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.
-30%
Melissa Odabash
Bel Air low-rise bikini bottoms White
$172.00
$245.00
Mytheresa
-30%
Melissa Odabash
Cancun striped bikini bottoms White
$125.00
$178.00
Mytheresa
-30%
Melissa Odabash
Positano bandeau bikini top White
$172.00
$245.00
Mytheresa
-40%
Melissa Odabash
Salma tiered bandeau minidress Orange
$201.00
$335.00
Mytheresa
-30%
Frame Denim
Le Slim Palazzo high-rise wide-leg jeans Blue
$245.00
$350.00
Mytheresa
Lois
Denim Beatrix Wide Leg Jeans Blue
$215.00
Balardi
-30%
7 For All Mankind
Bonnie high-rise wide-leg jeans Blue
$231.00
$330.00
Mytheresa
Max Mara
Poggio Turn-up Cuff Jeans Blue
$248.00
Eraldo
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.
-46%
Icone
Womens Oversized single-button piqué Blazer Jacket Brown
$69.95
$129.00
Simons
-48%
Sportmax
Oversized Double Breasted Blazer Blue
$478.00
$915.00
Balardi
DRHOPE
Oversized Double Breasted Blazer Brown
$496.00
Bernardelli
-65%
Saulina Milano
Antonia Single Breasted Jacket Black
$377.00
$1,075.00
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.
-50%
La DoubleJ
Picket wool-blend polo sweater Red
$375.00
$750.00
Mytheresa
-56%
M Missoni
Sweaters Brown
$231.00
$524.00
Yoox
-50%
Jacquemus
La Maille Dao ribbed-knit sweater Beige
$308.00
$615.00
Mytheresa
-78%
Rag & Bone
Sweaters Black
$93.00
$425.00
Yoox
Frankie Shop
Peri sheer silk-blend midi skirt Yellow
$225.00
Mytheresa
-50%
Momoni
Pants Brown
$243.00
$484.00
Yoox
-40%
Rixo
Ardith patchwork silk midi skirt Blue
$237.00
$395.00
Mytheresa
-50%
Live The Process
Alba ribbed-knit skort Black
$178.00
$355.00
Mytheresa
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.
-30%
Frankie Shop
Hope jacket Beige
$322.00
$460.00
Mytheresa
Alo
| Socialite Shacket Jacket in Bone, Size: Medium White
$198.00
Alo Yoga
-40%
Frankie Shop
Hester jacket Brown
$237.00
$395.00
Mytheresa
Twik
Womens Loose fit faux-leather jacket Brown
$120.00
Simons
-50%
Ganni
Halterneck maxi dress Blue
$224.00
$447.00
Mytheresa
-24%
Icone
Womens Lace trim linen-blend wraparound skirt Beige
$59.95
$79.00
Simons
-50%
Velvet
Grace lace-trimmed cotton minidress Black
$215.00
$430.00
Mytheresa
Contemporaine
Womens Jewel buttons guipure dress Black
$175.00
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.
-30%
Jennifer Behr
Allanah crystal-embellished earrings White
$340.00
$485.00
Mytheresa
Simons
Womens Mandala earrings
$12.00
Simons
-30%
Jennifer Behr
Asha faux pearls gold-plated earrings
$259.00
$370.00
Mytheresa
Simons
Womens Mandala earrings Silver
$12.00
Simons
-40%
Jennifer Behr
Parthenia earrings Yellow
$484.00
$806.00
Mytheresa
-40%
Tory Burch
Reva Travel leather ballet flats Silver
$216.00
$360.00
Mytheresa
-20%
Pinko
Pinko Leather Ballet Flats With Square Toe Silver
$301.00
$375.00
Balardi
-30%
Jimmy Choo London
Gala glitter ballet flats Silver
$477.00
$681.00
Mytheresa
-37%
Carel
Pumps Silver
$432.00
$684.00
Yoox
