Your outfit is a sandwich.

3 tips from a personal stylist to help you never ask, "Does this go together?" ever again.

One of the most common style challenges people face is wondering, “Do these pieces actually go together?” Often, outfits feel disjointed because we look at individual items in isolation, rather than seeing the outfit as a complete composition.

A helpful way to approach this is to think of your outfit like building a sandwich:

• The basics are the bread. These are foundational pieces such as neutral trousers, jeans, classic tops, or simple dresses. They provide the structure that holds your look together.

• The layers are your toppings. These include items that add interest through texture, shape, or subtle details like a knit sweater, a blazer, or a linen overshirt.

• The accents are your spices. Accessories, shoes, belts, and small pops of color act as finishing touches that bring personality and depth.

When each of these elements is thoughtfully selected to complement one another, the result is a cohesive, intentional outfit.

Here are three practical tips to ensure every outfit matches and feels harmonious:

1. Create a clear color story.
   Limit your outfit to two or three core colors, ideally sticking to either warm tones (like creams, browns, and rusts) or cool tones (such as greys, blues, and whites). This keeps your look unified and prevents clashing. A consistent color palette is one of the easiest ways to make sure your outfit pieces look like they belong together.

2. Repeat an element.
   Echoing a color, texture, or material at least twice in your outfit ties the look together. For example, wearing a tan leather belt and tan sandals, or pairing a ribbed knit top with a similar ribbed detail on your bag. This repetition creates a subtle visual link that makes the outfit feel cohesive.

3. Pay attention to fabric weights and finishes.
   Mixing drastically different fabric types can make an outfit look mismatched. For instance, pairing heavy wool trousers with a thin, summery cotton tank may look off-balance. Instead, aim to coordinate similar fabric weights and finishes (like pairing a structured cotton shirt with tailored chinos, or a silky blouse with fluid trousers) to ensure all pieces complement each other in texture and seasonality.

🎙️ Tune in to this week’s episode of Sundays with Smiley here as we’re diving in even further to the real reason, we question our outfit choices and how to move past that uncertainty so getting dressed feels effortless.

Stay Stylin’ - Stay Smilin’

The Simple Smiley