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A guide to looking fabulous! By Abby Jayasuriya.
It’s the new year and gifts have been given and received last year in abundance. Some of you may have received new clothes without adequate descriptions, or pieces you feel may not fit with the rest of your wardrobe. If this is the case, or if you would generally like some tips on fashion, you might find this interesting. While this article is mainly geared towards feminine fashion, since that’s my forte, I’ve provided tips for everyone.
Choosing colours carefully
I would like to discuss the importance of colour when putting together an outfit. Colours can be divided into various categories, which we can use to mix and match different shades effectively. Colours can be either warm or cool and can also be either neutral or non-neutral. Warm non-neutral colours include yellow, orange, pink and red, while cool non-neutral colours include green and blue. Purple is a tricky non-neutral one to place, as there are many shades such as mauve or violet which are warm, or lilac which is cool. Then we have the neutral colours. Black and white are great because they go with anything. Greys can be classified as cool, and tones such as cream, beige, tan, camel and brown are warm.
A simple rule to follow to ensure you have a polished outfit is to avoid mixing warm and cool colours, and to only wear three colours, with a maximum of one non-neutral colour. This includes accessories such as shoes, bags, nails, makeup and coloured jewellery, as well as your socks! For instance, you could choose an outfit consisting of black, beige and pink rather than black, pink and orange. Black and white are a good exemption to the three-colour rule, and there are also other exemptions to mixing warm and cool colours, for example, navy and pink, which look fabulous together.
Something my sighted sister told me, which I find difficult to comprehend, is that non-neutral colours also have warm and cool tones within them. Therefore, different shades can clash. So, it may be best to avoid wearing blue on blue or pink on pink, unless you’re aware of the undertones. Colourful prints can be super fun and a lovely way to bend these rules, but are best balanced with black or white. It’s also important not to mix prints.
Contrast is also important when choosing an outfit, as it can either create clashes or interest. For instance, cream and red may be too contrasting, while brown and red may not have enough contrast. The balance here would be beige and red. When working with prints, it may be best to minimise contrast as the print already creates interest. So, if the background or majority of the print is dark, match it with blacks, or if the majority is light, match with whites.
I personally feel that darker bottoms matched with lighter tops look the most polished in formal situations, for example, dark grey pants with a light green top. But this can be tricky for those of us with yellow Guide Dogs. I replaced all my black bottoms with beige and cream tones when I was matched with Duke. I’ve also opted for darker fabrics in satin and faux leather, so his fur just slides right off.
The importance of texture
Texture is another component that can add interest to your outfit, but it may be wise not to mix textures. For example, if you’re wearing tweed or knitted clothes, pair them with plain-woven fabrics. Another way to add interest if you wear only neutral colours is to add some colour through accessories such as a colourful bag, jewellery, nails or makeup.
One last factor that can add interest is overall form. While tight-fitting clothes can look lovely, adding a few baggy pieces can also work well. It’s best to wear baggy tops tucked into tight bottoms, or vice versa, rather than wearing baggy tops over baggy bottoms. For instance, wearing a ribbed tee or singlet with a long flowy skirt or wide-leg pants or a loose blouse tucked into a pencil skirt. Other examples include wearing a babydoll dress with tight knee-high boots or a loose shirt with skinny jeans.
Ensuring your wardrobe is balanced overall is also helpful for picking out clothes. If you have too many items with prints, you can purchase more items with block colours, as these are the easiest to match. Also ensure you have ample staples of the capsule wardrobe like t-shirts, pants, outerwear and skirts in neutral colours that you can match with each other or pair with more adventurous items. While dresses are lovely, it may be best to replace them with matching two-piece sets so you can split up the bottom and top and wear them with other pieces to create a completely new outfit.
What about footwear?
Some of us might feel unbalanced wearing heels, but they may be necessary to dress up an outfit or, in my case, to add some much-needed height! Wear a block heel rather than a wedge or stiletto, as this may provide more even support. Ankle boots with or without heels are awesome as they prevent you from stubbing your toes while still looking classy. Espadrilles can also be great, especially with a platform base, as they are all solid underfoot. Although, if the idea of heels is still making your mind teeter, a lovely pair of strappy sandals can also complete a formal, smart casual or casual outfit. Again, go for a platform heel rather than a wedge for extra stability. For casual or smart casual outfits, you can’t go wrong with a nice pair of white leather sneakers and those mini-invisible socks, whether wearing skirts, dresses or pants.
When shopping for new clothes, I like to get inspiration by visiting online retailers with good descriptions of their clothes that offer tips on what each item pairs best with. The brands, ‘Forecast’ and ‘Witchery’ are good examples of this. You can also share images or screenshots of clothing with the Be My AI feature of Be My Eyes or with general AI apps like Chat GPT to ask for advice on which items pair well together.
Organising your wardrobe by colour can be a useful way of easily finding and matching your clothes. There are various labelling systems you can utilise too, such as the Pen Friend or Way Tags. If you want to get a description of a new or unfamiliar item, either at home or while shopping, you can use tools such as Seeing AI, Be My Eyes or the Meta Glasses. I find that the Meta Glasses are better for colour identification compared to a phone camera. Get in touch with one of our Occupational Therapists if you’d like further support with these apps or wardrobe organisation.
Lastly, it’s important to acknowledge that fashion and style are a representation of our unique personalities, and there is no wrong or right way to dress. Unless you like to mix florals with polka dots, that could be a bit of a fashion crime. But in all seriousness, these are just some basic rules and ideas to work with for those that feel they need a bit more direction. And above all, remember that comfort and confidence are key!
Written by Abigail Jayasuriya, Assistive Technology Specialist.
