Color, Pattern, Texture, & Shine

There are four basic elements that make an outfit interesting:  color, pattern, texture, and shine. Incorporate these four things into a look for a result that is multidimensional and anything but boring!

Prefer to listen? Click below to hear me chat about this with Giovanni & Kim on 92 Pro FM.

Color:  You'll almost always want to have at least a little color in your outfit. When wearing all neutrals, add a pop of color in an accessory. If your top or dress is in a bright color like the woman in the red sweater above, that's probably enough - move on to the other three elements.

Pattern:  This is a must especially for those of us who tend toward solids (**hand raised**) - pattern, even just a small amount, keeps your outfit from looking boring. You can even mix patterns (one subtle, one bold) keeping in mind scale and never pairing two patterns of the same size. Because I wear a lot of solid clothing, I often incorporate patterns via my shoes as well as handbags (like the woman pictured to the left, above) and scarves.

Texture:  Embossed leather, lace, embroidery, tweed, suede - this is where you get that sophisticated, rich look. Throw on a leather jacket to add texture and a bit of edge to toughen it up and add some dimension. Even distressed denim counts as texture! Handbags and shoes also work.

Shine:  My go-tos for shine are layered necklaces OR bold earrings (not both!). Sprinkle shine into your outfit in small doses - too much shine can look cheap! And while jewelry seems the obvious way to add this element into your look, don't forget about other accessories with shine like patent leather shoes or a metallic handbag.

When in doubt: A safe bet is to incorporate each of these elements into no more than 2 pieces of your outfit.