Mix and Match

by Annie Kennedy
(Baltimore, Maryland, USA)

Nothing is more exciting than looking through a pile of clothes, shoes, and accessories and coming up with a fresh an unique look without spending a dime! Mixing and matching your separates gives you more wardrobe options than the old "outfit" dressing our moms and grannies liked.

And today, it doesn't always have to match in order to mix successfully! Of course, anyone can throw on a bunch of pieces and end up looking ridiculous. The trick is to keep certain key points in mind: proportion, scale, silhouette, color, and restraint. Hang up a checklist with these qualities on it near your full-length mirror and consider each point before walking out the door. It's fun, and the more you do it, the more natural it will be for you. Now, about those points:

*Proportion: the cheat sheet for this one is - big on top, small on bottom, and vice-versa.

*Scale: here I am talking about prints, which we all know can be mixed - as long as you pay attention to the size of the mixed prints. No giant plaid with itty bitty calico. The plaid and the flowers need to be around the same size to be paired together.

*Silhouette: Look in the mirror; squint your eyes; do you have a shape in that mixed and matched outfit? Is it a good shape? You want to enhance your good points, not cover up under a robe. Make sure your shoulders and waist are defined, or that there is a smooth line from underarms to knees. You'll look chic, not sloppy.

*Color: Color is fun to mix and match, but you really have to know what you are doing to add in too many different ones. Keep your tones similar - if you have a grayish pink sweater, make sure your other colors are muted with gray or heather tones. A soft blue-gray looks great with muted pinks or greens!

*Restraint: When you accessorize, put on one great piece - a statement necklace, a luxurious scarf, or great chandelier earrings - not all three! One good one, and keep the rest understated. You know what Mom said - get your jewelry on, then take one piece off and save it for another day.

Follow my checklist, and play with texture, color and pattern; you'll be mixing and matching like a pro in no time!