https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:18:09 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers/page/2#post-1894966 Wed, 28 Feb 2018 18:13:30 +0000 Helena 1894966@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Liesbeth, yes! That's exactly what I do, too. I think now that I'm wrapping my head around the simplicity of this concept, it's going to be very, very helpful. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers/page/2#post-1894963 Wed, 28 Feb 2018 18:09:47 +0000 rachylou 1894963@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think I do the exact same thing, Liesbeth. </p> <p>!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers/page/2#post-1894817 Wed, 28 Feb 2018 14:04:20 +0000 Liesbeth 1894817@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, this thread is an eye-opener. When I have a functioning wardrobe but get bored, I tend to buy something new and somewhat trendy that's not too conspicuous but that gives me several new outfit options. A completer! Like a pair of red pants back when those were trending. Or a straight leg pair of jeans at a time when skinnies are/were my essentials. Or a new style of shoe (but in a neutral color) to shake up my typical proportions. Then, when I have bought too many completers, I tend to start questioning my style identity because I lose sight of my essentials. * Mind blown*<br />I am excited to do inventory now, but will probably need to identify my current essentials first, as my style is currently in transition. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers/page/2#post-1894764 Wed, 28 Feb 2018 10:32:20 +0000 Mainelady 1894764@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is so helpful to me. I am getting better at identifying my wardrobe items, but boy does it take some thought. I have not yet purchased any item based upon the categories. I have approached shopping with the “ I need a blue top to match my new floral skirt.” It is simple and seems to have worked well overall. Perhaps I was lucky.<br /> Now that I am better informed I will be thinking about that blue top in terms of if it is an essential, a statement, or a completer. Knowing what I do now, I am going to think completer, because it would be interchangeable with other tops to match the florals. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers/page/2#post-1894699 Wed, 28 Feb 2018 02:52:33 +0000 Lynn 1894699@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sara- first welcome to the forum.<br />Thank you very much for this post. I was feeling quite confused about essentials vs completers and this thread has really helped to clarify these categories for me.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers/page/2#post-1894693 Wed, 28 Feb 2018 02:00:41 +0000 Aquamarine 1894693@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This thread has been very helpful in clarifying what “completers” are. Thanks for sharing, everyone. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers/page/2#post-1894612 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 21:25:30 +0000 Sal 1894612@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think completers give you some variety - for me they are not a big category as I wear quite a lot of statements and have my favourite essentials that I "thrash" (a black tee this summer for example).&nbsp;</p> <p>It is perception too - some people might not view silver shoes as a statement - they could almost be an essential or a completer.&nbsp; I don't think that part matters - I think defining what are the essentials is the key to having a functional wardrobe and making sure they are current/in good shape.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Jussie - I do both.&nbsp; &nbsp;I added a peachy pink layering tee when I realised that a draped sweater would be better with a pink tee underneath - and I now wear this tee in other ways too.&nbsp; I have some legacy pieces too that fit into this idea - an A line skirt, a coral draped tank, even a wine red and cream subtly spotted dress.&nbsp; I personally would consider see dresses as either a statement or an essential - in my case the dress is a very quiet statement... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers/page/2#post-1894469 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 15:23:18 +0000 Angie 1894469@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Joyce</b>, I answered your question back on the blog yesterday.&nbsp;</p> <p><b>Jussie,</b> I usually do buy items&nbsp;knowing&nbsp;that they are completers. <b>Gigi's</b> examples are great.&nbsp;</p> <p><b>Shevia</b>, a good way to think about it.&nbsp;</p> <p><b>Sal</b>, YES, items evolve over time with respect to the role they play in our styles. My own essentials list has changed A LOT in ten years. On a specific leg of your style journey though, an item can usually be popped into one of the building blocks quote clearly. (GREAT example of your outfit. You get it).&nbsp;<b></b> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers/page/2#post-1894438 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 14:16:04 +0000 Suz 1894438@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Sally</b>, that's a great explanation. And <b>Gigi'</b>s explanation with images is also fab!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers/page/2#post-1894436 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 14:13:46 +0000 unfrumped 1894436@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>rachylou , you’re right. My pants have some different silhouettes but are my most ESSENTIAL essentials! I’d actually wear more color in pants if I could find the right ones ( I do more of that for casual/ summer). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers/page/2#post-1894360 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 08:35:57 +0000 Sal 1894360@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Welcome Sara to the forum!!</p> <p>I think there is grey between the categories - definitely between people but over time for ourselves.</p> <p>Today I wore silver shoes - statement, black cropped pants - essential, black and white striped tee- essential and an olive jacket - completer. They are all workhorses. But if I get rid of the olive jacket I might not replace it - I may get a white or red one instead. If I got rid of the pants or tee I would replace with a similar piece. The silver shoes are a statement as they are quite striking.</p> <p>In two years I might have changed though and no longer see black crops as integral to my wardrobe but an olive jacket may be. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers/page/2#post-1894332 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 05:10:31 +0000 Gigi 1894332@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Jussie,&nbsp;</b>I start out trying to use what I have to complete an outfit, but sometimes I say to myself, "What this outfit really needs is X!" And then I will go out searching for that thing. An example is this pink scarf from Nordstrom, which I bought to match some light pink shoes. I didn't have anything else pink in my wardrobe, so I had to get something to match the shoes (I like to repeat colors in an outfit).</p> <p>On the other hand, certain items that I think are completers were bought at random...such as my Madewell sweater dress. It is not so bold as to be a statement, but it's not an essential either. That makes it a completer. I like to wear it with black faux leather leggings, which I also consider a completer. I did, however, buy the leather leggings specifically to wear with the dress. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers/page/2#post-1894327 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 04:31:56 +0000 Joyce B 1894327@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Welcome to the group, Sara, you chose a very good topic, I can also use some help in defining my completers.<br /> Angie, my question on the blog about completers was, if one wears red shoes and tries to tie them into the outfit by adding a red belt and a small red purse, are the belt and purse considered completers? Or are they just a complement and, if so, how does a complement differ from a completer? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers/page/2#post-1894324 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 03:57:43 +0000 jussie 1894324@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Question: are people buying their completer pieces deliberately- as completer pieces for outfits?? Or is this tending to happen in a more random way. Ie are most people going shopping thinking “oh I need to find the perfect completer piece for my pink maxi skirt outfit” or do most people just try to use what they already have? I always try to use what I have but it seems to make it trickier..... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers/page/2#post-1894323 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 03:43:31 +0000 rachylou 1894323@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don’t think of you as a ‘neutral’ dresser, Unfrumped. Your blouse choices often have ‘interest’... pattern and colour and shape... I’m thinking your bottoms are the essentials you most often use, to offset the tops ... I could be wrong of course... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers/page/2#post-1894316 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 03:31:58 +0000 Jaime 1894316@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am tempted to define completers as the most interchangeable part of my visible wardrobe - I would still maintain my style if I tossed all my completers and replaced them with other completers. Does that seem right? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers/page/2#post-1894311 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 03:02:54 +0000 unfrumped 1894311@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Boy I still struggle with Completers!</p> <p>I think of a lot of my jewelry as completers. It’s nit so big or bold for me to think of it as “ statement” but it adds something, the items may echo a color or metal in the outfit.<br /> If I think about handbags, I get confused. My floral handbags could be statements but I’d subtle, to me the might be Completers. I could carry a black handbag but the floral one adds subtle interest and connects colors. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers/page/2#post-1894310 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 02:43:10 +0000 Angie 1894310@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Rachy,</b> essentials CAN create a signature style.</p> <p><b>Helena</b>, in an ideal world, that strategy could be very handy.&nbsp;</p> <p><b>Suz,</b> I hear you, and it makes sense. The lilac of the T-neck isn't as bright as your brighter statement orchid pullover. Completer it is.&nbsp;</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers/page/2#post-1894233 Mon, 26 Feb 2018 21:44:36 +0000 Cee 1894233@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm going with Renee Zellweger's character in that Jerry Maguire movie. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers/page/2#post-1894224 Mon, 26 Feb 2018 21:24:12 +0000 Suz 1894224@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Angie, I hesitated about the lilac turtleneck but for me it is a completer and here is why. It is a simple style (same as my essential navy turtleneck) and I wear it, not to make it a focal point, but to complete outfits. I have a high tolerance for colour and in real life this is not as standout as it appears here so it sort of blends in behind a jacket. </p> <p>I did not include my brighter pink cashmere tee because even though it’s equally simple in style it is brighter and I do wear it as a focal point. It’s a statement. </p> <p>Does that make sense? &nbsp;</p> <p>So, the one below is (for me) a statement.&nbsp;</p> <p></p> <p>The other items for me are also completers...</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers#post-1894217 Mon, 26 Feb 2018 20:54:22 +0000 jussie 1894217@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think I get it.... completers make the outfit work. They’re not as simple as an essential, they’re not as showy as a statement..... but they’re often nescessary to complete the outfit. Like in my post yesterday with the liberty print shirt and cropped wide leg jeans I wanted a completer cropped sweater. I’ve identified completers for high waisted bottom outfits as a wardrobe hole actually.<br /> I think my little pink bomber is an example of a completer. Not exciting, and it’s pink so I don’t consider it an essential, but really completes outfits so is very useful.<br /> Torontogirl: I totally agree with you completers could run the risk of becoming too specific for the particular outfits they’re purchased for and therefore not widely usable. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers#post-1894211 Mon, 26 Feb 2018 20:20:43 +0000 Helena 1894211@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ok, and I could be over-complicating, but I am thinking that, in a perfect world, one would have all their essentials and statements in place, and then add completers to fill in gaps, tie things together, add variety where needed - i.e. they are <i>wardrobe</i> completers more than they are necessarily&nbsp;<i>outfit </i>completers (although they may indeed be used to complete an outfit). </p> <p>Seems to me that an effective completer is thus bought with essentials and statements in mind, as they run the risk of becoming fairly random&nbsp; collection if there is not some intention behind them (whereas essentials would run the risk of being boring or repetitive if they are not bought with intention) Yes? Or over-complicating ...</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers#post-1894200 Mon, 26 Feb 2018 19:53:57 +0000 rachylou 1894200@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>*Deep in study* now, Angie. I followed Greet from here awhile back, but have never thought about her compositions in this light.</p> <p>(I am starting or ever more feeling one’s unique style comes across most clearly in one’s essentials...) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers#post-1894198 Mon, 26 Feb 2018 19:44:22 +0000 Angie 1894198@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wooohooo, <b>Katerina.</b> You get it!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers#post-1894197 Mon, 26 Feb 2018 19:43:26 +0000 Angie 1894197@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Rachy</b>, YES. You can put together an outfit using essentials, completers or statements from head to toe. It totally depends on your style and mood.</p> <p>Greet on Instagram puts together ENTIRE outfits made of statement pieces. I can't copy instagram photos, but you can look at this feed:</p> <p><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/journeyofastylist/?hl=en">https://www.instagram.com/journeyofastylist/?hl=en</a></p> <p>I'm working with a client for the rest of the day. Catch up later.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers#post-1894196 Mon, 26 Feb 2018 19:43:18 +0000 Katerina 1894196@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes <b>Angie</b>, that is absolutely right. Now my penny is dropping &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers#post-1894194 Mon, 26 Feb 2018 19:37:48 +0000 Angie 1894194@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Katerina</b>, your more SIMPLE black blouses are your ESSENTIALS . I believe the one in that outfit has a pussy cat bow? More of a completer. If it was plain in design - no bells and whistles - it would be an essential.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers#post-1894193 Mon, 26 Feb 2018 19:36:17 +0000 Helena 1894193@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rachylou, that's an interesting thought - now that I understand completers better, I think I have too many of them! Which might be why I am not feeling like I'm translating my style well through my clothes and craving essentials right now! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers#post-1894190 Mon, 26 Feb 2018 19:32:51 +0000 rachylou 1894190@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I suppose it is interesting to note, we are talking wardrobe composition not outfit composition. So you can do a whole outfit of just essentials or just statements or just completers... I have a theory now, that if you make an outfit entirely from the completers in your closet, you may not feel as ‘you’ as you could... just a thought. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-of-completers#post-1894189 Mon, 26 Feb 2018 19:31:37 +0000 Angie 1894189@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Sara</b>, THERE YOU GO. The penny dropped. Wooohooo. Both essentials and completers can make statements shine. In fact, mega maximal dressers use statement pieces to make other statement pieces shine.&nbsp; </p>