matchy-matchy versus coordinating accessories... - YouLookFab Forum

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matchy-matchy versus coordinating accessories...

Lesley

Veteran

Hi all, does anyone else feel like "matchy-matchy" used to be pejorative and until a few years ago you'd hate it to look like your shoes matched your bag, or your earrings matched your shoes? I certainly did. I had a red bag and I groaned that I had to switch bags every time I wore red shoes to not look too matchy-matchy. Suddenly last year I loved to wear them together, and threw in red sunglasses and occasionally lipstick to boot. Did anyone else have this shift? Was it something in the zeitgeist or a property of my age (into my 40s)?

General

28 replies

Latest reply was from Freckles

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

No shift from me. Always loved matchy-matchy wardrobe items because it's Polished, Professional, and Modern Retro.

That said:

I wear matchy-matchy with so called clashing colours that look harmonious to my eye.
I throw in somewhat jarring classic footwear because that looks fresh and is most comfy for me. Sometimes I wear trendy shoes. I never wear heels.
My matching can be tonal instead of exact, although I LOVE the exact colour and pattern match that creates a MODERN twin-set effect. Post on that this week.
My bags and shoes and seldom regular dark neutral matches. I'm a light neutral and non-neutral gal.

Anonymous

My experience has mirrored yours, Lesley. Matching was not really "cool" for many years, and no way would I match earrings and bags and shoes. (unless of course they were all black). Now I like to have or match two (and sometimes 3) pieces to make the outfit look intentional.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

HAH. I'm laughing, Lisa p. I thought it was cool to match bags with belts and shoes - and still do

ETA: Granted, it is not essential at all. It's a personal preference - always. Co-ordinating instead of matching is just s fab.

Not a jewellery person apart from white pearls so can't comment on that for my own style.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

It s like all these things they come and go in fashion and gradually One s eye gets used to it but I agree with Angie it’s also a personal thing probably based on what one finds most visually satisfying at the time.

anchie

Veteran

I like matching shoes, belt and bag. But don’t like matching jewelry sets and would never wear it together.

Anonymous

I always was a matchy matchy kinda gal and even when I took heat for it I just plugged along. Heck- like everything else- I knew it would come back into vogue.

kkards

Veteran

Hmmm...I always thought matchy-matchy was a personality trait. You know, like some people are compulsive about not having anything on their desk....

Aurore

Veteran

I've always seen matchy-matchy as classy and elegant.
I was very disappointed a few years ago when I heard a famous (at least in France) image consultant say that it was old-fashioned. It did not prevent me from liking the look, but I was glad when she finally said matchy-matchy was making a come-back!

Helena

Veteran

I think there was a trend towards mismatching almost as a way to break down the old rule that you HAD to match ... But now that this 'broken rule' is more commonplace, matchy match feels fresh again. As for me, I've always enjoyed a good match!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I'm with you Lesley and with Aurore, that a few years ago it was regarded as old-fashioned. But one of my fashion magazines perhaps 2-3 years ago said it was good to do it now. So I think it's a change in the zeitgeist.
Having said that, I always did it. Like Angie, Aurore and efbgen, I have always liked it. Perhaps not in that sort of old-fashioned church lady wearing a hat, Queen Elizabeth 2 type of way though. I like to match my earrings with my shoes a lot or with a colour in my outfit. Yay for you Lesley to do it now!
Here is my recent wedding guest effort!

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Style Fan

Veteran

I have never been matchy matchy. I might be more the co-ordinating type. I do think about how my accessories flow together but I never match them.

Lesley

Veteran

Okay, Jenni NZ, I love your use of layering on the red, each a little interesting or different from the other! I think part of my realization came when I saw that a new pair of cobalt sandals matched my mom's old lapis necklace that had been a favorite for years. It was a bit of a lightbulb moment.

Anchie, EXACTLY on the jewelry sets! I still don't do it. I might even have two pieces of jewelry from a collection but I will always mix them up.

Angie, I am intrigued! I have follow-up questions! "So-called clashing colors that are harmonious" to your eye... can you give an example of what colors? I am wondering if you mean, like, I like to put red and pink together (I know, suddenly in vogue), which historically people did not do, but I always loved the Valentine-y look. Your comment about matching being tonal versus exact—what would be an example of that? I wonder if it matches (har) my experience of how the red purse in question is actually a poppy orangey-red and I pair it with more cherry red shoes and I like that they are sorta the same but also sorta not.

jussie

Veteran

I’m weighing in pretty late here. I like to have some element of the outfit matching- but usually just TWO items. I find if I match three it looks a little too matchy for my taste.

