Balance is key

In any successful outfit, the key is always balance. A ruffled dress with ruffled heels and ruffles on the handbag is overkill. A yellow dress with yellow shoes and matching bag is too matchy-matchy. Boxy boyfriend jeans with a boxy boyfriend blazer, converse sneakers and a ball cap is all far too masculine. You're getting the picture, right? Any single trend should be balanced against other pieces that counter it. The ruffled dress should be matched with a pair of edgy gladiator heels and a hip shoulder bag. The yellow dress should have contrasting color accessories. And the boyfriend trend should be limited to one major item per outfit.

A perfect example of a balanced trend could be pairing a floral, feminine dress with a pair of oxford flats instead of ballet flats or heels. The masculine shape of the oxford juxtaposed against the super-feminine print of the dress makes for a perfectly balanced pairing. And the cool thing about lace- up oxfords is that they are being made with a very delicate sole and heel, so they aren't too heavy and clunky like true mens oxfords. I went to polyvore to make up a collage to show you this kind of pairing. Of course I couldn't decide on just one pair of shoes, so I chose a whole bunch. The principle is the same no matter what the shoe and every one of these oxfords would work with this dress. You just need to pick the oxford that suits your personality the best.

Dress with Oxfords by Rtboo featuring Gentle Souls shoes

Items in this set:
Floral Stripe Prom Dress, 32 GBP
Round-Toe Oxfords, $220
Gentle Souls Sure Bet, $185
Gentle Souls Sure Bet, $185
Joan & David Zena, $160

Do you have a question about how to incorporate a trend or how to make it balance within an outfit? Sometimes if you aren't careful, a "trendy" outfit will end up looking more like a costume. If you are wondering about how to make something work with your wardrobe, don't hesitate to leave me a comment or send me an email and I'll be happy to help you out!