I know many of you dream of a wardrobe that mixes and matches so you can get dressed effortlessly. I’m telling you it’s possible, friends. Years ago when I first started blogging, I could pull together a good outfit, sure. But knowing how to mix and match? I just couldn’t figure it out. Most of my stuff only went with one other thing. OR, if I actually had a top or pants that went with a second thing, it wasn’t a very noteworthy difference from the first outfit. Whomp, whomp.

But, I studied how to mix and match and came to some super helpful realizations. I wrote all about them in a 5-part series on how to mix and match.

It’s been 13 years since I wrote that series(!!) but ALL of it still applies. And since then, I’ve taught a lot of others how to create wardrobes that mix and match throughout the years.

SO, today I’m sharing some of the highlights for how to mix and match, including common mistakes I see that prevent you from being able to pull outfits together effortlessly.

5 Most Important Tips for How to Mix and Match With Ease

The thing is… mixing and matching doesn’t start with how to combine items to pull outfits together. How to mix and match starts with what’s in your closet. It starts with a good wardrobe. So, all of these major tips are going to be centered around that. Because without that, you won’t be able to mix and match as easily!!

Also, that’s why I’m hosting the Capsule Wardrobe Challenge NEXT WEEK!

It’s not so much about capsule wardrobes. As you’ll find out during the challenge, I hold that term loosely. It’s much more about creating a wardrobe that makes it effortless for you to pull together by focusing on these elements!

1. You Need Colored Bottoms — Not Just Blue Jeans

Let’s start with a big one. Most women rely heavily on blue jeans or black pants. And for good reason. They’re wardrobe staples and go with everything!

BUT, if those are the only things you have, you don’t have much variety in your outfits, which leaves you feeling like you are in a rut.

Adding even just one pair of pants in a color like olive green or rust orange breaks up the denim uniform or black pants uniform and opens up more outfit combos.

However, I know not everyone likes color, so even focusing on a variety of neutrals among your bottoms will go a long way!

I like to have a mixture of dark, medium, and light shades. Even if it’s just a pair of dark wash jeans and a pair of light wash jeans. Or a pair of medium wash jeans and a pair of black jeans. Varying the shades will add a lot of variety and keep you out of a rut.

Here’s a visual, updated from my original Building a Remixable Wardrobe Series from 13 years ago, haha!!

2. You Need the Right Mix of Foundation and Flair

A mix-and-match wardrobe doesn’t mean a closet full of basics. I really enjoy color and print, personally. And besides, if you’ve only got plain tees and jeans, outfits can feel repetitive quickly!

You need a mixture of what I call Foundation pieces (your core basics) and Flair pieces (items with color, print, texture, or special details). Flair adds personality and interest without requiring a complete wardrobe overhaul. I wrote a whole blog post about it with more detail in case you’re interested: Foundation vs. Flair: My Philosophy for Crafting a Great Wardrobe.

This mix of foundation pieces and flair pieces is crucial for how to mix and match effortlessly, whether you prefer all neutrals or whether you’re in love with prints and colors!

During the Capsule Wardrobe Challenge you’ll walk through this blend and figure out what’s missing to make your wardrobe work better. Will you need to add foundational pieces? Will you get to add some flair? What might you need to add to be able to mix and match your favorite flair pieces more seamlessly? You’ll discover that during Capsule Wardrobe Week!

3. The Cuts of Your Clothes Need to Work Together

Ever fall in love with a pair of wide leg jeans, only to realize that none of your current tops look right with them? This happens more than you’d think — and it’s a major roadblock to mixing and matching. The shapes and silhouettes of your clothes need to complement each other, or you end up with items that only work in isolation.

Creating a wardrobe that truly works means choosing pieces that align in style, length, fit, and proportion — so you’re not stuck asking, “Why doesn’t this go with anything else I own?”

But… where do you even start to sort this out? Inside the Capsule Wardrobe Challenge I’ll walk you through the steps to do so!

4. Your Colors Need to Coordinate to Mix and Match Effortlessly

One of the sneakiest reasons your clothes might not mix and match well? The colors just don’t go together.

It’s easy to pick up cute pieces here and there — a teal top here, a muted pink cardigan there — but if those colors don’t coordinate, you’ll constantly feel like you can’t build complete outfits. And when your closet feels like a puzzle with missing pieces, getting dressed becomes stressful instead of simple.

That doesn’t mean you need a closet full of neutrals or that everything needs to “match.” What you do need is a cohesive color palette — one that gives your clothes flexibility to work with multiple other pieces.

When your colors play nicely together, your outfit options multiply instantly. Suddenly that floral top goes with three bottoms instead of one. That blazer works with every blouse in your closet.

Want help with how to figure out your color palette? And better yet, how to include TONS of colors in your palette and still have them all go together? I’m gonna cover that the Capsule Wardrobe Challenge — and this lesson has been enlightening for hundreds of our PMT students!

5. Accessories Can Change Up Your Looks

This is one of the most overlooked ways to breathe life into your outfits AND to make fewer pieces feel like more. Adding the right accessories, like a colorful statement necklace, fun earrings, or even a bold pair of shoes, can completely change the feel of an outfit. A tee and jeans can go from everyday casual to date night just by switching up your accessories. Want an example? Catch Part 5 of my Building a Remixable Wardrobe Series!

There are even MORE tips for how to mix and match, but those are my top 5 that are completely necessary. And, they’re the biggest mistakes that I see women overlook. You can catch my entire Building a Remixable Wardrobe Series (which is 13 years old but still ALL applies today). It’s a fun look back to where PMT started, too, haha!

Join the *FREE* Capsule Wardrobe Challenge!

Also, if you want to get this done in your own wardrobe, join us inside the Capsule Wardrobe Challenge next week! It’s totally FREE. It’s full of small action items that don’t take very long but get you huge results!

Click here to join my FREE Capsule Wardrobe Challenge!