YouLookFab Forum » Topic: A complement

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: A complement - yes or no https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:05:19 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Lisa on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no/page/2#post-2376274 Thu, 12 Dec 2024 01:46:49 +0000 Lisa 2376274@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have a strong matchy-matchy gene and enjoy matching! I like matching shoes and bags and shoes and belts. Often when I want to add another color to an outfit, that's how I will do it. I also like matching my shoes to a color in my outfit, especially when it's with colorful fashion sneakers. I'll match my sneakers to a hoodie, graphic tee, even a stripe in a top. nuancedream on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no/page/2#post-2376103 Mon, 09 Dec 2024 23:27:00 +0000 nuancedream 2376103@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sometimes, I match my accessories, but more often than not, my accessories are mismatched. I'm fine with that. Interestingly, I've noticed I tend to wear a matching complement more often in the summer than in any other season. Suz on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no/page/2#post-2376098 Mon, 09 Dec 2024 21:02:54 +0000 Suz 2376098@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oooh, might be worth an Ebay or Poshmark search! Thanks!  Irina on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no/page/2#post-2376087 Mon, 09 Dec 2024 18:39:20 +0000 Irina 2376087@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Angie, yes, this is what I meant.  <div>LJP, the description says “waterproofed”, I never tried to put it a test :) I bought them from Nordstrom Rack. I so missed that store. Some of my designer pieces at affordable prices came from there. </div> Angie on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376079 Mon, 09 Dec 2024 18:05:45 +0000 Angie 2376079@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Irina, not sure what you mean !  Did you think I would switch out to earth toned eyewear now that I sport my natural dark blonde hair?  LJP on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376078 Mon, 09 Dec 2024 18:00:53 +0000 LJP 2376078@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm also dying over the fleece lined oxfords. But also laughing a bit at the suede component.  Luxury shoes for sure - maybe they are waterproof? Ron White is a top-notch  brand- really good shoes.   Anyways, there is a burgundy pair on Poshmark in a 39.5 which I'd go for if they weren't too big.  They would be great in dry winter weather ! Irina on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376077 Mon, 09 Dec 2024 16:46:53 +0000 Irina 2376077@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ RobinF, I’m with you 100%! I do use my bags, now more than before when a work bag was chosen for a functionality and not a style.  <div>Jules, yes, both approaches work. I still wear matching shoes and bags in black mostly because I have lots of black shoes and 5! black bags.  </div><div>Suz, here is a full name - Ron White Daisy Waterproof Suede Fleece Lined Oxfords. They are a few years old, though.  </div><div> </div> Irina on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376075 Mon, 09 Dec 2024 16:38:59 +0000 Irina 2376075@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Cat2 and Angie. Glad you found and enjoy what works for you.  <div>Angie, interesting about glasses, though. I thought that your change of hair color would be reflected in colors of your eyewear to include or substitute for more caramel tones but I was clearly wrong :) Runcarla, I love how your coat and sneakers look together. It is one of the rare cases when items match but don’t look too much at the same time.  bella and Sal, looks like you found your strategies. I wonder which way will you go in the future - building another matching complement or not.  </div><div>Brooklyn, interesting about summer colors. I wear a lot of white in the summer and often it is my preferred summer color.  I know that it would look very nice with caramel/ cognac colors but something stops me from actually buying any accessories in these colors. Hmmm, I should think about it.  </div> Suz on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376074 Mon, 09 Dec 2024 16:37:09 +0000 Suz 2376074@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ FLEECE LINED oxfords? OMG, I think I need a pair of those! Who made them???? Also, I hope you are feeling better! Irina on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376071 Mon, 09 Dec 2024 16:17:32 +0000 Irina 2376071@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thank you all for your responses. Very interesting! For those who like Hannah Louise Poston videos, she just released one on this topic. <div>Firecracker (Sharan) your accessories look always harmonious in outfits you posted here. </div><div>Stale Fan, Jenni NZ, Dee I used to be “one bag for every day” myself but couldn’t fund one to replace the worn out old bag.  Jaime, make sense! Since my own outfits are so plain, matching accessories might be more obvious  JAileen, well, horses for courses, as Angie would say I like that now there are no hard set rules.  </div><div>LJP, thanks! The green suede oxfords are fleece lined and extremely comfortable. Yet, I hardly worn them before and even tried to sell. The slightly chunky style and unusual for me color, made me hesitate. I glad I kept them, though. As for accessories, I doubt you now would buy a full complement for a color in your wardrobe. It seems that you, like me moved on to styling with less marching.  </div> Jules on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376070 Mon, 09 Dec 2024 15:33:12 +0000 Jules 2376070@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I enjoy both approaches. I would agree generally that matching has become less popular in favour of more ‘eclectic’ or ‘effortless’ styling - ‘oh I just threw on this toque and scarf I found!’ But in reality they are both on trend and intentional and maybe even form a complement in a different way. My own winter accessories are more tonal currently, maybe too much so (too many different brown tones), I have to figure that out. I don’t have any footwear in the same chocolate brown as my winter purse so definitely not super matchy. And in summer I have a cognac bag but only one pair of shoes that have some cognac that I don’t wear often. I was looking for cognac sunglasses but that proved hard to find (I had a pair that broke). RobinF on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376068 Mon, 09 Dec 2024 14:28:05 +0000 RobinF 2376068@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Great discussion! I am not a huge accessory person, I don't like belts or hats and rarely wear scarves these days. I like bags but they don't form part of my outfit and I don't carry them on work days. I have never been one to match my bags to my shoes anyway. However I love shoes and they are an important part of my outfit planning. I do try to wear shoes that have an echo of color somewhere in my outfit. I don't really bookend with my hair because I have gray hair and no silver shoes, but I do like to have something in my outfit that matches the shoes I am wearing. It makes me feel coordinated.  Brooklyn on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376048 Mon, 09 Dec 2024 01:17:36 +0000 Brooklyn 2376048@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think of a complement of accessories as one tool for repeating colours in an outfit. I might do it. And I might not. It depends what the other colours are and whether there are already some repeats. I do like some repeats, especially in a non-neutral outfit. But lots of repeating of a colour, especially an exact match of a colour, can look too matchy matchy for my eye. I like some mismatch too. I’m more likely to do a tonal match of colours than an exact match. I’m also more adventurous about my bag colour than my shoe colour, so that can produce a mismatch. Besides some sort of repetition of colours, or tonality, the overall balance of light and dark in an outfit interests me too. Seasonal differences can affect that. In winter I wear black shoes with dark colours frequently but would rarely wear black shoes with a black bag. I am more likely to use my bag to lighten up a dark outfit. Particularly as I don’t wear white shoes or white bottoms and rarely wear white tops. In summer I wear lots of tan and caramel coloured shoes. In this case I frequently wear a bag in the same or a similar colour because it adds a summery lightness to my outfit and it’s an easy pairing for me. Sal on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376034 Sun, 08 Dec 2024 20:52:51 +0000 Sal 2376034@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I use a range of strategies but I don't even know they are strategies.... it's a bit instinctive rather than planned - which means they don't always work. I have black bag and shoes, and also tan bag and shoes, but my most worn bags are cream and terracotta and I don't have matching shoes for them.   But I do have a kelly green complement - I do wear these two pieces together in a matchy matchy way (I wear them separately too).   If I wear black shoes I do like to bring in something else black in my outfit, usually a top, but sometimes pants or a bag or belt. Otherwise I find the black detracts from my outfit.  I do have matching yellow shoes and bag and enjoy wearing these together sometimes. Your outfits are always well balanced Irina - you get the shades working well and a mix of light and dark and texture.  The baobao bags help with shine too. bella on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376032 Sun, 08 Dec 2024 20:37:41 +0000 bella 2376032@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ At the moment, I have two matching sets (shoes and bags). They were planned, deliberate purchases to create matching sets, and I will tell you why:  1) The red hightops and the crossbody: I got these last year. I wear these for a very particular purpose: Attending my son's football practice. He plays for about two hours on both Saturdays and Sundays. From November to March, I am mostly wearing a big black puffer, hat, scarf, and gloves over black joggers or leggings. So this is my way to bring a pop of color and some coherence to my appearance while still being casual and comfy.  2) I love this fall's it color, cherry cola. I had a burgundy shoe/bag complement a few years ago, and I really used it a lot. I would continue to do so, but the bag wore out on me, and I passed it on. Seeing the color in this updated incarnation this winter, I wanted to give it another try. Western-style boots were shaping up to be another hot trend this fall (I am not sure if they ended up being so), and I am back to enjoying wearing bootcut jeans, so the boots were a no-brainer. I am wearing this complement all the time, and super happy with it!  