Same Outfit, Different Accessories

Today I want to start a lil’ seasonal series to showcase how you can take the same base outfit (top and bottoms) and make two totally different looks by switching up the accessories. You know how much I love versatility and minimizing cost per wear for all my clothing items, so this post is perfect for accomplishing both of those things. It’s not realistic to wear a different outfit every single day, nor is it necessary—I repeat outfits all the time! But this post is a fun way to make the most of your closet and get creative with the pieces you already own. Today is the summer edition of the series, but I’ll be doing the same kind of post in fall, winter, and spring as well!

The pairing I chose for my base outfit was this simple white tank and these adorable navy and white polka dot shorts (can you see the little bow on the front?). For this first look, I wanted something casual that could be worn on summer days out-and-about or on vacation. I stuck to simple jewelry pieces—a single pearl necklace and colorful cuff—and added a denim jacket for those chilly air-conditioned buildings. The yellow bag was the perfect pop of color, and I topped off the outfit with fun beaded slides! But since foot shots are extremely unflattering (at least for me) you don’t get a close-up of the shoes…

For me, the easiest way to create two outfits with the same base clothing items is to make one outfit more casual and the other outfit a little dressier. This first look is obviously the more casual version—a denim jacket is a great piece to dress a look down, and dainty pieces of jewelry keep an outfit looking modern and easy. Other pieces you can reach for in your closet to make a more casual outfit are crossbody or backpack-style purses and slide shoes or other flat sandals.

For the fancier outfit, I swapped my color scheme for some richer tones, adding shades of blush/nude. I opted for a large, sparkly statement necklace—a big difference from the dainty pearl necklace I wore in the first look—and added a pink beaded bracelet to match. Rather than a crossbody or other more casual style of purse, I chose a blush clutch with a big asymmetric bow. And the final touch that switches up this outfit? The shoes, of course! I wore these super fun navy striped heels, which really kick this look up a notch (or two).

Something I completely forgot to do in these photos, but that also makes a difference, is switching up your hair/makeup. If I were actually wearing this second outfit to dinner or an event (sigh… remember when we could go out?) I’d probably let my hair down and curl it. That would also make a starker difference between these looks. Another “accessory” you could switch up is your lipstick color! Or even eye shadow shades, if you’re into that sort of thing.

As you can see, dressing up your outfit calls for bolder accessory choices and adding interest through sparkles, bows, texture, or any other details. A clutch is a sure-fire way to make a look dressier (since you probably wouldn’t want to carry around a clutch if you were just going to the grocery store) and heels can have the same effect. There are endless possibilities for accessories—such as sunglasses, hair clips, scarves, belts, etc.—that you can mix and match over and over again to change the look of your clothes. My favorite thing about these two outfits is that they would be absolutely perfect for vacation; you can wear the casual version in the day as you explore whatever city you’re visiting, and then you can swap your accessories before going out to eat at night! That way you don’t have to dirty twice as many clothes and you can pack way less. It’s a win-win!

Do you like to style different accessories with the same outfit? Which of these two looks is your favorite?

In other news, I’ve really fallen off the bandwagon with my blog engagement this month. I didn’t make it a priority in my planner and as such, have kind of forgotten about making an effort to like, read, and comment on other people’s content! I also haven’t been spending any time on Instagram lately… which in a lot of ways feels good, but I’ve definitely seen a huge dip in engagement and growth. Here’s to restarting my good habits from the past few months and being more productive in the second half of August!

Hope you all are having a great Thursday so far, and enjoy your weekend.

Miles of smiles,

Grace

White Blouse: Thrift store, $12 // Denim Jacket: JCPenney, $19, last worn here // Navy Polka Dot Shorts: LC Lauren Conrad via Kohl’s, $36, last worn here // Beaded Sandals: Resort gift shop, $20, last worn here // Navy Striped Heels: CL by Laundry via DSW, $40, last worn here // Yellow Crossbody: Charming Charlie, $15, last worn here // Blush Bow Clutch: Target, $50, last worn here