How to put an outfit together. A simple step-by-step guide and formula

Putting together an outfit that works and that you actually enjoy wearing is difficult. I know, I've been there, and so have most of my clients. 

You open your closet, stare blankly inside, grab a couple of pieces that you think should work together, but they don't. Something's off, and the outfit just doesn't look as good as you thought it would!

Well, if that sounds like your (ever-so-draining) morning routine, you are in the right place. I'm a personal stylist, and over the past 19 years, I've helped women just like you to build a collection of clothes that's easy to use and fun to wear.

Putting an outfit together shouldn’t feel like such a struggle. But unless you are lucky enough to have a stylish friend or family member who passes on their outfit-building wisdom, it’s not something you learn how to do growing up. But it's never too late to learn!

This comprehensive guide draws on my years of experience to show you how to put an outfit together. I share style tips, provide a step-by-step guide, process, and simple formula to help you put your clothes together in new ways and bring the joy back into deciding what to wear.

The key word in the definition above is 'harmonious'. The clothes in your outfit don't have to match, but the overall look should be harmonious - as in it should be easy to look at, or visually appealing.

That's not to say that you can't wear clashing colors or prints (I love me a clashing outfit, especially when it's prints that are clashing), but even clashing outfits have something about them that is pleasing to the eye - that's what makes them work.

Now that you're clear on what makes an outfit an outfit, and what makes it a good outfit, let's start learning how to put one together!

The first step to learning how to put outfits together is understanding why you're struggling in the first place 👇

If you find yourself opening your closet full of clothes each morning, struggling to know what to put with what, and reaching for the same old outfit again and again, the chances are that you're making one, some, or all of the following mistakes:

If your wardrobe has so many clothes in it that you can't see what you have, you'll likely gravitate towards wearing the same few items that are hanging at the front of your wardrobe...or that are thrown on the chair...or sat on top of the laundry basket.

If you think this might be one of your hurdles to creating outfits, I highly recommend you do a wardrobe edit to clear some space.  I have a mini tutorial here that will guide you through the process.  Or you can hire me to do it for you.

If you have clothes in your wardrobe that no longer fit you or your current lifestyle, they will prevent you from creating outfits.

Here are some examples that might sound familar:

• Your clothes that are too small or too large for you.
• You have lots of pre-mom clothes that don't feel like you anymore, and so they align with your current lifestyle.
• You have some pieces that hold sentimental value, even if you don't particularly like them, because they were a gift or you spent good money on them.
• You have clothes that are tired or damaged, that you avoid wearing, but that are still taking up valuable space in your closet.
• You have a few favorites that you can no longer wear due to health reasons, but you keep them in your wardrobe, just in case.
• If you have clothes that fall into one or some of these categories, remove them.

I know it isn't easy to remove clothes from your closet - especially if they hold such wonderful memories, but not only are they taking up valuable space in your closet, they are taking up valuable space in your head, not to mention causing you unnecessary guilt and disappointment when you open your closet every morning.

They're also preventing you from developing a new style and building a collection that works for you, now.  So remove them - you can store them out of sight, if you're not ready to sell, donate, or trash them.

A wardrobe that is easy to use is built on a strong foundation of essential items. These are the clothes that form the skeleton of your collection and your outfits.

Each of us will need a slightly different collection of key pieces, tailored to our lifestyle, shape, and style preferences, so take some time figuring out what yours are - and filling any gaps.

Identifying your essential items is the first step towards building an easy-to-use collection of clothes. Once you have the correct essentials, you'll find it becomes easier to create outfits. It also becomes easier to build on your collection, step outside your comfort zone, and develop your style. Without those key pieces, you'll continue to struggle to build complete outfits.

If you need help identifying what your essential items could be, check out this article. I've also written a comprehensive article about how to create a capsule wardrobe; if you want to see that, it's here.

Yes, this is me giving you permission to purchase more shoes (woohoo!)!

Shoes are the key to every outfit - the wrong shoes will ruin the rest of your outfit, the right shoes will make it.

The easy way to identify which shoes are missing from your own closet is to make a note every time you put a great outfit together but can't find the right shoes.

Sounds obvious, I know, but how many times have you hung something back in the wardrobe because you don't have the right shoes to wear with it, and forgotten?

Next time, actively notice, make a note, and (if possible) don't hang the item back in your wardrobe until you've found the right shoes to wear with it.

