Outfits that Look Even Better from the Back

What does the back of your outfit look like? It’s something that many of us ignore.

Pretty much every outfit you see here is a front view, sometimes a little side, but that’s about it. So how about what is going on in the back?

What’s Your Back View?

Most of the time our back views can be a little dull. Most clothes are made with their “party at the front” and boring at the back. This is because we spend our time talking to your face, (unless of course you are a diva and are always turning your back and walking away in a conversation). Designers have spent more time on the front of your everyday wear than the back (though you will often find much more detail and interest on the back of evening wear as it is more likely to be photographed from all angles.

Yet we are dimensional and it’s good to consider all views. When walking around many of us spend time staring at your back view, so sometimes it’s nice to consider finding clothes that have more interesting back views.

Business in the Front, Party at the Back

But when I turn around (and the reason I bought this top)

I love the paisley design as it gives an otherwise ‘boring’ top interest and life. As you leave the room, you leave the impression that there is more to you to be discovered.

Skirt with a Tail

I featured this outfit in my post on monochromatic dressing – and making monochromatic outfits more interesting.

This skirt is made from a rectangle of fabric (silk with a satin lining) made by a friend of mine.

Which gives it an interesting back view, as the zip which forms the centre back seam and closure sits between the two pieces of fabric which then hangs down like a tail.

Mixing Texture and Pattern

This is a scarf with sleeves that I knitted in a thicker wool and with bigger needles than recommended which allows me to wrap it in a number of ways (rather than just around my neck like a scarf.

And here is the back view which looks much more like a chunky cardigan.

Lace Back Vest

This dress featured in one of my multiple ways to style dresses posts (which you can check out here). And I like the juxtaposition of the curved ribbon roses with the square checks of the dress.

Small Details Count

This Desigual top with its bold stylised flower makes a statement.

And I like that there is a small detail of an embroidered flower on the back of the top too to add that little bit of interest, up high to draw attention upwards.

Floaty Fabric

This sheer silk dress (bought some years ago from Boo Radley) is great on a hot day (and Melbourne has just had a two-week heat wave which had me getting out my lightest summer clothing).

It’s lovely and floaty as it moves. This was something one of my clients brought up in her style consultation recently when she mentioned that she really loved to have fabrics that have naturalmovement and grace when she walked, and that was something she included in her style recipe.

Double The Pattern

Because the front of this cardigan is plain, to add interest I decided to wear this butterfly print top which includes that same pink as the cardigan from Ted Baker.

Because you don’t see front and back at the same time, then the bold floral back doesn’t clash with the softer butterfly top. Current season cardigan similar to this here.

Wear a Cardigan Upside Down

Recently I wrote a post on wearing a cardigan upside down and I showed you a front and side view in that post. But how does that neckline look when it’s worn this way?

Here, is the back view of the upside down cardigan!

Because this cardigan is a V neck, it works Ok as a hemline at the back.

This Jacket is da Bomb

It’s not too often that I find a piece that I love on a personal shopping trip with a client (as I’m really way too busy concentrating and looking just for them and not thinking about me and what I like). But on a recent shopping trip I did spy this bomber jacket and fell in love with it immediately, in my colours and a featured patterned back that told me that I had to go back and grab it after I’d finished my work.

Bomber jackets are a current trend and I love that you can find them in all sorts of fun patterns and colours in different weights. This one is lovely and lightweight so great for a cooler spring/summer day (from Zara).

Do you spend time thinking about what your outfits look like from behind?

Linking Up toHigh Latitude Style, Currently Wearing, Not Dressed as Lamb, Style Nudge, Style with a Smile