This time when I went to my friend's house in Zhejiang, I helped her with outfit matching and took some photos. However, due to the photographer—her son being quite busy during the summer vacation—we only captured part of the outfits, but the process was still very beautiful.
My friend is a true representative of someone who loves clothes in my eyes. This time, in her million-level wardrobe, I saw clothes she purchased at different times, including many international big brands, highlighting her excellent taste. She herself embodies the highest realm of daily dressing, not following fashion trends blindly or piling up luxury brands, but rather expressing herself and her attitude towards life. It relates to personal taste, aesthetics, and understanding of fashion.
Dressing is one of the ways we communicate with the world, and its highest realm is not merely superficial decoration, but an externalization of inner spirit. In my eyes, my friend possesses the practicality and wisdom of Jiangsu and Zhejiang women, along with a free-spirited personality. Coupled with years of nourishment from tea and homemade nutritious meals, her complexion is also excellent.
She and I were classmates when we studied fashion styling, which was over ten years ago. Unlike me, her purpose for studying was solely to enhance the aesthetic of her outfits. She understands very well what clothes suit her; she just needed to improve her matching skills, which is why she came to learn.
She also inspired me to write this article. Below, I will share the highest realm of daily dressing from six aspects. These aspects complement each other, and if we can all pay attention to and practice them, dressing will surely become an amplifier that highlights our personal style and quality, allowing us to better communicate with the world.
1. Self-awareness: The starting point of dressing
The first step in dressing is to understand oneself. Everyone's body shape, temperament, and preferences are different. Only by deeply recognizing one's uniqueness can one find the style that suits them best in dressing. Self-awareness is the starting point of dressing and a necessary path to the highest realm.
Guiding principle: Recognize your body characteristics, including shape, skin tone, and personal style preferences. Choose clothing that highlights your strengths.
2. Simple yet not simplistic: The philosophy of dressing
Simplicity is one of the highest realms of daily dressing. It is not monotonous but seeks change in simplicity, expressing the richest connotations with the fewest elements. Simple outfits often better highlight personal temperament and taste, allowing one to exude unique charm effortlessly.
Guiding principle: Choose basic styles and reflect refinement in simplicity through details like tailoring, fabric texture, and pattern decoration. Avoid excessive decoration and let the outfit return to its essence.
Most of my friend's wardrobe consists of basic styles, and wearing these basic pieces is very suitable for accessorizing, amplifying the style that the accessories want to express rather than competing with them.
3. Color and matching: The art of dressing
Color is an important element in dressing. Mastering color matching techniques can make daily outfits more vivid and interesting. Whether contrasting warm and cool tones to highlight personality or harmonizing similar color schemes to create a sense of sophistication, the use of color can make outfits layered and full of artistic sense.
Guiding principle: Learn basic color theory and understand which colors suit you. Try to use color to express emotions and personality while paying attention to harmony and contrast.
My friend's wardrobe has a small number of brightly colored clothes, which can add some color and vitality to an otherwise mundane life.
4. Details determine success or failure: The refinement of dressing
In daily dressing, details often determine the overall effect. A delicate accessory or a perfectly placed pleat can make an outfit more perfect. Paying attention to details is key to reaching the highest realm of dressing.
Guiding principle: Choose well-designed accessories, such as watches, bracelets, ties, or scarves, to enhance the layering of the overall look. Pay attention to the cleanliness and maintenance of clothing to keep it fresh.
What surprised me was that I had never seen my friend wear jewelry before, thinking she only liked clothes. This time, for the photoshoot, she took out various pieces of jewelry she had previously hoarded, some of which even amazed me. These accessories played a very important role in the styling I did for her this time.
5. Comfort and practicality: The foundation of dressing
No matter how glamorous an outfit is, if comfort and practicality are overlooked, it cannot be considered the highest realm. Choosing fabrics and cuts that suit you, ensuring that outfits are both beautiful and practical, is something every person pursuing the art of dressing should consider.
Guiding principle: Choose clothing that fits your lifestyle, whether for work, leisure, or sports. Ensure the comfort of the clothing and avoid sacrificing practicality in pursuit of fashion.
In this regard, my friend's wardrobe perfectly blends comfort and practicality, with most fabrics being of high quality and the fit being quite comfortable.
6. Personality and innovation: The soul of dressing
Finally, the highest realm of daily dressing lies in showcasing personality and innovation. Do not be confined to tradition; be bold in trying new combinations and styles, allowing dressing to become a way to express oneself and explore the world.
Guiding principle: Continuously try new matching methods and be brave enough to break conventions. You can find inspiration from magazines, social media, or street fashion, but the most important thing is to maintain your unique perspective.
This time, we transformed a pair of Miyake's elastic waist wide-leg pants into a one-shoulder evening dress, and we both really liked this look.
Dressing is not a competition but a reflection of a lifestyle attitude. When we integrate self-awareness, simplicity philosophy, color art, attention to detail, comfort and practicality, as well as personality and innovation into our daily dressing, we reach the highest realm of dressing—a perfect state that is both comfortable and free, both individual and harmonious.