I'm not just talking jewelry here, although jewelry is very important. I'm also talking about belts, bags, and scarves.

In my opinion, one of the most essential accessories for putting outfits together is a belt - one for your hips/jeans, and another for your waist.

They are one of the simplest ways to:

• Improve the look and fit of clothing
• Finish off a look
• Tie together a disjointed outfit
• Take a look from 'wearing clothes', to 'wearing an outfit'.

Look at what accessories you have in your collection, and add anything that is missing.

If your closet is a mish-mash of different colors and prints, it might be difficult for you to combine pieces.

Wearing color and print is wonderful, but if you're someone who struggles to put outfits together, you might benefit from paring back your collection to a more limited color palette.

As you become more confident putting outfits together, you can add more colors and prints.

If you're unsure which clothes are most and least flattering for your body shape, you will keep buying clothes that go unworn and continue to put together outfits that look better in your mind than on you.

If you need some help figuring out what your shape is, or which clothes work best for you, check out some of these useful articles and guides:

Putting together an outfit that works, for YOU, is down to these 4 key points:

1. Dressing your shape
2. Having a good understanding of your personal style
3. Using color theory to combine clothes that complement each other
4. Getting the outfit proportions correct

For an outfit to work, you need to consider your body type and the clothes that will work best for you.

I know that dressing to flatter isn’t everyone's priority, but if you are someone who struggles to put together outfits that look as good on you as they do in your head, then I encourage you to spend some time understanding which styles and shapes work for you and incorporating that knowledge into your outfits.

If you build a capsule wardrobe of clothes that align with your style preferences, lifestyle, AND body shape, then your outfits will not only be instantly recognizable as ‘you’, they will look good on you and will be easy to put together.

If you don't know what your body shape is, you might want to take my free body-shape quiz to find out what your elementary body-type is.

If you know what body shape you have, but don't know which clothes are the most and least flattering for you, I've created a specific guide for each elementary body type here, that will help you confidently shop for clothes that work for you.

I also have a list of other articles that will help you:

Having a good understanding of your own personal style will help you put outfits together more easily.

This isn’t essential, but knowing what you like and what you want to look like will make it much simpler to develop a capsule wardrobe that is easy to combine into outfits you enjoy wearing.

If your closet is a confusing mix of different styles, none of which really feel like you, you will continue to struggle to put outfits together.

If you need help figuring out what your style personality is, you might want to check out these articles:

The pieces that make up your outfit need to complement each other in some way; otherwise, the outfit will feel disjointed or will jar.

One of the simplest ways to ensure that items complement each other in an outfit is by using color.

Before we dive into using color to put outfits together, there are five key terms that you'll want to understand:

1. Hue – this is, quite simply, the name given to any color on the color wheel
2. Shade – how light or dark the hue is (this is also known as tint) - mixing shades of one hue is a great way to build an outfit
3. Complementary colors – These are the colors that are exactly opposite each other on the color wheel. They look great together, and when worn in combination, they make a great outfit.
4. Undertone - some colors have a warm undertone, and others have a cool undertone. Building outfits around the same undertone will help make sure that the pieces work together.  The image below illustrates how purple can be both warm or cool.
5. Neutral - A neutral is the easiest hue to work with. They typically work well together in any combination, and they mix and match with most other hues and prints. Examples of neutral colours are: black, grey, white, cream, navy, khaki, tan, or brown. There will be a selection of neutrals that are your best neutrals, so take some time to identify what those are - it will make outfit building much simpler!

Knowing how to put colors together harmoniously is a game-changer.

I can't tell you how many times clients have told me that they don't feel confident combining colors - so if you feel unsure about what colors to pair together, know that you are not alone! It's one of the main reasons so many women have a closet full of black and grey clothing. 

Not only is adding color to your collection a daunting prospect, but combining those colors into outfits that work is even more so!

Thankfully, there's a super simple solution. The color wheel. And now that you have a basic understanding of the color theory and the color wheel, we can delve deeper into how to use the color wheel to guide you in combining colors in a harmonious way.

Complementary colors – I touched on these earlier - These are the colors that sit opposite each other on the color wheel, complementing each other perfectly.

I've taught you the basics of color theory and explained how to use it, in combination with the color wheel, to pair colors perfectly. The next step is to put this into practice and start using that knowledge to put outfits together that work!

Below are five sets of outfits illustrating five different ways to build outfits around color. Once you get to grips with it, you'll find it's one of the easiest ways to combine outfits!

