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The Effect of Dressing Using the High-Low Method

 So you may be wondering...what is the "high-low method"?  When you dress high-low, you are doing one of  two things:

  1. You are wearing a Designer item paired back with less expensive items, or
  2. You are wearing a dressier piece as a statement and dressing it down with more casual, or basic items.

I personally tend to take advantage of #2.  I am not one who shops Designer brands for myself much, but I love an "elevated casual" look.  So, what does that look like?  My "uniform" many times in dressing in this way is to wear a dressed up blazer and to pair it with a t-shirt or blouse and a pair of slouchy boyfriend jeans.

What are the benefits of high-low dressing?

I love that when you dress with this method, you are actually using the dressier items in your closet.  Maybe you have a fantastic sequin blazer that you typically only wear during the holidays.  Grabbing this piece and pairing it with denim or joggers or even leggings is a great way to make use of your pieces.

Another benefit of this way of dressing is that you can take some of your more "formal" and maybe slightly less comfortable pieces and make them more enjoyable to wear by pairing them back with items that do feel comfortable to you.  Maybe you have a trouser pant that you typically wear to work or to church and you can dress that "high" piece with something "low" like a denim jacket or a moto jacket and a graphic t-shirt.

A major upside to dressing using this method is that you save money!  You can splurge on fewer pieces and they are still impactful to your every day outfits.  You can splurge on just ONE Designer piece a year and then you find creative ways to wear it.

The key elements to High-Low Dressing

If you decide you would like to step into this way of dressing, you want to make sure that your "high" piece makes a statement and truly elevates the outfit. Avoid purchasing Designer "dupes" and calling that your "high" item.  Knowing you are wearing a fake will make you feel, well, fake.  High-low dressing is a vibe and if you know you are faking it, your vibe will not be authentic.

When it comes to your "low" pieces, these are going to be your basics:  your jeans, your t-shirts, your tanks.  With these pieces, while you do not need to break the bank by ANY means, make sure you are investing in quality. Because you should be wearing your basics often, you want to make sure they are made with a nice fabric that isn't paper thin so that they look good and not over-worn.

Examples of "High" pieces

  • Tailored Blazer
  • Designer Handbag
  • Fabulous Statement Sunglasses
  • Fabulous well-tailored Trench coat
  • Good quality statement necklace or earrings
  • Designer belt
  • Real Leather Blazer or Moto Jacket (not faux)
Think:  quality, texture, versatility, neutral

What aesthetic does the high-low method portray?

When you dress using the high-low method, it portrays an elevated classiness and a truly classic style. It's not about being "showy", but when you take Designer pieces it adds an instant high-quality or high-vibe feel to your look.  When you use the method of taking a "dressy" item like a sequin blazer and dressing it down with denim, it instantly gives your outfit interest with the texture.

The next time you watch a television show like "Billions" or "Succession" or watch ANY show or movie, take a minute to think about the clothing.  Costume designers on set create an intentional aesthetic with the clothes they put on the characters.  It is just as important, if not MORE so than the set or the music used. What is the clothing telling you about the character?  It's a fun assignment and you will find it very interesting if you pay attention to it.

One final consideration...

One thing to keep in-mind is that you do not want your "splurges" to be on trendy items because you will not get much use out of it.  If you want to wear trends, keep them to more of a mid-price range because they will not be in your closet long if you don't want your look to be dated. The goal for your splurges is to think of classic, timeless pieces that will not go out of style.

Stylishly Yours,



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