Crazy Creative Coordination

You’ve heard of committing to the bit, but now it’s time to commit to the fit. It’s been a long school year and let’s face it, your monotonous morning routine is leaving you looking at your closet and feeling drab. Cooking up different combinations and coordinations can be the creative spark you need to conquer even the most dreary of days.

If you’ve ever suffered from “outfit paralysis,” where you seemingly shut down staring at all of your clothes, don’t worry. The good news is that every iconic outfit starts with simply selecting one piece you want to wear. Once you make this decision, all the other tips and tricks will guide you from here. Even if you prefer to dress down, there are still simple ways to create a more elevated look through your coordination combinations.

Monochrome Syndrome

Seemingly, one of the most effortless forms of coordination is the monochrome outfit. This can be as simple as a matching set, but if you’re looking to turn heads, there are ways to amplify this kind of ensemble.

You may be familiar with the “Green Lady of Brooklyn,” or more commonly known as Elizabeth Sweetheart, who has been seen in head to toe green since 1999, according to her website. However, her entire life is lived in shades of green — from her bathroom to her kitchen, she paints or dyes everything to match her evergreen glow.

While she likes to stick to brighter shades, Sweetheart shows us how to effectively create monochrome outfits with more interest. Using a variety of shades, patterns, fabrics and styles can help to create more visual diversity and interest in something that otherwise feels very flat or basic. Playing with pieces in your closet from the same color family can create outfits that feel fresh and high-fashion, when in reality, you might just buy too much black.

Play With Your Palette

After examining your closet, you may start to realize an affinity for a few different colors, but not enough of one to make a monochrome moment happen. This means it’s time to play with what paint you have on the palette! Figuring out different color combinations that complement not only one another, but you as well, is key.

Sticking with two or three shades throughout, with possibly even an accent piece, can produce an outfit that people feel compelled to compliment. You can mix and match how these different shades layer or stack — a popular method is to “sandwich” one color between two of the same. Being able to understand how to see your clothing in a new light allows you to use what you already have in a more stylish manner.

Altogether Odd and Unusual Accessories

There’s only so much to be done in the wardrobe department that sometimes makeup and hair can be where an outfit earns its crowning achievement. The extra effort to plan a cute coordinating eyeshadow or actually get your winged eyeliner even can take your outfit from cute to couture. Even the decision to leave your hair up or down affects the overall vibe of an ensemble.

While there’s a lot of expression in hair and makeup, you can get into even sillier details for your fashion choices throughout the day. Whether it’s choosing to get a different Starbucks drink to match your top or switching your lock screen to your color scheme, these details build upon the creative extent of fashion and self-expression.

Share your most recent color combination with us on X @VALLEYmag!