1. You can team a solid hue with a colored print - the key here is to choose a print that features the color of your chosen item. It's also essential to select a print in colors that complement it. The top here features green to match the skirt, and orange and yellow hues that complement the green perfectly.
2. You could mix a solid color with a neutral print. There are a few neutral prints you could go for, such as leopard print, snakeskin, or stripes. I chose a soft neutral stripe to pair with the skirt. It's a chic and polished look.
3. If you're not a print person (I know lots of you aren't!), opt for a neutral solid. A classic tee is the simplest option. Choose a tone that complements both your skin tone and the item, for the most flattering combination.
4. You can play around with combining different shades of the same hue. It's a modern take on the monochromatic look - you might have heard about color drenching. Well, this is that!
5. Graphic tees are a fantastic item to pair with a bottom in a solid color. Just make sure that the color you are wearing features in the print somewhere.
6. If in doubt, go for denim. It's another versatile neutral that pairs well with anything - just be sure to choose a denim in a complementary tone.

1. Neutrals look super chic when combined with a lighter neutral. I've gone for a pretty ecru and tied the two together with a snake skin flat, to create a relaxed look.
2. Denim pairs beautifully with neutrals; it's a staple in any wardrobe. Keep an eye on the undertone of the denim and the neutral, and try to keep them in the same family.
3. Try teaming a neutral with a solid hue. Choose a color that complements the neutral by making sure the undertone is similar. I picked out the soft warmth in the taupe sweater and paired it with a rose red.
4. A neutral works effortlessly with a neutral print. I've opted for a leopard print here, but snakeskin is another versatile print you could try.
5. Pair a neutral with a print - it's easy! Just pull a print that features your neutral, and you're good to go. These pretty green pants complement the soft taupe perfectly.
6. Pair your neutral with a darker neutral. Black always looks chic, but if you don't like wearing black, chocolate brown, or khaki green, both look great too.

If you've ever looked at your outfit and felt something looked 'off', or maybe that you looked a little frumpy, or dumpy, then the chances are the proportions of your outfit are wrong.

The rule of thirds will help with that!

The rule of thirds is most commonly used by photographers and artists to create the perfect composition. It involves breaking your canvas, or viewfinder, into a grid of nine: 3 columns across and three columns down. You then place the focal point of your image or painting in the left or right third of the frame, or the top or bottom third of the frame, as illustrated below:

In basic outfit terms, you can use the rule of thirds to break your outfits into three, more aesthetically pleasing parts. You can break your outfit into the following parts:

• 1:1:1
• 1:2
• 2:1

Check out the outfits below to see what I mean.

Tucking the tee into a high-waist skirt gives this outfit the correct proportions.

There are three distinct portions to this outfit.

This outfit is the holy grail of outfits! It covers all three options for the rule of thirds!

The scarf in this outfit breaks the proportions into 2:1. Without the addition of the scarf, the outfit would be split in half, which is much less attractive.

If you struggle to get your head around this, or are unsure about an outfit and what the proportions should be, a simple tip is to grab your phone, go to the camera settings and put 'grid-lines on', then take a mirror selfie of your outfit with your phone.

The grid on your phone is the same grid used in the rule of thirds, so you'll be able to see how your outfit lines up.

The more you practice, the better you'll get, and eventually, it will become second nature - you'll just know if an outfit's proportions look right or not.

Three simple ways to correct the proportions of an outfit

1. The simplest styling technique to help you get the correct proportions in your outfit is to tuck your top in: fully, on one side, or just at the front. Or to tie a knot in your top to bring the length up. These techniques both have the bonus of highlighting and defining your waistline to create a curvier silhouette. They will also lengthen your legs.
2. Another option is to break up your outfit into the correct proportions using a belt.
3. You can use layering to alter the proportions of an outfit.
4. And you can use color to correct the proportions of your outfit.

The sweatshirt cuts me right across the middle, which looks unattractive. By tucking it in and swapping the sneakers for black boots, I have altered the proportions so they are a much better looking 1:2.

Knotting this tee shortens my torso and lengthens my legs to improve the proportions of the outfit.

Without the belt, the jacket cuts me in half, making the proportions wrong. The addition of the belt breaks the outfit into 1:2 proportions, which is far more flattering.

This outfit is another example of using a belt to correct the proportions of an outfit. Without it, the leather jacket cuts the outfit in half. Add it, and the proportions are a far more attractive 1:2..

