Balance and Scale in a Casual Outfit
Today I thought it would be fun to dissect the anatomy of an outfit that just wasn’t working for me. The balance and scale in a casual outfit can be as important as its color and shape so I made a few tweaks to get it back on track.
My friends at Chico’s sent me some clothes for an Instagram campaign and I love each piece individually but found the look unbalanced for several reasons.
As always, you can click the red text for more info and to shop the item.
This statement necklace is fabulous but its strong architectural vibe overpowers the more delicate paisley print. The drapey nature of the fabric also doesn’t hold up to the visual weight of the necklace. If it was a long dress, it might have had a fighting chance.
The necklace is too long to lay inside the neckline but not long enough to hang outside and stay over the back of the standup collar. There’s too much competition between the bold necklace on the top of the paisley pattern so neither wins.
The blouse says ‘soft’ and the necklace says ‘strong’ to me. I do love opposites in many outfits but not in this case. These may seem like nit-picky details but they’re the sort of thing that can derail an outfit even if we can’t put our finger on the problem.
Here’s what I did to adjust the balance and scale.
First, I swapped the heavy necklace for more delicate earrings and added a bracelet. The bracelet is as chunky as the statement necklace but has plenty of room at my wrist because the sleeves are pushed up. I would prefer a bracelet with smaller details like this one which is a better match for the fabric weight.
This balance still isn’t my favorite but it’s much improved.
GREAT WHITE JEANS
Here, I switched to a tank top with a denim shirt worn open and swapped my sandals for chunkier white platform sneakers. This tank allows the necklace to lay against my skin and not cover part of the top. I don’t mind when necklaces do cover part of a top, but they need to cover enough of it to look intentional.
There’s more room in the neckline for this statement necklace plus it’s not competing with a pattern for attention. Denim and chambray shirts are a classic in my wardrobe because they go with so many things.
MORE DENIM AND CHAMBRAY SHIRTS
Platform sneakers or any closed shoe give a better visual balance to the denim shirt and chunky necklace. The outfit looks less top-heavy when weighted by a heavier shoe. A darker shoe would do the same thing but it would make my short legs even shorter, so l prefer a pale shoe with white jeans.
See also –Ā How to Look Taller and Slimmer
Do you think about the weight of fabrics with your jewelry?
Thanks for reading and remember to wear what makes you feel confident.
Jennifer at first glance I disagreed with you re the first outfit bec I liked the color of the stones enhanced the color of blue in the blouse. After closer look I saw the details on the necklace and agree that it is the wrong ā energyā and weight for the blouse. Your other outfits are perfect! Just love them.
Iām so glad you did a blog on this subject of outfit balance and weight. I find that in many of your ā Would you wear itā blogs, the featured outfits are unbalanced and discordant. It seems to be a trend right now to pair up unrelated and disproportionate items that go against natural laws of harmony. They may be interesting in an eclectic way, but seldom pleasing or flattering. Your examples today illustrate very well what does work, and why. .
Your restyling improved the looks of the paisley blouse immensely – very pretty! The original necklace still makes me uncomfortable even with your restyling. Itās a statement necklace so it should grab your attention, which it does, but it still looks out of proportion to me and extremely heavy!
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for this post – I love to hear how you curate your looks. I often stand in front of the mirror and know that something is wrong but I can’t articulate it. I am retiring in May (finally I’m 60) and one of my goals is to finally accept my body shape and learn how to dress it casually.
Totally agree!
I agree with you about the necklace .
Also it looks heavy & because I view it as a statement piece , showcasing with the tank is perfect.
I think the necklace looked the best with the denim dress yesterday
You never cease to amaze me Jennifer! You are so clever with styling and I love the above session. All makes perfect sense, but seeing it presented like you do makes it even better. Thanks for all you do! š
Correct me if Iām wrong, but I thought big statement necklaces were out and multiple chains were in. š¤
You are not wrong but āchunky and boldā was shown on the fashion runways this spring and is making a comeback.
Yes you are quite right, this shirt does not need any adornment as it has buttons and a pleated neckline. In fact I think the necklace is too big and chunky period, I would avoid it with everything.