The Flavor Profile of Monochrome Dressing
Just because it's only a slice of the spectrum doesn't mean it's boring!
I consider myself a maximalist dresser. When it comes to color, I usually mix a few and rarely wear only one piece of jewelry. But when summer comes, it takes more work to achieve the best combination. Your options for layering are limited, so dressing monochrome — varying tones of only one color — is a good technique.
A monochrome outfit is far from simple. A complex interplay of shades, textures, and prints can create a striking and unique look.
The thought process behind dressing in a monochrome look is similar to that of the Cypress Silhouette, the Silhouette that places equal weight on each element in the outfit. It's a style that invites you to make your outfit interesting by carefully considering aspects like color and texture. This approach is crucial to monochrome dressing, regardless of your desired Silhouette.
Monochrome dressing is far from one-dimensional. It's a dynamic play of different shades of a single color (i.e., cream with white or orange with red) and textures (i.e., linen with crochet or silk with denim). This attention to detail transforms a simple idea into a unique and exciting outfit.
“The Nancy Meyers”
The most classic and wearable monochrome look for summer is the all-neutral look, often seen in Nancy Meyers's movies. This look can give the impression that I spend my summers in a Northeast beach town, a style sometimes referred to as "quiet luxury." It is a great way to see variations of whites (off-white, cream, pure white) and textures.
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In Nancy Meyers's movies and in her own life, Diane Keaton exemplifies monochrome dressing solely in the Cypress Silhouette, shown above. That is her style—however, the all-neutral monochrome dressing works with all three Silhouettes.
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This look is not created by simply wearing a single neutral item. Wearing a white dress is not the same as monochrome dressing. The combination of pieces—the layering and the slight variations of pattern and texture—makes it interesting. Monochrome dressers often use the texture of the material in place of a printed pattern, color-blocking shades in different fabrics. Prints in limited colors can, of course, be used, however!
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The above monochrome neutral looks use this technique. Alisha, Jalil, and Erin combine texture, tucking, and layering to create their Cypress Silhouettes. Harling and Reese play with hues to make their Palm Silhouettes. Anna uses color-blocking of neutrals to create her Evergreen Silhouette.
I am styling the Silhouettes in various monochrome looks (and not just neutrals!)
Of course, monochrome dressing doesn’t have to be limited to neutrals! Below, I style one neutral monochrome and one colorful monochrome look for each of the three Silhouettes. A colorful monochrome look is playful but purposeful. The components of the outfit are equally dependent on each other.
The Cypress
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As I mentioned, creating a Cypress Silhouette uses the exact same styling techniques of monochrome looks. The only difference here is that we are sticking to one color. This makes the textures of your outfit and slight variations of tone really stand out.
The Evergreen
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The Evergreen Silhouette, in contrast to "quiet luxury," is a dramatic style exemplified by the Dawei runway look in the collage. I recommend a simple monochrome styling approach to complement this bold Silhouette. With the volume concentrated on the bottom, a straightforward top contrasting in texture or shape, and a few minimal accessories, the Silhouette and color choice will stand out equally.
The Palm
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I love a monochrome Palm Silhouette look, and I wear it often. Palms can veer "cutesy" (babydoll dresses, poofy mini skirts), and monochrome dressing adds an element of sophistication that is helpful for Palms.
Perhaps we are all just inspired by the Farmer's Market.
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Monochrome dressing is a great styling technique when you feel uninspired. It's like a blank canvas, ready for your personal touch. Pick a color—any color!
xo
Eliz