Bijou

Veteran

I like matching items together because I like the polish that it brings to an outfit. However, I do like to add an item of interest. Today I wore a grey dress with black patent boots, and a black to grey ombre scarf. To take away from being totally matched to my monochrome palette, I added a lilac bag.

DonnaF

Veteran

I was so totally oblivious for most of my life that a few years ago I would have given you a blank look had you mentioned matchy-matchy. I probably carried a black bag all the time and wore mostly black shoes because "they went with everything." Now, I match or coordinate and rarely contrast. I am resisting a red bag to go with my red shoes, however. A tonal red belt or red scarf *feels* more comfortable.

Anonymous

I’m naturally more of a coordinator but recently delved into hyper-matching just to see if it would make me feel good to be very-matchy, aka, matchy-matchy.
My conclusion is that I don’t need to hyper-match to feel good.

Also, my metals don’t need to match if they are not that prominent.

It’s good to know these things about yourself!

jill58

Veteran

I generally like to match, or at least coordinate my shoes and bag. I bought these Cole Haan silver metallic sneakers in part because I liked the way they looked with the grey satchel I was carrying (see finds). I rarely mix metals--always wear silver, so I felt like they'd work with the rest of my wardrobe.

Cole Haan Margo Lace-Up Sneaker

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Irina

Veteran

I don’t match shoes to a bag unless they are black. I just can’t. I match either to a scarf colors or do a contrast. I have a red bag and red shoes, never wore it together. A light blue bag for summer is on my wish list. Want to wear it with white, black and cream pants. Shoes will match the pants.
I’m into mixed metals for a last two years but only in accessories. Bought a pair of white and gold earrings to go with bags’ hardware.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I like it all!

My mother had me relatively late in life and she grew up in a matchy-matchy era and raised me that way. So as a little kid I adored "matching" accessories. It was a fun game. Now I like matched, coordinated, or "bookended" with hair. It's all good. But I don't tend to match black footwear with black bag because that would be too much black for me. I definitely like repeating colours in outfits somehow.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I don't think I was really aware of matchy matchy as a thing until relatively recently. Or maybe I thought it was something only people in books do? My black shoes matched my (almost) black hair, and my black sweatshirt for many years though.

JAileen

Veteran

I am a big fan of matchy matchy. When it was out, it seemed wrong to me.

rachylou

Veteran

Jenni - your wedding guest outfit is GORGEOUS.

I’ve always liked matchy-matchy... but not with a completely traditional, classic silhouette and palette. I do think that’s a bit sickly looking for the era...

Aida

Veteran

I do both but probably more un-matched than matched. Even when "matching" I think I tend to go tonal similarity versus exact. But then I'm on Team Maximal

Roxanna

Veteran

@Lesley - it's so funny that you ask thi because I've been wondering the same thing! I was influenced a lot by the 'Wat not to wear' era where Stacy repeatedly said that accessories should 'not match, but go together.' Hence I almost never matched my bg and shoes, but made sure they coordinated, as I thought that was more current and fashion forward.

I still don't love matching, but I'm wondering if I should give it a try. The catch is that i love luxe bags in neutrals only because I find they look more sumptuous - where my shoes are all colours of the rainbow. So the 'going together' look shall continue for me...

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Well im all for everything also.

Staysfit

Veteran

I’m not sure I have the energy to make everything match! Coordinate...yes, absolutely. I definitely love tonal coordinates, and also appreciate it when shapes look good together, so I’m unlikely to pair a boxy bag with sharp straight edges and corners with something that has rounded pattern details. I do have matching jewelry sets of earrings and necklaces but I rarely wear them together. It looks like too much going on when I try a look that match.

Sara L.

Veteran

I love matchy-matchy and always have, but I knew I was accessorizing in a somewhat old-fashioned way. Then suddenly, it became cool again.

Freckles

Veteran

Funny how life works out this way. It used to be match or don't wear it and then it became don't match you old lady.
I thought I loved both but found out just recently that I was totally wrong. Don't like exact matches anymore. If same colour or stone different fabrications or something now looks better to me.