190/ Compendium of Styling Hacks vol. 1
The pops, tucks & layers that elevate your outfits
Dear readers,
Recently I shared a few of the go-to “minimal effort” outfits I throw on for drop-off with my eyes half open. But what happens when I take those same pieces and make a few small, deliberate adjustments?
In this newsletter, I’m unpacking the little styling choices I’ve made over the last month that turned my throw-on-a-go looks into something more considered.
And to be clear, there’s nothing wrong with “minimal effort” outfits, btw! They have their place in my life. But, there are also so many little tweaks that can take an outfit from good (left) to great (right):
Today, I’ll start with a dozen and as time goes on, I’ll keep adding to what I’m calling my Compendium of Styling Hacks, a running collection of the small tweaks you can try out when getting dressed.
So, how will this Compendium help you?
The answer goes back to an AMA question a reader asked me last year:
Q: Hi Irene, would love a deep dive into style.. how do you make your outfits have that “special factor”.. the thing that is truly you.. what’s your thought process when putting together everyday outfits.. what makes something work or not.. your thought process in words! Thank you xx
Please go back to read my full answer if you haven’t already, but the TLDR is (in order of importance):
1) Proportions first. Does the overall silhouette feel right, i.e. the length and width of the tops in relation to the length and width bottoms, sleeve length and width, the height of a sock vs. no sock, the bulk of a shoe, etc…
2) Balance next. Are the fabrics, textures, colours, and degrees of formality in balance with each other?
3) Finally, the “special factor.” Is there something about this outfit that feels special, even in a small way? Sometimes the answer’s no, and that’s fine. On most days, I care more about proportion and balance than about adding third, fourth, or fifth pieces (granted, with thoughtfully chosen foundational pieces). See: drop-off outfits above.
In other words, these hacks are my way of fine-tuning proportions, balancing elements, and/or adding those final touches to make something really right.
1) The Tuck(s)
Let’s start with one of the most fundamental tools in my styling arsenal: the Tuck. I deploy so many different kinds of tucks! Today, I’ll start with two. The main reason is to manipulate the proportions of an outfit, like I did in this outfit from last year:
A good tuck can instantly reshape a silhouette (and visually reshape the body), change how a piece sits, provide the “Slim” relief of Big-Slim-Skin, remove bulk, so on….
The Double Side Tuck
As distinguished from the single side or front-side tuck, both of which can be done to differing degrees: fully jammed in so the entire waistband is visible, or lightly tucked in so the fabric blousons gently over the waistline, and everything in between. You could tuck in one inch of fabric, or six.
How many tuck combinations is that already? And each one subtly shifts the balance and shape of the look.
Anyway, I digress. Recently, I double side tucked two finger-widths worth of my cardigan into a pair of pants and a skirt: