certainly don’t want that.
- Don’t choose items that are fluffy, wooly, thick, over-sized, or billowy when layering. Layer on tops that are body-hugging or tissue-thin. Round the look off with a tailored jacket to keep the silhouette slim.
- If your sweater looks too baggy with all the layers of clothes underneath, use a belt to cinch at your waist.
- Dark colors make you look slim; use them to your advantage. You don’t have to wear everything in a dark color as it wouldn’t look flattering always. But wear dark colors where you need to look slim; for example a pair of dark jeans if you’re pear shaped.
- If you’re apple shaped, wear clothes that are fitted in the middle. If you have a large bust and want to play its size down, wear open necklines, go for thinner fabrics, and opt for shawls or scarves.
- If you wear several layers on the upper half of your body, balance the look by wearing minimal things on the bottom half. Leggings, tights, boot cuts, skinny jeans, etc. are perfect to balance the extra layers on top.
Pairing Layers Smartly
When choosing different items to layer, never go for the same colors. Pick clothes in different shades or contrasting colors. You can mix and match prints too. Limit your palette to just three colors; too much of anything is bad.
Remember that layering can create a cluttered look. So keep accessories to a minimum. A pair of stud earrings, and a simple bracelet and necklace will do. Also, be sure to wear loose clothes over tight ones so that things don’t look awkward.
Conclusion
With the cold months here, you don’t have to put on the same outfit every day. Pair up your clothes cleverly and look elegant through fall and winter.