Outfit Building Sequence - YouLookFab Forum

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Outfit Building Sequence

Star

Veteran

Hi Everyone
I posted recently a pic of my rosette ring and ChristelJ commented that I should build an outfit for it. This interesting comment got me thinking about the sequence of considerations when I build an outfit. I never build an outfit around a piece of jewellery or accessory, or though I know some do. I realized I always start with the bottom half (pants, skirt, shorts), then a top, then jewellery, then a topper if needed, then shoes and finally a bag. I have no idea why I build my outfits in this sequence. Maybe if I changed it up it would spark more creativity. I am interested if you always follow a specific sequence and what it is, or do you change it up regularly or sometimes?

Dressing

41 replies

Latest reply was from Star

The Cat

Veteran

I love to play around with my clothes, footwear and accessories, so I start differently every time. This is part of the fun for me and stimulates my creativity. I choose three items that go together well and are suitable for the activity and the weather. They are picked from three different GROUPS. (Today: silver SHAWL, turquoise BELT, white PANTS. ) Then I finish the outfit by adding needed items, preferably in those three colours. (Today: white tank top, white crewneck pullover, white socks, turquoise shoes, turquoise glasses.)

Brooklyn

Veteran

I tend to start with what I consider to be the statement piece or anchor piece of the outfit. For me, that would usually be a skirt or jeans but sometimes it might be a top, jacket, pants or dress. I then build the outfit around that. Or sometimes I might start with a new item that I’m keen to wear, or an old item that I feel I’m not wearing enough. Jewellery, bag and shoes would usually be at the end of the sequence.

Star

Veteran

The Cat your method sounds like fun. I am going to try it. Today's outfit sounds fab.
Brooklyn your method is slightly similar to mine - bottom half first, shoes and bag last.

Staysfit

Veteran

I build an outfit using balance with shape, texture, shine and color. I pick whatever element I am interested in wearing, and then try to make sure I have at least two sets of two elements that balance with each other. For example perhaps two blue items and two shiny items, or two grey items and two blue, or two rough textured plus two pink items. I can add an extraneous item and the outfit will work as long as I have the balance with the other items. So if I pick a pair of shiny blue patent leather shoes I would pick something blue or with shine, or maybe made of leather or maybe with laces in the other elements of my outfit.

kkards

Veteran

I start by thinking about first what I’m doing that day, and second what’s the weather forecast.

So is it an office or a WFH day. If it’s office, is it a day heavy on meetings, or more of an at my desk day. Meeting days I tend to wear more layers and get move more to the business side of business casual.

Is it going to rain or snow? Then I often start with my footwear and build an outfit up from there. Is it going to be 30F/1C in the morning and 55F/13C in the afternoon-then I’ll start with my top and topper and work down.

I should add that I have a large wardrobe and like to mix and max.

sabimct

I am embarrassed to admit that the whole concept of "outfit creation" is a bit new to me! But that's the great thing about fashion [and aging!] - there is always something new to learn! So this post is instructive for me.

I saw a very brief post on social media where the whole message was: "It's not that you don't have enough clothes, you don't know how to put an outfit together." I'm sheepish to admit - that resonated! That's me :/

Do folks know - are there if there are posts in the archives I should be going back to look at?

Thanks!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Interesting thought Star! I tend to choose either top half or bottom half, probably top half more often as that part of my outfit often has more interest. Some of it is comfort. Yesterday and today I wore the same outfit but loafers with socks yesterday and booties today, just to change it up a tiny bit. The underneath top ( called a skivvy here, others may call it a mock neck) feels warm and cosy. That protects my neck against the wool of the knit ( which is patterned) without feeling tight. The patterned knit is more interesting. Pants were chosen to match the underneath top (plain navy). Then either gold/tan/navy loafers, or cobalt sparkly booties, toned in with the other elements.

BlueJay

Veteran

What an interesting question! I have built an outfit around a scarf that has many colours that I wouldn't usually wear together: olive, blush and hot pink. Usually, I choose an item like a blazer and build around that, or a top, etc. Also, what kkards said about the weather, particularly snow or rain, to think about footwear first to coordinate with a bottom, then go from there.

kkards

Veteran

sabimct if you want an easy place to start, every Friday Angie posts an Outfit Formula blog post. They are generally themed, and include pictures and descriptions of what and why they work.

