Of course, the most sustainable purchase is the one you didn't make! With these styling tips from style coach Mirjam Hamming, you can create a new look today without spending a single penny. So simple, so logical. Why didn't we know this before!
Styling tips to learn to combine what you already have better
‘A closet full of clothes and never having anything to wear.’ Recognisable? And meanwhile, we keep buying new clothes en masse, when we also have dozens - sometimes hundreds - of clothes, lying unworn in the cupboard. Do we really have too few clothes or perhaps we have another problem? A matching problem perhaps? Or maybe we buy too many clothes that just aren't enough... With the basic rules of style coach Mirjam, everyone can start working on a smaller wardrobe with more outfits that make you happy.
Styling tip #1: ‘the rule of thirds’
‘No matter what your stature and style, ‘the rule of thirds’ is a styling tip you must know,’ says Mirjam. ‘It involves wearing your outfit in such a way that it splits yourself into two unequal parts. So 1/3 upper body and 2/3 legs, for example. The opposite is also possible, for example by wearing a tunic jumper so that you divide your body into 2/3 upper body and 1/3 lower body. Want longer legs? Then it's smart to wear a high waist wear trousers or skirts that divide your body and lengthen your legs. Bonus tip: then do wear your top (or a tip of your top) inside your trousers to accentuate the uneven effect.’
Tip #2: breakpoints
Mirjam's second styling tip is about breaking points, also very important! ‘Be aware of the effect of breakpoints and play with them. A breakpoint is the point in your outfit where two garments (or the garment and your own skin) overlap. Breakpoints attract attention. So avoid breakpoints in places you would rather not draw attention to and create breakpoints in places you are proud of. ’Good to know, too, is that a belt is a breaking point and light colours attract attention more than dark ones,' she stresses.
Styling tip #3: combine different busy clothing prints
‘Many people think you can't combine different clothing prints. Nonsense! On the contrary, it can be done very well. What works very exciting is to combine a small print (i.e. with small, delicate patterns) with a garment with a larger print. Quiet versus busy, in other words. Bonus tip: make sure at least one colour matches in both prints, then you're always right. So a pink floral pattern and a pink stripe can go together perfectly,’ she believes.
Basic rule of matching outfits
‘When creating an outfit, start at the bottom of your outfit, i.e. your trousers or skirt,’ Mirjam advises. ‘Chosen? Then find a matching top with that. Tops match well with undergarments if both garments have the same brightness in colours. So with two bright colours or two muted colours, you can't really go wrong.’
Tip #4: colour blocking and tone-on-tone
Mirjam's fourth tip is about colours. The bottom line is that if you have a lot of contrast in your face (e.g. dark hair and light skin), especially outfits in contrasting colours will look good on you. On the other hand, if you have less contrast in your face (e.g. blonde hair and light skin or dark hair and dark skin), outfits with less contrast often look best on you. ‘Because you obviously want the attention to go to your face and not your clothes.’
Ton sur tonal outfit combos (the first picture shows Mirjam in a jacket).
Styling tip #5: take photos of your favourite outfits
Okay, finally you found the outfits that make you very happy. So how do you prevent yourself from putting on the same thing every time anyway? ‘When I do closet sessions at people's homes,’ she explains, ‘we spend an afternoon making all possible clothing combinations. We take a picture of each set, which we then print and hang on the inside of the wardrobe. You can also save them in a folder on your phone if you find that easier. It takes some time, but you're going to enjoy this so much! You'll also never have clothes stress again, because there's always plenty of inspiration to look stylish and happy for the day. So I advise all my clients to do this twice a year.’
Two cabinet changes per year
With a final no-brainer: ‘What you don't see, you don't wear’. That's why my tip in autumn is to remove all summer items from your wardrobe and store them somewhere else. In spring, do exactly the same for winter clothes. The less clothes there are in your closet, the more of them you will wear,' she concludes tidily.
Still need more help after reading these tips? View Mirjam's website. Or follow her on Instagram: @mirjam_stylecoaching (She also shares really great tips here!).
Get started with a no buy clothing style
Looking for even more free fashion hacks, upcycle Ideas and tips for sharing and swapping clothes? We'll get you started with the No Buy Fashion Guide. Over a hundred pages of cool ideas on how to look nice without even buying anything. Nothing. Nope. Nada. Not even second-hand! For 9.50 euros you will have it delivered straight to your inbox and thus on your tablet or mobile phone!
Will you also join this fun community? Read this guide too and discover lots of original ideas. Because so many cool clothes are already out there! Order the No Buy Fashion Guide from our webshop!
More green (clothing) inspiration from thegreenlist.nl
- You can also earn a penny from clothes you no longer wear. Check out these tips for selling stuff well on Marketplace.
- A long long list of fine sustainable fashion brands and shops. Check it out here!
- With peace of mind shopping at Sophie Stone.
Photo credits: main image: Pexels, Mirjam Hamming, tone on tone Ekaterina (Pexels), Eko Agalarov (Pexels).
