Wouldn’t it be marvelous to be able to wear a perfectly curated designer look every time you left the house? Unless you are an a-list celebrity, successful fashion influencer, or maybe a member of the Kardashian family, this fashion lifestyle is probably far out of reach. But that’s ok because even working class people such as ourselves can make our outfits look just as put together by utilizing the technique of high/low dressing.
“But what does she mean by high/low dressing??” Well I’m so glad you asked! When I use the term high/low I’m not referring any specific type of garment, or an asymmetrical hemline as in trends past. I’m talking about pairing your highest quality garments with your cheaper basics in order to create a complete look in a cost effective way. There are some guidelines you will want to follow to help you achieve your perfect high/low look. Here’s what I recommend:
1. Use your high item/s as your statement piece. You definitely want your fanciest most luxe piece to be the eye catcher. The key here is not to go overboard. One single piece or a set of coordinating pieces is all you need. Throw on a pair of basic jeans and a plain t-shirt and then add a killer coat or a matching designer bag and shoe combo. Whatever piece you choose, just make sure that it is the star of the show.
2. On the contrary, make sure you choose low pieces that do not draw too much attention, in safe neutral colors. They absolutely must be complimentary to the look as a whole, but let them slide into the background. The point here is that they should enhance your statement piece, not distract from it.
3. High pieces should not compete with one another. If you decide to use a set, make sure that they are cohesive. There’s nothing wrong with pairing, say, a simple black dress with a great pair of heels and a coordinating bag, or a statement necklace/earring combo. What you want to avoid is combining all of those things into one over the top look.
4. Choose simply tailored pieces for your low. Head to toe ruffles, no matter how neutral, will seldom fly under the radar.
5. Only purchase high pieces that you will love for a very long time. And then wear them ‘until the wheels fall off’. I always hear people say that they don’t want to wear their ‘good’ clothes out for fear of messing them up. But I think the opposite. If I’m going to shell out my hard earned money on something expensive, I’m going to show it to the world. Get your moneys worth. There’s nothing wrong with wearing your most loved items over and over.
Hopefully this will be a good roadmap to start creating your best high/low looks! Tag me on your Instagram posts so I can see them or hashtag #theorganzabonanza !
xoxo Mimi