Irina on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376029 Sun, 08 Dec 2024 18:31:39 +0000 Irina 2376029@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thank you all for your responses. <div>I will reply to everyone tomorrow, not feeling well today. </div> Carla on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376027 Sun, 08 Dec 2024 15:57:12 +0000 Carla 2376027@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I consciously pick up the colour of footwear with clothing or accessories, but not necessarily a bag.  Sometimes I’m matchy-matchy with the bag, but more often I co-ordinate footwear with a hat.  I don’t have a large bag collection, and I’m not interested in growing it much larger.  I’ll sometimes use my bag as the ‘pop of colour’ and not worry about matching it with anything. A recent ‘accidental’ and somewhat crazy match of coat and sneakers was an eye opening experience for me, and reveals how coordination can go beyond one shot of colour to include patterns.  I suspect a white sneaker with black stripes (or vice versa) could ‘bookend’ your Baobao bags. Angie on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376023 Sun, 08 Dec 2024 15:33:25 +0000 Angie 2376023@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You look KILLER fabulous, Irina! I see great matching in your outfits! Tops that match shoes. Specs that match shoes. Shoes that match bags. Sunnies that match tops and shoes. Shirts that match shoes. Bags that match the soles of shoes. It effectively pulls the look together. VERY nicely done I match and mismatch my complements. I bookend less because I am no longer platinum blonde - and most of my shoes are cream and white. I do love to bookend with gold! That’s newer for me. Nice with my new darker hair. I love to match my belt and shoes! My bag and my specs. Bag and shoes too. Scarf and coat. Scarf and bag. Top and specs. My colourful eyewear is a fun extra variable to match and mismatch cat2 on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376022 Sun, 08 Dec 2024 15:24:31 +0000 cat2 2376022@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My outfits have enough other interest, so I prefer matching accessories for their calm influence. I don’t match exactly; I am currently carrying a grey bag with pewter trim with either pewter or grey shoes. LJP on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376021 Sun, 08 Dec 2024 15:22:07 +0000 LJP 2376021@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ eta - I like the use of the cream sneakers in your second outfit, as they make the white shirt tails pop.  A plain dark sneaker would have been too predictable here.   LJP on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376020 Sun, 08 Dec 2024 15:17:19 +0000 LJP 2376020@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ First off, those green oxfords are gorgeous !  To answer your question, I do less deliberate matching /bookending that I did a few years ago.  That's partly because I'm working towards a smaller wardrobe and don't focus on accumulating matching pieces in each category (footwear, accessories, scarves, gloves etc etc ).  I use my best/oldest bag now when I actually do use a bag (which is certainly not everyday) as it works with the best pieces of my wardrobe and those that I want to make part of a permanent collection (as much as that's possible).  Yesterday, for shopping and a hair appointment, I wore a brown cashmere sweater , dark denim 100% cotton jeans, black boots with a cream heel and trim, a cream swing cropped puffer jacket, and the aforementioned bag ( black/brown Fendi ) .  If I owned a scarf that would have tied in I would have worn it, but I don't and I have no intention of buying one at this point.  No jewellery or gloves either (it was oddly really warm yesterday - above 0 !)  Bookending here was the heel of the boot with my hair and that was done less for a bookending effect than to tie the cream jacket in with something.   The one colour I wear that I have a lot of in accessories,outwear, bags, footwear, clothing etc is olive green. Yet, when I try to wear too many olive pieces together my eye isn't loving it like it once did.  As for how people are styling themselves out in the wild here?  It's survival mode now with winter temps.  I looked like a 7 year old the other day waiting for the bus in a red North Face parka with massive hood up over a black toque , black pants, and cream winter boots. Oh and top that off with my green lunch bag and it was a really chic look - haha.   Irina on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376019 Sun, 08 Dec 2024 13:57:38 +0000 Irina 2376019@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Star, for me it is not about trends. My own preferences have changed and I also noticed that I don’t see the matching as much as I used to. I wonder what others think.  Star (Lise) on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376016 Sun, 08 Dec 2024 06:37:46 +0000 Star (Lise) 2376016@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ So after reading this thread I was scrolling through quite a number of new Who What Wears, outlining what is trendy for 2025 and I noticed that all the shoes and bags matched.  Most of them were tan so not always a 100% match.  I think a number of years ago it was really not trendy to match but that for a while now either way is.  