A Guide To – Mixing Textures

A Guide To – Mixing Textures

Mixing textures is certainly a skill. It is something that is often attempted but, without the right sort of consideration, can turn a look into a disaster. This is a shame because, with a few simple guidelines, it can really give your outfit that sartorial ‘cherry on top’.

So where do you begin? With all these textures going around, how on earth are you supposed to pull them all together? Well, as always, bear in mind the layering rule of ‘thick to thin’ and then try out these simple techniques:

1. Monochromes

The easiest way to mix textures is to keep them all within the same neutral tone. Shades of grey, blue and black are simple, chic and classic in appearance and, due to their muted tone, pull together different textures effortlessly.

2. Keep It In The Family

A step on from monochromes, start using different tones from within the same family. Just as shades of blue worked, so will colours from the red, green or brown family.

3. Break it up! Break it up!

Another key technique is to break up textures with a simple solid item. For example, we all know that denim and tweed are a match made in heaven. As soon as Autumn kicks off, you can’t move for guys in dark indigo jeans and grey tweed blazers! But the key to mixing these two textures is to put something solid and minimalistic between them – like a white v-neck tee or a light blue oxford cloth shirt.By doing this, the focus isn’t entirely on the textures but the look as a whole – which, after all, is the art of mixing fabrics anyway. So why not reach for your trusty grey crew neck t-shirt the next time you’re trying to pair those brown tweed trousers with your denim jacket?

So there we have it guys, three fool proof methods of layering and mixing textures together. As always, let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, and tell the community the principles you like to stick to.