by Laura Milligan
Why is layering one of the best parts of fall and winter for fashionable girls? Because it’s one of the few dressing “techniques” that allows us to show off our natural styling prowess and experiment with new looks. Whether you live in Miami or Chicago, there’s a way to layer — with shorts and boots or with cashmere sweaters and scarves — and you should remember that layering offers you the opportunity to personalize every piece of clothing you wear. It’s not easy mixing and matching patterns and textures, but that’s what makes it fun, as long as you keep everything in moderation and don’t leave the house looking like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.
So if you’re staring at your closet trying to figure out which items can go together and which are best worn indepenently, remember:
- Your top layer should be fitted and worn close to the body, in the form of cropped leather jackets or belted blazers and cardigans.
- If you’re nervous about layering, first try belting a top or sweater, which inadvertently adds another layer of interest, texture and color to your outfit but doesn’t bulk you up.
- Try a scarf: Scarves are another layering accessory that you can play with throughout the day: try it as a shawl, wrapped tightly around your neck, as a belt, or over your head.
- Layer lightly underneath, heavier in the middle, and tighter at the top: A long-sleeve tissue tee peeking out of a short-sleeve tee or pushed up cardigan, all under a fitted blazer, looks more natural and will keep your body at a comfortable temperature.
- Remember the legwear: Tights, thigh highs and even cute socks = smart layering.
- Play with patterns and colors, but don’t go overboard: Stick to a similar color palette as you layer, and your patterns should be small and discreet (you shouldn’t even be able to tell they’re flowers until you’re up close, for instance).
- Leave one part of your body out for show: If you wear a long tee, a hoodie and a leather jacket, dress your bottoms in a fitted miniskirt, tights and booties to balance out the proportions and show off your figure.
- Go easy on jewelry and other accessories: Keep everything else, including makeup, light, so you don’t feel or look like you’ve overdone everything.
- Stand up straight: Layering turns into bag lady territory if you’re hunched over under all that weight.
Great layering pieces include tissue tees, blazers, hoodies, leather jackets, cardigans, short-sleeve tees, vests, tights, thigh highs, leggings, booties, tall boots, and hats, scarves and belts — just not all at once!
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Russian style editor and It girl Miroslava Duma, a goddess of smart, chic layering
