tips for wearing separates
it’s goodbye, June. hello, July. how did that happen? just like that, half a year is in the books. 2021 is flying by! it’s hard to believe the 4th of July is this weekend! i hope you have big plans this year. there will be a fun post tomorrow on FWO to get your patriotic juices flowing and your mouth watering! but today, i’m sharing a few tips for wearing separates. yesterday’s post was all about separates, too, and how versatile they are. read that post here if you missed it. and, yes, we need to invest in wardrobe staples that are primarily made up of neutrals. but separate sets can give you a bang for your buck, too, as they can mix and match with other pieces in your closet, especially those neutrals!
if you have followed the blog for any length of time, you know i always have one pair of ‘party’ pants hanging in my closet–typically made of silk in a bold pattern. J.Crew always, and i mean always has a pair of fun pants available no matter what season. and they typically offer a matching blouse to boot! i love this pair purchased last summer for the beach. and this pair that i wore with a sweater for my trip to France two years ago. but this year, i purchased the party pants and the matching top as i am a big fan of paisley. and i mean BIG fan. years ago, my mother wallpapered my teenage room in a gorgeous pink and green paisley. then she came along with a green and white gingham comforter that was not only cheerful but the perfect addition to my french provincial bedroom set. what more could a fourteen-year-old ask for? there were so many happy hours spent on my bed with my nose in a book or flipping through Seventeen magazine until i set off for college.
tips for wearing separates
so what are the tips for wearing separates? first, if you decide to purchase a matching top and bottom, they can seamlessly be styled together. today’s ootd looks like a jumpsuit but without the hassle. if you’re not in favor of a bold pattern, then look for staple or neutral colors. navy, black or white is always a good choice. notice how the paisley top and bottom are grounded in neutrals – navy, and cream. when you pull the separates apart, let this color scheme guide you.
metallic accessories were added to today’s ootd. metallic shoes act as a neutral and help tone down the bold pattern found in the top and bottom. a gold belt (old, similar here) tie back to the gold sandals, so it was a no-brainer to add a gold bangle and gold hoops to reinforce this subtle theme.
paisley pants | paisley top | sandals | belt | bangle | earrings
this outfit is decidedly more casual. but i followed my tips for wearing separates with dark paired with light. in this case, a cream knit collared polo from Ralph Lauren was paired with the paisley pants. again, i brought in metallic sandals (old, similar here) that act as a neutral and a wicker handbag (old, similar here) that adds that summer flair.
paisley pants | knit polo | sandals (old, similar here) | handbag (old, similar here)
Before fashion bloggers, there was Seventeen, Glamour and Cosmo. I really like seperates. As a young working woman, I would buy jacket/pants and skirt/blouse outfits that matched. It was amazing how many different looks you could get with just a few pieces.
i religiously read them all! but my favorite as a teen was Seventeen. Happy 4th, Eve!
Love love love paisley too, I think last count I have 7 scarves and 2 tops. The purse, Beth, the purse is fabulous. The shape, the textures, the size…what’s not to love…I’m on a quest now to find one like yours.
Have a wonderful 4th, freedom isn’t free, many gave their all, time to honor them and our sovereign right.
paisely is such a beautiful yet cheerful print. Happy 4th!
Those paisley pants look great with both matching top and with the lighter tops! I think the paisley top might go well with light jeans knotted at waist? Maybe in the fall? Cute!
great suggestion! Happy 4th, Paulette!
Happy 4th of July to you Beth! Love all your posts…they really are all about life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness!
thank you, sandra! Happy 4th!
Did you get your orange chair reupholstered? I have always loved that chair. Is that a new gold table? It is beautiful?
i finally recovered this chair. when ollie was a kitten she used it as a scratching post so it was relegated to the guest room.
but now it has a new life! the table has been here for several years.
I love reading your posts. I love paisley too. The description of your childhood room sounds so pretty. Hope you enjoy the 4th holiday!
i so appreciate you being here!
Wow! I bet your bedroom was so cool! My sister loves paisley too. I like this pattern also and like the outfits your have shown. Have a great 4th of July weekend.
Happy 4th, Sherry!
very pretty Beth, I do not think I can wear it because I am 5’2.
But on you, it looks very nice.
love your hair today.
Thank you again for sharing your outfit.
Happy 4th, Gloria!
You said “typically silk” and I was interested…..checked the website and these are polyester…soooo disappointed
yes, this pair is poly. but typically they carry silk.
Love those pants. A funny story – a few years ago we were going to Ireland and in planning my wardrobe I bought a 2 piece outfit – a top and matching printed skirt. I knew I could wear that top with black slacks, and the skirt with black tees. After buying it and bringing it home, I simply hung it over the door on the hanger. It was there for about 3 weeks. When I went to take it down to pack I discovered that the large security thing was still attached and was hidden in the folds of the skirt! We had to go back to the store to get it removed – when we walked in alarm went off – why it didn’t do it when we left the store after purchase who knows! Since it was a key piece in my travel wardrobe I can’t imagine not finding that thing until I took it out of the suitcase. Live and learn!
too funny! but i’m glad to hear it had a happy ending.
Hi Beth,
So happy I discovered your podcast! Beautiful everything and your taste is very close to mine. What I really like is that you work with a large waistline-always part of my physique…what a pleasure to see someone using the large waist instead of hiding it! Inspiring and I plan to do the same now.