Curious to see what Angie says.   JAileen on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376015 Sun, 08 Dec 2024 05:54:09 +0000 JAileen 2376015@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I like matching my shoes and bag.  I also like tan/cognac with blue.   I wore that combo a lot this summer.  I bought tan flat sandals and because I like matching, I used a couple of vintage British tan Coach bags that I hadn’t used lately.  My outfits were very simple and casual, yet felt special.   Star (Lise) on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376014 Sun, 08 Dec 2024 05:11:02 +0000 Star (Lise) 2376014@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ No I don't mostly. I am wearing one metallic olive bag most of the time and it works with almost everything. I did love Jaime's cognac complement, and do wear black shoes or boots and a black bag together occasionally. Jaime on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376010 Sun, 08 Dec 2024 02:32:24 +0000 Jaime 2376010@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ So interesting Irina! So, as my last post attests, I do sometimes like to match my accessories. I especially like it when my outfit feels a bit chaotic or the mood just strikes. (Much younger me would have never even considered it.)  But I don't do it as a rule and do not think it works all the time, as your very chic outfits demonstrate beautifully.  Suz on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376009 Sun, 08 Dec 2024 02:30:52 +0000 Suz 2376009@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yes...I see what you mean. I don't think I have too many direct matches any more, either...and maybe I never did, because even if the colour is similar, the material is different so the textures are not the same.... Your example of the woman with blue and cognac struck me because I happen to think that is a really great combo and I did try to use complements of cognac (sandals/ bag) with blue, and sometimes a scarf that picked up the cognac tone. I would still do that happily, except I don't have cognac boots, sandals, shoes, or bag, LOL!  Irina on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376006 Sun, 08 Dec 2024 02:04:24 +0000 Irina 2376006@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Suz, items in photo #3 look close because they are (maybe more in the photo than in real life) and it was intentional. I’m posting pictures below - oxfords are green and my coat is dark grey.  <div>I do match and repeat colors in my outfits, indeed. I meant to say that I avoid matching accessories too precisely like I used to do in the past. Sorry, if I wasn’t expressing it clearly. </div> Suz on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376005 Sun, 08 Dec 2024 01:34:49 +0000 Suz 2376005@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Very interesting, Irina. First, let me say how much I enjoy these outfits. Love the green with the ecru or white in #1, the proportions (and the white hits) in #2, and the coat/ hat/ shoes (which do look awfully close?) in #3.  Re complements -- I do, and I don't use them, if that makes sense. For this tonal experiment that I am trying, I am endeavouring (where I can) to  as Hannah P suggested in the video Sarah DB linked to -- match bag and footwear if the clothing is monochrome and a textural near-match, or use a neutral version of the colour in a tonal outfit.  Just to see how I feel about that.  But of course I can't do it consistently -- I just don't have the items in my closet. And some of the time it just doesn't feel right to me anyway.  Typically, my bag and footwear don't match, although Jenni's absolutely right. --- I do use my footwear and/ bag to "bookend" my hair (or other aspects of my outfit) in an attempt to create cohesion. For footwear, I use white, ivory/ecru, grey, and silver to bookend my hair. All of these work really well for me, and I do it summer and winter.  I would argue that you have "bookended" in #2, not literally (because it's not your head and your feet), but you've still ensured there is a balance of lights and darks on the top and bottom of the outfit with white showing at cuffs, collar, and shirt bottom as well as the shoes. This creates harmony and cohesion and makes it feel intentional.  Looking at my Finds—the accessories I use in winter —you can see that it is possible for me to do a complement in silver (if a grey hat or just my hair counts as silver?), in red, and in blue. But in reality, I tend to mix it up -- use one colour bag and another footwear. The scarf is usually patterned, so it's tied in to one or the other or to something else in my outfit.  I will have to pay more attention to whether people are bookending or matching in my town. I'm not sure they are! But I see so few people dressing in anything other than gear around where I live. I'll be in Vancouver next week -- I'm going to pay attention to the streetscape there.  Dee on "A complement - yes or no" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-complement---yes-or-no#post-2376004 Sun, 08 Dec 2024 01:13:44 +0000 Dee 2376004@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ No, I don't bother to match my compliments exactly anymore, however they will be cohesive to the rest of the colour palette that I'm wearing. Like Style Fan, I usually use the same bag everyday, so if the shoes turn out to match, it's more by accident than design.