Style Buzz: The Rules + Anatomy of a Monochrome Outfit

Ideas to Inspire Your Head-to-Toe Style

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"I had this outfit in mind a month ago but it didn't fit February. It fits March, though."

I totally understood what this lovely lady meant! Her attitude toward her outfit was not just temperature-related. It had to do with the feeling of the changing seasons, of the days getting longer and brighter, of the flowers (and pollen!) bursting out and turning the world fluffy and colorful. I'm seriously impressed that she not only thought to save it, but that she wrote it down and remembered it. And I bet that when she finally put it on, she did a little happy dance for getting to finally wear it, at just the right moment.

 xxx rachel

It's time to get the scarf out again! And celebrate with some Sweetlife, of course.

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THE RULES

One of my favorite parts of What Not To Wear all those years ago was when they went over The Rules for a client: look for this silhouette, find pieces to highlight that, try shoes and accessories in this style. Obviously I learned a lot, but I was fascinated by how they found a formula that worked for each particular person. And while they were called "rules", they functioned more like "guidelines" and gave the client a lot of room for interpretation that suited them.

There are so many Rules out there these days, and while some of them seem to be at cross-purposes with each other (How can I be minimalist AND channel my inner Iris Apfel at the same time?), they are worth paying attention to: many endure because they mirror how the eye naturally processes balance and interest. So here are four common ones to try. And I encourage you to try each of them - you might find the one that works for you best, giving you a quick hack to your own personal style.

The Rule of Three suggests that an outfit feels complete with three intentional elements that support each other, like three colors, three uses of a particular pattern, three similar shapes. Think layers, accessories, texture, or color accents, which create richness and depth. Three creates visual harmony: one feels sparse, two can feel unresolved, while three introduces just enough complexity to look considered without effort. It works because odd numbers keep the eye moving, preventing the outfit from feeling too symmetrical or static.

The Rule of Five sets the foundation for your personal style by requiring each piece of clothing to work with at least 5 other pieces in your wardrobe. When you buy a blouse, for instance, can you imagine it working with multiple pairs of jeans, pants, and skirts, or is it a one trick pony? Plus, wearing the same piece in multiple different ways defines your style, saves you money, and reduces the environmental impact of the fashion industry.

The Rule of Thirds borrows from art and photography, dividing the body visually into thirds rather than halves. A high-waisted trouser with a shorter top, for instance, creates a one-third/two-thirds proportion that is more dynamic and elongating than a straight 50/50 split. Play with hemlines of jackets, tops, pants, and handbags to find what works on you. Try tucking your shirt in to lengthen your leg, or a longer coat that hits mid-calf, or monochrome clothes with an accent color at the 1/3 mark.

The top half is the same proportions as the bottom half, which looks boxy and boring.

By tucking the shirt in, I've created 1/3 on top and 2/3 on bottom, much more interesting.

Finally, Color Rules, such as limiting a palette to two or three colors, help maintain cohesion. Repetition of color across an outfit creates a sense of intention, while contrast adds interest. Try the 60/30/10 rule - 60% of the dominant color, 30% of a secondary color, and 10% of an accent. Or the Color Wheel Theory options like Monochrome (mixing different shades or saturations of a single color), Analogous (colors adjacent to each other on the color wheel), or Complementary (opposite colors on the wheel for high-contrast, bold looks.)

[If you want to be sure you're choosing the right palette for you, book a color analysis appointment with Bernie Burson!]

Happily, none of these rules is rigid. They work not because they restrict, but because they offer a reliable framework for looking polished with ease. But as they say, you've got to know the rules in order to break them, so if that's more your style, go for it!

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ANATOMY OF AN OUTFIT

This is a peek into my favorite outfit of the week where I break it down for you: why I've put it together and why it works, what elements could be swapped out, things to consider, etc.

I loved my All-Blue outfit last week, and it made me antsy to do a proper monochrome one! Since the weather cooperated, I popped on a cream blouse with a tonal floral print and paired it with a cream pleated skirt. The skirt hits me below mid-calf, so it's important to avoid sandals with straps at the ankle that would visually cut my legs off. Instead, I chose cream mules, whose pointy toe elongates my leg (and sadly matches my winter skin color!) It's not that warm out there so I added a cream cardigan while indoors and, when I had to leave the house, a cream coat. I finished the look with large Mother of Pearl earrings, a necklace pendant that is the sole survivor of a pair of earrings (sigh), and a white watch strap. Elegant, effortless, and perfect for a sunny Spring day!

Blouse: Calvin Klein

Cardigan: Ann Taylor

Skirt: Grace & Mila

Shoes: Matisse from Miss Meers

Earrings: Carlo Viani

Earring Pendant: Stella & Dot

Watch: Michele

Monocream? Also, The Rule of Thirds in real life!