My Style Secret

Have you ever looked at someone and wondered, ‘What is it that makes them look so stylish and put together?’ Since I graduated from college and started working in a professional office, I’ve been very aware of what I wear and how I present myself. My friend, Annie (the talented photographer who takes all my pictures) taught me this trick and it has revolutionized the way I dress, decorate, and do almost everything!

Here’s the secret: Color, Pattern, Texture.

That’s it!

Every time you get dressed, you should put on Color, Pattern, and Texture. I’ll explain.

Color

This one is obvious because we all know what classifies as a color. When you’re pulling clothes from your closet, ask yourself, ‘Which of these will be “my color” today?’ (You can wear a monochromatic outfit and still make this work, I’ll explain how later.) 

Pattern

A pattern is anything that repeats itself. There are some obvious patterns and some less obvious patterns. For example, stripes, polka dots, and floral prints would all work for “my pattern.” But sometimes a chunky necklace can be a pattern, or a lace cut-out shirt. Start looking for patterns in your closet and you’ll be surprised with what works.

Texture

Texture is anything that feels different to the touch. Leather, lace, and linen are all examples of texture. This is the trickiest element for me to master, probably because most of my clothing is a standard cotton-poly blend. But there are a few tricks to get around that. Hair can be a texture IF it’s wavy or curled. Jewelry can be a texture (though it has to be something pretty distinct). Wearing a texture really helps add some visual interest to your look.

Sometimes you have one item that could pass as color, pattern, or texture. I find that my outfits work best if I have three distinct pieces--one for color, one for pattern, one for texture. You can see how a monochromatic outfit would work. In the pictures below, Annie was wearing a white shirt (color), nude woven shoes (pattern), and a white linen blazer, as well as a necklace (texture). There were no pops of color, but it still looks complete.

 
I love this trick because it’s an easy way to check myself if I feel like my outfit is off. The same principle of Color, Pattern, Texture applies to anything visual. If you’re decorating a room and it seems like something is missing, ask yourself if you have all three elements. When you take a picture and it looks off, check to make sure you’ve got Color, Pattern, and Texture in the photo.

This little secret has helped me find my style and maximize my wardrobe. As I get better at documenting my outfits, I’ll share some of my favorites here on this blog!

♡♡♡
Rebecca