Last weeks was 4 very different roomy/fluid casual outfit

https://youlookfab.com/2023/05.....-and-flow/
This one from April was about how to wear one of this spring’s trendy colors https://youlookfab.com/2023/04.....ng-cobalt/

Dee

Veteran

The starting point for my outfits can vary, sometimes its based on what I’m going to be doing, the weather for that day or perhaps even my mood and what I feel like wearing. I find that after that’s sorted, I usually start with my footwear and bottom half first or vice versa before deciding on the top portion. Luckily most of wardrobe’s colour palette works together, so I can mix and match it until I’m satisfied that it suits my starting point.

However, I think there’s no real limits on how you can design an outfit, so why not use your jewelry as a starting point,

ChristelJ

Veteran

Fun question, Star! If I think about it, I often start with a top because my patterned tops are statement pieces. But I do deliberately start with pants or shoes or jewelry sometimes, because as the Cat says, it sparks creativity. It's kind of like how when creating a piece of art, if you view the piece upside down, it gives a fresh perspective. Also, I like to view my outfits in the mirror from the side and from behind. Pockets in back can be interesting as can any other details like hairdo, back neckline, etc. But I won't be viewing my outfits upside down!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Like Dee, I start with a different component, depending on day, weather, occasion, etc. For instance, last night I was giving a webinar online and started with a top that would play well on camera. Then added pants, which were completely secondary since no one would see them, and jewelry to finish. On another day, if it’s rainy or I have a lot of walking planned, I might start with footwear and build up from there. I often start with a top though, since it’s the most visible part of an outfit, being near the face, and also because it’s the type of garment in which I have the most variety of choices!

Sisi

Veteran

Interesting question! I go from top to bottom. Sweater /tee, than pants/skirt, then shoes. Before quitting the house topper and bag. I switch my jewels once in a while and I never build an outfit around accessories/jewelry. I think the reason for this sequence is that I run cold especially in the upper part of my body, therefore having the right top for the weather is the first and most important thing.

Olive Green

Veteran

Never thought of this but I do have an everyday sequence.
Check the temperature outside, list what I have to do that day, pick out the appropriate bottom, then the shirt and cami, and then shoes and socks. Or just sandals, nice or sporty.
The topper is a light weight shirt, or in cool weather, a pullover of some sort. Coat if needed. Scarf if needed.
I don’t do pattern much and so simply have to coordinate colours. It is mix and match.
If it is a formal ish occasion, I start with the directional statement piece and work around that. It is often the shoes, sometimes a scarf, sometimes the bag.

Star

Veteran

Interesting Ladies!

I definitely also consider the weather now more than I used to. Living in a 4 season climate for the last 8 years has proved very different for dressing and outfit building compared to when I lived in Johannesburg where the weather is consistently pleasant most of time.

JenniNz I was wondering what a skivvy was, you mentioned them recently. I wear them (I call them tissue turtlenecks) everyday for many months of the year. In fact your winter formula sounds very similar to mine.

LJP

Veteran

For regular work days, I decide which pair of pants I want to wear, and that dictates the top, and then this all dictates the footwear. For days NOT at work, I can start anywhere : often an urge I have to wear a specific piece, and then the outfit gets built out from there. The shoes are the final piece of the puzzles (with jewellery just ahead of that).

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Interesting!

I'm nodding along with Dee and Janet. It varies greatly day to day. I am a HUGE mood dresser, but a practical one. Weather and the activities of the day are important considerations. Feet must be happy.

I wear the same jewellery daily so that part barely changes.

My style is more variable in the late Spring and throughout Summer because of the addition of dresses and skirts.

I LOVE the decision making process of what I'm going to wear in the morning. It's always exciting and fun, a special part of the day, and I feel very spoiled for choice. I hug my wardrobe every morning! Prance around a bit. One of my happy places

Irina

Veteran

I think my thought process is similar to LJP and starts with a specific item I want to wear. It could be a top, pants or even a bag. A few days ago I posted some of my WIW. One one them was with my new bag. I put together an outfit that works with my new bag, although I bought this bag for summer. Yesterday I wanted to wear a summer weight cashmere sweater and built my outfit around it.

Star

Veteran

Irina is that the beautiful JW Anderson bag I commented on?
Angie your passion for style is palpable and contagious!

I think in these warm months ahead I am going to take inspiration from those of you who sometimes start with one piece you really want to wear instead of my usual sequence.

Staysfit your method is very different and interesting. Going to mull on that a bit more.

Actually going to re-read all of these comments again later because such interesting input and very inspirational. Thanks Fabbers!

Looking forward to hearing from other Fabbers still too.

RobinF

Veteran

Interesting that you would ask this as I have been thinking about it lately!

For work days I start with the bottoms - because I don't want to wear the same ones too closely together and it determines my color scheme for the day. Then the top and topper kind of together, then the shoes. I wear the same jewelry every day.

