When thinking about putting together an outfit, you want to create an outfit that is aesthetically pleasing and contains harmonious elements.

To do this, you want to consider the principles of coordination or the elements contained in other parts of your outfit already that link the outfit together as a whole.

The Principles of Coordination

To effectively coordinate your outfits, there are four principles you should consider:

1. Principle of Volume: Think about the proportion of your garments. Pair one voluminous piece with a slimmer one to create balance. If everything in your wardrobe is overly voluminous, it can be challenging to create cohesive outfits. Consider adding slimmer bottoms or tops to balance out your existing pieces.
2. Principle of Related Lines: Take note of how the lines on your garments interact. Do they complement each other? For example, if you’re wearing a floral blouse, opt for accessories with rounded shapes, like hoop earrings. By aligning the lines and shapes, you’ll achieve a harmonious look.
3. Principle of Related Shapes: When coordinating different elements of your outfit, such as jewelry or accessories, consider the shapes involved. Avoid mixing conflicting shapes that don’t relate to each other. Instead, seek connections between the shapes in your outfit, such as matching the shape of your necklace to the neckline of your garment.
4. Principle of Refinement: Categorize your clothes into different levels of formality or refinement. From formal business attire to casual everyday wear and outdoor leisure clothing, each level has its own style requirements. Ensure that the pieces within a particular level work well together. Mixing incompatible refinement levels can result in a disjointed outfit.

This hero patterned top needs a plain bottom so it stays the feature

Now when you think about putting together your style, there are lots of pieces to the style puzzle (find about what elements are in the style puzzle here). You don’t have to get them all right, all the time.

You can download my free ebook – 9 Keys to Unlocking the Style Puzzle here. This will be your essential guide to everything you need to know about developing your style.

Remember, style education is the key to unlocking the best version of you, so dive in, explore, and revel in the power of a well-coordinated wardrobe.

Further reading: 

Principles of Coordination – Principle of Volume

Principles of Coordination – Related Line

Principles of Coordination – Levels of Refinement

Principles of Coordination – Related Shapes