https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/tonalmonochromatic-or-too-matchy-matchy-1 Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:17:57 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/tonalmonochromatic-or-too-matchy-matchy-1#post-113725 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:23:39 +0000 trix 113725@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, thanks all for the good advice! Sorry it took me a while to respond -- this thing called Real Life got in the way and kept me thinking about work instead of what I was wearing to work. ;-)</p> <p>Anyway, I'm relieved to hear that tonal dressing isn't taboo. Those are great suggestions about mixing textures and highlighting the best body parts and concentrating on how fit creates the long line -- you made me realize that all I've done so far is mix patterns. (And actually, the only monochrome look I do is variations on all gray, because I think all-black is too much, and I don't own enough of any other colors to make a monochromatic look out of them.)</p> <p>As for mismatching colors, well, I'm not sure I own enough things in different colors to do anything other than big blocks of color over black. Maybe this is a sign that I need to go shopping. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/tonalmonochromatic-or-too-matchy-matchy-1#post-113088 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 01:25:00 +0000 Angie 113088@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>These are super questions, Trix. Fully loaded questions actually! Here’s the brief answer to compliment what garmenta and Queenie have already suggested: </p> <p>o Monochromatic colour combinations are KILLER when done with taste and texture. Always in and always fabulous. For my style, I prefer them with a sharp contrast of cream or white thrown into the mix, but that is not a must. </p> <p>o Matching your shoes and handbag is totally stylish.</p> <p>o Creating a long lean line has a lot to do with fit as well as colour. </p> <p>Now, to throw a spanner into the works, I personally prefer to mismatch things in an outfit because that’s my aesthetic preference. But it’s not cheesy to match things up if you prefer the look. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/tonalmonochromatic-or-too-matchy-matchy-1#post-113022 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:27:06 +0000 Queen Mum 113022@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think the trick to keeping monochromatic interesting and not matchy-matchy is to use different textures within your outfit. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/tonalmonochromatic-or-too-matchy-matchy-1#post-113020 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:50:59 +0000 garmenta 113020@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think that most of the ire about overmatching was about accessories (and BTW, the fashion pendulum has swung back to thinking that there's nothing wrong with a black handbag with a pair of black shoes). </p> <p>A monochromatic outfit can be timelessly stylish, if all the pieces fit you beautifully. It can also be a bit dull. Another way to fool the eye is to use pieces that make parts of you look taller and slenderer--for instance, your neck, your torso, and your legs. That's all about cut and fit, not just color, and you can do that with a variety of silhouettes.</p> <p>Do you have questions about specific pieces or looks? Ask away, and we'll do our best to help. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/tonalmonochromatic-or-too-matchy-matchy-1#post-112978 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:23:47 +0000 trix 112978@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oftentimes, I read fashion advice saying that people who want to look taller/thinner should dress in a long, unbroken line, i.e., tonal/monochromatic. But as I read more fashion blogs, I find lots of people saying they steered away from certain looks as too "matchy-matchy" and swapping out not simply accessories like purses and scarves but also shoes, tights, or tops or bottoms. Which works well on some of the size 0/2 bloggers out there, but I have no idea how to do this without visually chopping up my 5'3", short-legged, could-stand-to-lose-a-few-pounds body, or without spending vast amounts of money to update my almost-all-black shoe/bag collection (I've only just branched out into colored scarves).</p> <p>So I'm turning to you to ask what you think. What does it mean to be too "matchy-matchy"? Is monochrome out, and am I hopelessly out of date for even asking? How am I supposed to achieve that long unbroken line while staying in style? </p>