For weekends, it is a little looser. I usually start with whatever top I want to wear and then bottoms and shoes. But if there are particular bottoms I want to wear then I start there.

Roberta

Veteran

When I was working, it was always "shoes first". I'd check the forecast and my calendar and go from there. I walked to work, and disliked carrying an extra pair of shoes or leaving a stockpile in my office. So, shoes, then whatever caught my fancy.

These days, the shoes tend to be variations of the same thing: comfy, cute, flat. I know whatever I choose up top will have shoes to go with it. I still check the weather, Chicago has such wild temperature swings.

I pick the one thing I'm eager to wear first. That might be something new, an old favorite if I feel like I need to be comforted, and practical for the day (hiking? shopping? lunch at a messy restaurant?). Then I follow the color, texture, pattern, shine rule.

Like Angie does, I pet my clothes and smile at my accessories. And feel very lucky!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This is such a great question and really brought me up short for a second -- I think because my process is intuitive, in part -- but also mainly because I follow the very practical weather+activities starting point that Janet and Angie mentioned. It's always that, to begin. And that means the starting point for the outfit will differ depending on the circumstances. Top with interest (but not too much pattern) for Zoom events, weatherproof shoes for walking outdoors in fall/ winter, shorts or full skirts or pants for biking (no pencil skirts), etc.

I've never started with the jewellery but it would be fun to try with a piece like your ring!

Sabimet, as kkards mentioned, Angie's outfit posts are a great place to start in the archives. https://youlookfab.com/category/outfits/

There is also a section of the blog on "outfit creation": https://youlookfab.com/categor.....-creation/

Irina

Veteran

Star, yes, that’s the new bag. It’s too bright for most of my spring jackets but works with navy, imo.

When I worked full time from the office, I planned my outfits starting with bottoms. I have more freedom now and take less structured approach.

rachylou

Veteran

I start with weather and activity too, then pick a bottom; top and shoes (and socks) are chosen against the bottom. Occasions are a little different. I’ll pick something at random that I don’t get a lot of chance to wear. Like a blazer.

Star

Veteran

Oh Yes Rachylou that sounds like me. Bottoms first, socks - the weight is important depending on the weather and the shoes, then top. Occasions for me are also different and I very often choose a blazer for that same reason. High Five!

Irina that bag is so fab. I would probably wear it as an outlier IFYKWIM. Not try and match it or even care if it goes. I recently purchased yellow sandals and am planning on treating them like that. If I had to match them I would never wear them. I realize my approach is probably very different to yours in this regard.

CarolS

Veteran

Interesting question. I suppose I often start with shoes - especially if I have to walk or stand a lot during the day. I have to dress for a work function next week, and will have to walk from our office to the venue. This will dictate a reasonably comfortable shoe that is going to also pass as "dressy enough". The rest if the outfit will follow.

Irina

Veteran

Star, no your approach is not different at all. I don’t have many bright pieces but when I wear them, I prefer not to match it. What I meant is I don’t like certain colors worn with brights. My other posted outfits were similar- dark red shoes with white and blue, light blue denim with tangerine shoes.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I always check the weather and my activities for the day. Next I decide the weight of what I want to wear, and whether I will need to remove or change a layer as the weather changes. So yesterday I wore cropped pants but with socks for inside the house, a lighter weight top, and when I got colder I added a warmer layer. I knew I would rather change my socks/footwear and top than my pants.

However, when I am looking to create new outfits , either for a special occasion or to expand my choices, I may start with a necklace. And I am planning to do that with my scarves. This is not day of planning, but pre-planning. I also will do this with any item I want to wear more often.

Kari

Veteran

I change things up so much. Mostly, I’m an emotional dresser who likes to plan inspiration/ideas but choose what I want to wear the day of.

Rough mental sequence might look like:
• Review what I’m doing that day and what the weather is like. Consider any special needs like footwear or if my hair is so freshly dyed that I need to avoid wearing light colors for the first couple of washes.
• Mentally review (or if I’m in a jam/stuck, look at my photo roll or Instagram) tried and true formulas. Would something work?
• Mentally review things I’ve been wanting to wear (specific pieces together, something that’s new or hasn’t been worn for a while, or an outfit inspired by something I’ve seen. Anything come to mind?
• Select out of the top couple possibilities, choose accessories (it’s VERY rare that an accessory would be the inspiration for a whole outfit, but it occasionally happens in the prior step.)
• Fit and comfort check. Does it feel good? Do I feel fussy or uncomfortable? Is it staying put?
(This can vary a lot, as fit and comfort needs can change throughout the month or year.)
• If needed, tweak or make adjustments.

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