5 Rules To Match Clothing Well | Matching Made EASY

Help!

My clothes don’t match.

I’ve been getting messages like that…

And honestly:

Matching clothes = easy to learn (if you stick to the basics)

However…

Matching clothes + being stylish = hard to MASTER!

There are certain “rules” that aren’t so strict.

Sometimes, you can bend them to in a way that works better.

But that takes researchand lots of practice (don’t expect to get it right the first time).

So in the meantime…

Read below to find out5 rules that make matching simple– and then keep learning!

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The best part? Their belt system makes matching a breeze.

With their interchangeable belt system:

You get multiple belts and buckles (to match with your leathers & metals)
Youalways get an EXACT fit (unlike belts with traditional holes)
You can “customize” your belt to suit your outfit
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Rule #1: Go For Complementary Over Matching

The first rule in matching is you don’t have to match things exactly! Specifically for your trousers and the multiple layers on top.

The ranking goes as follows:Complementary > Matching > Bad match > Putting no thought

The reason we have complementary ahead of matching is between both techniques – the first one lets the clothes “build each other up” to create a higher-level look.

So if you’re going the “complementary” route – pay attention to the color wheel. The trick is to ensure the main colors of your wardrobe are as far apart on the color wheel as possible.

But that doesn’t mean you ought to avoid “matching” altogether. It’s actually safer than “complementary” (as there are cases when people get distracted by a combination of 2+ strong colors you’re wearing).

When you’re worried about crossing the line and showing astark contrast, the fallback is to match your items based on a single color (like an oxblood belt with oxblood shoes).

In the end, matching = a pretty decent appearance. But it’s not likely going to amaze everybody around you the way a successful “complementary” outfit could.

Note: To really maximize the power of “complementary” clothing – check outthisarticle on color and contrast which teaches you how to pick clothes based on your skin tone, hair, and eye color.

A “bad match” might occur if the colors are closer to each other on the color wheel, or ifthere’s more than one bright color used. But it still beats making random choices and putting no thought! The effort still counts for something.

Rule #2: Leathers Should Match

Simply put, leather is AWESOME.

History shows how it represents wealth and status. So take advantage of that and let your leather pieces stand out as a group – with the same color.

But this rule isn’t strict. Two things you should focus on matching are (1) your shoes and (2) your belt.

Then follow-up by means of the color of your (3) watch strap and (4) leather bag – but only if it’s convenient. Don’t spend money just for that purpose.

And it’s important to remember in this case – the more different the colors of your leathers are, the worse of a match you’ll end up with. So pairing sleek black boots with a light brown belt is out of the question (unless you cover up the belt). Chocolate brown boots are a better alternative here.

Your black leather footwear can go with a belt that’s any shade of gray (since gray is a non-color). But if your want each leather piece to stand out equally – I suggest finding ONE particular color you like and stick to it.

That’s probably what you’ll need to do if your belt options are limited. Most of us have about 2-3 individual belts at home. Buying more could feel like a waste…

Thankfully, Ansonhas a solution to this. Through their unique belt system – you’re given more than just a handful of belts. You’re offered lots of variety! Anson provides at least three separatebuckles plus separate straps (canvas straps have 13 various colors while cloth straps have three multicolored options).

And I know the family behind Anson. I’ve seen just how passionate they are about their stuff. Everything they produce has been worked to perfection. That’s why they’ve got consistently great reviews for their belts and customer service.

Anson Belt & Buckle makes it super easy to match any belt with the leather shoes you own. And their different buckles can be matched with other metals easily – which leads to our next rule.

Rule #3: Metals Should Match

It’s the same deal. You want your watch, belt buckle and other pieces of metal to match if possible.

Think about the item you like wearing most. If it’s a certain watch – take note of the color and consider getting a matching belt buckle.

Silver goes with silver, while gold goes with gold (or even brass if there’s no obvious difference). But this is a mere GUIDE. There are exceptions.

Maybe your wedding ring is gold but you look good with silver metals. Or maybe you have a silver watch that’s been passed on by your father.

So don’t even think about replacing items with sentimental value! Because contrasting metals are really minor problems.

Rule #4: Wear Items With The Same Level Of Formality

Would you pair up a black tie suit jacket with basketball shorts? You get the idea.

All clothing items fall somewhere along the formality scale. And since your outfit is primarily based on its “weakest link” – don’t match your most formal stuff with your least. It will only spoil how good you look as a whole.

A formal-casual combo is like oil and water. The two elements don’t mix. You’ll only end up raising aquestion mark in people’s heads. They’ll wonder if you had trouble finding something to wear, got dressed in a hurry, or were simply trying out a new (but strange) style.

However – it does get tricky regarding some types of leather shoes. A given pair may appear more casual than formal (especially if it has more broguing or details). You might be able to wear it with jeans but not with a business attire. So those things will require some trial and error.

And in general:

Darker colors = higher level of formality (especially for suit jackets and shoes)
Lighter colors = lower level of formality; best for casual events or summer wear

Rule #5: Learn From Famous People

You might be processing all this information and thinking “A doesn’t go with B but goes with C…”quite a lot. Juggling all these yes’s and no’s.

But the art of matching is much easier when you have a ROLE MODEL. Someone who’s always seen in public with a killer ensemble. It could be Idris Elba or Ryan Gosling on the red carpet, Bruno Mars when he performs on live television, or Roger Federer when he appears on watch ads.

Those are the masters you want to learn from. They present what works every time (or at least their stylists never fail to make the right calls, but that’s beside the point). Take inspiration from them – but don’t copy every little detail. Yourindividuality still needs to pop out.

Bonus: Explore Various Textures And Patterns

It helps if you know how to incorporatetexture and pattern in menswear. So take the time to read up.

And here’s something you may not know:You can actually get away with 4+ unique patterns at once! It’s a coolclothing combinationworth trying. Just make sure the colors are muted, and no two patterns are of the same size or form.

That’s one of many things you’ll figure out by experimenting. By trying this and that. It’s part of being a good matcher– and developing your own personal style.

So don’t be afraid to experiment now and then (even if it means breaking some of the rules above). But do have some trusted friends to preview your new outfit and say whether or not it looks fine.

Or why not join the RMRS Facebook Groupand show it off? The guys over there are fully supportive and will offer some great advice each time. So don’t shy away from getting a second opinion ?

Click here to watch the video – Matching Made Easy