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Do we have a challenge for January? Carol S gave me an idea...

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

When I read Carol's post earlier today about her roadmap for 2022, she said something that caught my attention..

"Enhancing some of my existing complements will help me pull cohesive looks together."

I know we did some fun challenges this fall, with accessories, or styling a base outfit several ways, but I hadn't really given much thought to my complements.

Is anyone up for a creativity challenge? Here's my idea:

A no-buy, creative challenge, in which you assemble pieces you already have, to create an entirely new complement. It can be colors, or a theme, or a particular silhouette. Or all of the above. Or something entirely different, that tickles your fancy.

The idea being to build a new framework with the existing materials, and 'force' creativity.

Dressing

21 replies

Latest reply was from Stagiaire Fash

Bijou

Veteran

Marybeth this is a wonderful idea - I'm in! Hmm, now I have to think of a good idea to build a complement around.

rachylou

Veteran

Oh yes, this would be a good mind stretch. I think I need a review of what a complement is…

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

@rachylou Maybe this will help to jog your memory: https://youlookfab.com/2020/11.....or-winter/
So basically accessories in a similar colour/ pattern, to help to make an outfit cohesive.

Not sure if it counts as 'creative', but one of my goals last year was to make dark brown my main neutral. So if I put all my dark brown accessories together, here we have my Chocolate Complement

They aren't all an *exact* shade match, but the good thing about accessories is that they're often worn too far apart from one another to really tell

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CarolS

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Great idea, Mary Beth! It would be kind of wrong of me NOT to playm wouldn't it?!?

This could be a great way to identify gaps, as well as to identify opportunities within what we already have.

Thanks!

Anonymous

I've been wearing my burgundy complement lately- long wool coat, gloves, booties, purse with a column of brown or black. It turns a very simple top and bottom into an Outfit

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Womens Winter Warm Gloves With Sensitive Touch Screen Texting Fingers, Fleece Lined Windproof Gloves

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4

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Sole Society Sole Society Dawnina Bootie (Women) | Nordstrom

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8

Helena

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Love this idea, but not sure if I have the pieces to put together a very interesting complement for deep winter ... however, I shall investigate, and definitely watch with interest for inspiration from you!

kkards

Veteran

looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with
i'm working on a no repeat Jan

Anonymous

Snow version!

SKECHERS Women's On-The-go Midtown Lace Up Chugga Fashion Boot

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Heat Holders - Women's Thermal Fleece Cable Knit Winter Hat 3.4 Tog - One Size

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Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Am considering how I would do this and love the idea to build out of our existing closets.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, I love this. Colour (or specific neutral) complements are easy peasy for me. I'm going to try a theme-based complement!

Brooklyn

Veteran

I will think on this. I was thinking about doing a summer texture self-challenge in January, so maybe I will do a texture based complement.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

NICE!

Cheerleading from the sidelines.

Joy

Veteran

Mary Beth, that is a wonderful idea. I will plan to work on compliments of various browns and other mostly neutrals with footwear and bags leading the contest. I may include outerwear and scarves.
I will also work on organizing brooches into groups of three and look for additions where needed.

And I will try to fill in other jewelry in colors needed. Compliments may be needed for some coats it some such as olive gloves have been difficult, so medium grey may take its place. I will work on these challenges through the rest of January and February.
I will also try to make compliments of sweaters and socks in complimentary colors but there may be pattern mixing.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Seeing as I have two new pairs of shoes, in “new” colors, this fits right in with what I’ll be doing.

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Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

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Thanks, everyone, who was able to reply! You actually gave me some insight and clarity on complements, as opposed to capsules.

Apologies that it’s taken me so long to get back to this. Slipping back into a normal non-holiday routine made for a busy week!

I thought, in keeping with one of my 2022 words, “Whimsical”, I would re-visit pink and blush colors. My goal is to wear pink/blush at least once this week, weather permitting.

Everything here was purchased from secondhand shops, websites, or gifted, with the exception of the cuff links (Etsy) and the scarf (Marshall’s).

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Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

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Zaeobi, I really love your chocolates - I feel like that’s a great inspiration for my love of safari/Indiana Jones. I’m going to dig around my closet and see if I have an action-adventure complement!

Suntiger, your burgundies are so rich and beautiful! I’d be curious to see those with some deep teal or tan colors.

Also, your snow complement makes me realize I’d like to assemble a hiking complement!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Love the cuff links! I’ve been trying to figure out how to wear mine, which used to be my dad’s, so look forward to seeing what you do with them.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

What I get when I Google “capsule compliment”: https://www.frontiersin.org/ar.....00452/full
I don’t think that’s what you mean, lol!

Runcarla

Veteran

Thanks for the challenge. It has provided me with motivation to work on my cold weather (merlot based) winter accessories capsule after getting derailed by the holidays and recent events. A worthy project for January!

*runs off with zaeobie’s collection…*

Your pink capsule is yummy Mary Beth!

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Aww, thank you all - chocolate brown is *still* hard to find at current retail, so the bags were all off Etsy actually (some custom)

@MaryBeth An 'action adventure' complement is a great idea - do share!

I actually have a summer hiking capsule, which riffs off your 'safari/ Indiana Jones' theme but in my colours:
- olive cargo pants
- a fiery orange backpack,
- thin tops in burnt orange/ yellow/ pink
- 2 printed neckerchiefs (headband scarves) in those colours.

Unfortunately my hiking boots are black (but they're so lightweight for travel, yet still grippy, that I don't want to give them up lol!) but this has got me thinking - maybe I'll go for brown hiking boots next? Hmm...

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Zaeobi, tell us about your lightweight hiking boots!