I’ve posted about complements several times on YLF, and it bears repeating because a functional wardrobe has items that relate to each other, where items can be easily mixed and matched to create outfits that look and feel great. One way to create such a wardrobe is through building and wearing what I call complements.

A complement is a small group of accessories and footwear that match in colour, pattern or vibe, and can be worn together. Adding the items from a complement to an outfit makes it look more cohesive and rich, and gives it a punchy finishing touch. I create seasonal colour complements with footwear, bags, scarves, belts and sometimes eyewear. But most are created with shoes, scarves and a handbag or two.

When I shop to refresh my wardrobe, I think about the complements that I have, how I can build on to them, and which complements I might build from scratch. As I was shopping this year’s Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (NAS), I had light neutrals like cream and oatmeal in mind. I have all sorts of optical white and off-white shoes, bags and belts to create complements with, but I don’t have a complement in a rich cream. Although I happily mix shades of white, I also like to match them. And because white wardrobe items are my thing and white is the most important neutral for my style, creating a cream complement is not a duplication.

I had a successful NAS, and unexpectedly came home with two pairs of cream shoes. A pair of loafers and a more refined pair of combat boots, neither of which I have in a rich shade of cream. I saw a great cream barrel bag and an oatmeal cashmere scarf that together with the shoes, would complete the complement. The bag is absolutely darling and beautifully made. It’s a richer cream than the stock photo and matches perfectly. The oatmeal cashmere scarf is darker but works well. It’s an unusual shorter length that is easier to tie and tuck into outerwear. The texture is pretty too. The collection shows the exact pieces of the new complement.

Nordstrom

Sam Edelman Lex Boot

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30

Nordstrom

Vionic Amora Loafer

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19

Nordstrom

Plissé Cashmere Scarf

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7

Nordstrom

COACH Leather Barrel Bag

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13

Complements are an easy, versatile and effective styling tool, which is why I go to the trouble of planning and creating them. They can be worn over and over again, season after season, and have a high longevity factor. Complement building also means combining old wardrobe items with new items, which gives me great satisfaction because I don’t like forgetting about my old stuff. So I bought the same cashmere scarf in light blue with an aqua tinge to match a handbag I’ve had for six years. It doesn’t look like it in the stock photos, but they are a perfect colour match. I’m in no rush, but it would be nice to eventually find a pair of hi-tops or boots in the same shade of blue.

Nordstrom

Plissé Cashmere Scarf

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7

John Lewis

Radley Millbank Leather Multiway Bag

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30

I tend to stick to solid complements because I wear a lot of pattern. Some of my clients add patterns to their complements, and do so with scarves, or animal print bags and shoes. That’s because they generally wear solids allowing the patterns to emerge in complements.

Over to you. Do you build outfit complements with footwear and accessories? If so, do you find it an effective styling tool because it helps pull a look together.

Cover Story offers a curated collection of wardrobe items for US sizes 10 to 26. Twenty brands have made the curated cut, and the list will grow over time. Among the brands I recognize are BB Dakota, Universal Standard, Rachel Pally, Kiyonna, and Standards & Practices. Among the new-to-me brands that look potentially fab are Shegul, Oak, and See Rose Go.

Although you can browse and shop directly from the brands themselves, there is something to be said about having a short list of organized and well-presented items in one place that share the Cover Story philosophy.

“We don’t believe that chic stops at size 12 and we are committed to creating stylish options to women of all sizes, race, sexual orientation and gender orientation. Everyone deserves to feel stylish and to express beauty in their own way. We partner with brands that share the same point of view and together we celebrate YOU.”

As I browse the small set of offerings, I see a pretty good assortment of price points and product. Small, versatile, neat, and tidy. Items are fairly neutral and solid across dressier and more causal looks. Silhouettes vary in terms of tailoring and volume. As far as showcasing items on models that represent the size range of the site, there is room for improvement. A little more information about where and how the items are made would be good too.

If you fit the company’s size range, Cover Story might be a good place to begin browsing for a seasonal refresh, or finding items on your shopping list.

It’s the middle of a hot Summer in most of the US, but today is about Autumn looks to change things up and make us look forward to Fall. Brown has been making a slow and steady comeback after a decade’s absence, so here are some great looks for Team Brown and Neutrals. 

1. Brown Bottoms Plus Blue Support Act

Choose a pair of pants or a skirt in a shade of brown, and combine it with a blue top and topper, and blue shoes. Here, the blue is a shade of navy, which looks rich and Autumnal. Dark denim and ink blue will work well too. Light blue and French blue will also look lovely with brown, so take your pick. I love the twinset effect of the top and topper, and the patterned blue loafers that add an unexpected touch. A brown or navy bag is a neat and tidy way to finish things off. There’s a patterned bag on the table behind the model that matches her shoes. Super fun.

2. White Jeans and Brown

Combine a pair of white or off-white jeans with a brown top. Here it’s a twinset, but it can be any style of top. Finish the look off with white sneakers, or brown shoes and bag. Any shade of brown is good, as are shades of taupe and tan. Animal print shoes and bag could work well too. Feel free to throw in a patterned scarf that picks up the palette of the outfit.

3. Trendy Classic Brown

This look combines trends and classics. The brown leather or faux leather wide crops and patchwork blazer are on-trend. The blue shirt and ankle boots are classic. Here, the shirt has been tucked and buttoned through to the collar, but you can wear it untucked and unbutton some of the top buttons. Wear the blazer open too. The hoop earrings are another classic touch. I can see a cream bag work well because it picks up the bits of cream in the patterned blazer.

4. Brown in Hot Weather

And last, if your Autumns are hot, wear a brown dress with sandals, mules or slides to keep cool. Here’s a striking pinstriped shirt dress as one option. It’s styled with a belt, but can be worn without one. A black bag would match the black slides. A cream complement of sandals, belt and bag would be my personal preference because it matches the stripe of the dress. Add jewellery, watch and eyewear as desired.

Ten years ago, it was a landslide victory with almost everyone batting for Team Black Neutrals. I’m taking the poll again to see if things have changed. You are on Team Black Neutrals if you prefer to wear solid black and/or black in patterns. You are on Team White Neutrals if you prefer to wear solid white, and/or white in patterns. Note that white includes all shades of white like bone, off-white, ivory and cream. You can still pick a side if you don’t wear black or shades of white — just choose the option that most tickles your fancy.

Ten years ago, I was on the bench because I wore both solid black and shades of white. I also wore black and white patterns, and was happy to have either black or white as the background to a colourful pattern. Slowly but surely, and over the course of many years, I phased out black and replaced it in my wardrobe with dark blue, which I prefer as a dark neutral for my style. I am now at the point where I do not have a single solid black clothing item, and want to keep it that way. I don’t mind a bit of black in a pattern, but prefer to keep it to a minimum.

White wardrobe items have been my thing for a very long time, and across many shades of white. I LOVE wearing white footwear, pearls, jeans, sunnies, bags, and tops. It works well with my complexion, and adds the freshness and crispness I aspire to in my outfits. I bat for Team White Neutrals.

Over to you. Do you bat for Team Black or Team White Neutrals? No batting for both Teams. But if you can’t pick a side, there’s a feast of sushi and edamame on the bench with a gigantic Toblerone for dessert. The big Toblerones taste better than the smaller ones!

I’m pretty sure Team Black Neutrals will once again win the race, but wonder if more people will bat for Team White or Team Bench this time round. Let’s hear it.