Now you know the four key points to putting an outfit together, and you have a basic grasp of color and how to use it to build outfits, you're almost good to go!

All you need now is a simple formula to help you choose the pieces for your outfit.

Instead of trying to choose a complete outfit from the get-go. Just pick one item that you'd like to wear and build your outfit from there. Be guided by how you feel and what you're doing that day - work, play etc…

The tendency is to grab a top and bottom and be done, but push yourself to choose a 3rd item. Building an outfit with three items of clothing encourages you to be more considerate when putting an outfit together, and it adds that 'je ne sais quoi' that a well-thought-out outfit has.

It will also help you to simply break up your outfit into those aesthetically pleasing thirds (link to rule of 3 above).

Outfits that combine three pieces could be as follows:

Using what you learnt earlier, make sure that the three items you build your outfit around do the following:

Styling an outfit is one part of the process that most people overlook, but it's crucial to include this step if you want your outfit to look polished. It's how you create your signature style.

Simply putting three items of clothing together isn't enough. You need to primp and preen - it's what I refer to as styling: Tucking a top in (fully, half, or just at the front), cuffing the sleeves, playing around with the layers so some of them are seen and some are hidden, buttoning or unbuttoning till it looks just right.

The more you style your looks, the more it will become second nature to you. That front tuck that's so hard to get right? It will start to be something you do without thinking.

The finishing touches are the items that will tie your outfit together, polish it off, and add some personality to your look that gives you that great sense of style.

One of the three will need to be your footwear, but it's entirely up to you what the other two items are. They could be accessories, or an extra layer of clothing like a coat or jacket.

By adding just three finishing touches, you'll find you can create an outfit that looks polished without being overwhelming.

Some examples of 3 finishing touches are:

The potential combinations are endless, really, but the important thing is to make this work for your own personal style - the three items could be bold statement pieces, or they could be minimal and understated. The key here is that you're taking your outfit from bland to interesting.

It's all in the finishing touches - the styling and the accessories you choose.

• Don't just put an outfit on and go; style it up.
• If it's a top and bottom, tuck the top in - either entirely, just at the front, or just on one side.
• Play around with the sleeve length by cuffing them.
• If your outfit has buttons, see what they look like done up in different combinations - Undo some of the buttons of a dress to show some leg, or cleavage. Or do up the buttons of a button.
• And if you're in jeans, maybe a turned-up ankle works?

I wrote an extensive article here about how to put outfits together with clothes you already have, so head over there for some style inspiration. There's also a free PDF you can download that will give you 20 prompts to help you build outfits with your clothes.

Layering is so much fun!  It offers the ability to create unique outfits, but it can be tricky to master.  It's a subject that I felt was worthy of it's own blog post, so I wrote one here.

A good outfit, in my opinion, is an outfit that fits well, shows your shape off to it’s best, and looks like you didn’t spend too long thinking about how to put it together.    

An outfit will also look good if you feel comfortable in it, as it doesn’t matter how good the outfit is, if you don’t look comfortable or feel good in it, it will show!

If you follow these 4 key points, and use my simple formula for putting an outfit together, your outfits will always look good!

The best way to make your outfit unique is to dress for YOU.

That means choosing clothes that work for your shape, lifestyle, and style preferences.  And if you need to take inspiration from others, do so, but don’t just copy and paste their look; adapt it so it works for you.  If you carbon copy someone else's look, it won’t feel unique to you.  

Another key point is to develop a strong collection of shoes and accessories that you can draw on to subtly change the look of your outfits.  For example, if you have a dress that came with a belt or tie, remove that and replace it with one of your own. It will instantly make the outfit look more unique.

There are four simple ways to instantly make a boring outfit look more interesting:

1. The first is to style it up - this means tucking your tops in, cuffing your sleeves, experimenting with how you button an item, etc...
2. The second way is to play around with layering: layering can alter the proportions of an outfit to make it look more interesting, and it can add interest and dimension to a dull look.
3. Wear contrasting textures - one of my favorite combinations is chunky knits contrasted with soft silk.
4. And lastly, use accessories and footwear to add interest to a boring outfit.

Putting outfits together easily takes practice. But it is worth the effort. When you can quickly and easily put together an outfit that you enjoy wearing, that looks and feels good, life just feels a little easier, and you feel a little happier.

Let me know how you get on!