Here’s how to use “Contrast Dressing” to improve your style
We all know the feeling of trying on a myriad of different outfits and none of them feel quite right. When you’re tempted to give up and reach for the same old jeans and top remember that style is a muscle that needs to be exercised, and luckily there are tips out there that make getting dressed in the morning more intuitive—and fun!
“Contrast Dressing” is our new fave styling hack developed by Allison Bornstein, the stylist who brought us the “Wrong Shoe Theory”. Not only will “Contrast Dressing” make you immediately more stylish, but it’ll also help you create balance for pieces that seem “stuck” in one specific style.
Bornstein considers “Contrast Dressing” as an expansion of the “Wrong Shoe Theory”. Creating contrast is (as the name suggests) at the core of “Contrast Dressing”, and the best way to create contrast in an outfit is through juxtaposing styles, textures, or accessories.
Here are five examples of “Contrast Dressing” that we just love.
Pairing masculine bottoms with a more feminine top and vice versa is a great way to give dimension to an outfit, and also makes those baggy jeans feel much more grown-up and polished. The good tension between masculine and feminine is also at the core of the Blokette aesthetic making rounds on social media right now.
Alo
| Performance Off-Duty Cap in Black
$68.00
Alo Yoga
Alo
| Goddess Ribbed Go-To Tank Top in White, Size: Medium
$68.00
Alo Yoga
-1%
Levi's
Jeans Blue
$211.00
$214.00
Balardi
-56%
Dondup
Jeans Blue
$134.00
$302.00
Yoox
-36%
Diesel
D Sire 09 I29 Straight Jeans, 1996
$226.00
$351.00
Balardi
-48%
Elisabetta Franchi
Jeans Blue
$219.00
$419.00
Yoox
Another perfect style pairing for “Contrast Dressing” is formal/casual. Pairing high and low elements gives you an effortless and super-chic outfit. Try styling your favourite joggers with an oversized blazer and elevated shoes and accessories for the perfect off-duty-model look.
-54%
Icone
Womens Oversized darted and cinched-waist dense crepe Blazer Jacket Green
$59.95
$129.00
Simons
-53%
Saulina Milano
Antonia Single Breasted Jacket Black
$497.00
$1,060.00
Balardi
-53%
Saulina Milano
Antonia Single Breasted Jacket Blue
$497.00
$1,060.00
Balardi
Alo Yoga
Accolade Sweatpant in Espresso Brown, Size: 2XL | Alo YogaÆ
$118.00
Alo Yoga
Robert Barakett
Mens Pima Cotton Cortina Jogger Pant in Black - Robert Barakett
$195.00
Robert Barakett
Playing with textures is a great way to do “Contrast Dressing”, even if it might not be super intuitive at first. One of the easiest texture pairings to achieve is shiny/fuzzy: just pair your fuzziest knit (mohair is a great option here) with a shiny silk slip skirt.
-24%
Contemporaine
Mother-of-pearl buttons touch of mohair Cardigan Sweater Blue
$59.95
$79.00
Simons
-24%
Contemporaine
Mother-of-pearl buttons touch of mohair Cardigan Sweater Green
$59.95
$79.00
Simons
-24%
Contemporaine
Mother-of-pearl buttons touch of mohair Cardigan Sweater White
$59.95
$79.00
Simons
-49%
MC2 Saint Barth
Cheyenne Long Skirt In Cotton And Silk Beige
$195.00
$379.00
Balardi
-54%
Max Mara
Pants Blue
$179.00
$389.00
Yoox
-78%
Max Mara
Pants Blue
$201.00
$902.00
Yoox
-82%
Isabel Marant
Midi skirts Black
$186.00
$1,057.00
Yoox
Juxtaposing “hard” and “soft” materials is another great option for “Contrast Dressing”. Leather jackets, skirts, or trousers make perfect examples of a “hard” material, while lacy, light, or see-through tops and dresses make the perfect “soft” component.
Alo
| Socialite Shacket Jacket in Black, Size: Medium
$198.00
Alo Yoga
-35%
Ichi
Womens Fleece lapel distressed faux-leather jacket Brown
$149.95
$229.00
Simons
Alo
| Socialite Shacket Jacket in Bone Beige, Size: Medium White
$198.00
Alo Yoga
Twik
Womens Loose zipped faux-leather jacket Black
$150.00
Simons
-60%
Contemporaine
Womens Lace inserts button-up dress Black
$49.95
$125.00
Simons
-18%
Contemporaine
Womens Lace-trim saT-Shirtn pencil skirt Brown
$89.95
$110.00
Simons
-33%
Contemporaine
Womens Floral lace dress Black
$99.95
$150.00
Simons
Miiyu
Womens Lace accent long flowy nightgown Green
$59.00
Simons
Lastly, accessories can definitely help you add contrast to your look. This look featured in Valentino’s Haute Couture FW23 show Un Château is a perfect example of how a statement earring can add some spice to a simple look. Also, as Bornstein reminds us, having two similar elements at the top and bottom is useful to create a cohesive look: in this case, the silver earrings “connect” with the silver slippers tying everything together.
Simons
Womens Mandala earrings
$12.00
Simons
-14%
Self Portrait
Multi Crystal Droplet Earrings Silver
$317.00
$369.00
Balardi
Simons
Womens Crystal and pearl pendant earrings
$19.00
Simons
-14%
Elisabetta Franchi
Earrings With Pendant Chain Gold
$309.00
$359.00
Balardi
Simons
Womens Crystal leaf pendant earrings Silver
$29.00
Simons
-60%
Giuseppe Zanotti
Amur ballerina shoes - women - Leather/Leather/Leather/Metal - 35 - Gold
$379.00
$940.00
FARFETCH
-27%
Michael Kors
Nori Gold Ballet Flat Shoe
$221.00
$301.00
Balardi
-77%
The Flexx
Ballet flats Rose
$39.00
$170.00
Yoox
-13%
Pinko
Pinko Leather Ballet Flats With Square Toe Silver
$322.00
$369.00
Balardi
