Style

The Art of Layering

November 10, 2015

Coming from a tropical country with only two seasons (hot and very hot!) I’m not used to layering or styling winter-wear. However, living in Melbourne for nearly 3 years has helped me master the skill of layering.

With four seasons in a day, I am constantly mixing and matching different outfits by experimenting with different colors, styles, and patterns. This skill might just come naturally to you if you live in Melbourne!

Most people are, at first, nervous about the idea of layering but it is essentially just dressing up for comfort and style! I am going to give you a few tips on how to layer your everyday outfit without too much of a hassle.

So… how do we start layering?

1. Don’t Overthink. Styling should be fun, so keep it simple and explore your style.

2. Hot and Cold. Remember that you have to layer up on colder weather and layer down on warmer weather. Think of what you’d be comfortable wearing when you’re freezing, and when you’re sweating.

3. Tonal. Start by layering items with similar tones, preferably neutral-toned (Black & black, black & grey, pink & cream, white & grey). After you get the hang of it, you can start experimenting with different color tones, patterns, accessories, etc.

4. Express Your Lifestyle. Express your lifestyle through the layers. For example, if you work in an office, you can wear a white shirt tucked into a pencil skirt and layer it with a tailored jacket or coat. After work, you can always take your coat off to change your look from office wear to weekend wear.

5. Fit & Loose. Try layering fitted outfits and with loose outerwears. This will help you hide the areas you want to hide and also keep you warm.

6. Scarve It Up! Scarves are excellent layering pieces that will instantly accentuate your look. If the weather’s too warm for scarves, simply hang it on your purse, it’ll make a great add-on to your outfit!

7. Be Yourself. Just be yourself and be confident! There is nothing better than feeling good about yourself! If you hate wearing bright colors, don’t force yourself. Don’t be a completely different person just for the sake of fashion – just be you!

Today I mixed and matched my outfit tonally by keeping it at a darker tone. The dark green adds a pop of color! I then accentuated the look by layering it with a beige oversized scarf to keep me warm and also allowing me to layer down as soon as the sun makes an appearance.

I paired my outfit with flat knee-high boots because it helps elongate my legs by giving them a longer and slimmer look without looking too dressy. It also balances my outfit and keeps me warm since my skirt is pretty short.