we’re halfway through the week and continuing on with our summer retrospective. today’s repost is your favorite one from July: how to wear matching separates. this is one of my favorites posts from the summer, because, as we all know, there’s a bit of a fashion taboo surrounding matchy-matchy. totally understandable, but we’re all about breaking fashion rules over here at style at a certain age. below, we’ve rounded up a collection of some of our favorite matching separates from the summer. they’re mostly similars to the outfits we’re featuring below, but i think you’re going to like them.
how to wear matching separates
while i am on my quest for the perfect summer top, i decided to head to the archives to find a few of my favorite matching separates. as you’ve seen here before, i love to pair matching separates together. you get more bang for your buck when it comes to outfit combinations because you can easily create the look of a dress, romper or a jumpsuit. i know many of you avoid jumpsuits and rompers due to the extra time spent in the bathroom. but pairing matching separates together is a perfect way to create the look without the hassle. here’s how to wear matching separates.
bold and bright for summer
if you love bold, bright colors with a splash of pattern, then you are gonna love today’s post! ‘cuz summer is all about FUN. and pops of color just brighten your mood. i know, i know, neutrals can’t be beaten when it comes to versatility or that chic factor. but i’ve always thought fashion should be fun. and what’s funner (okay that’s not a word) that a bold and bright outfit?
matching top 1 | matching bottom 1 || matching top 2 | matching bottom 2 || matching top 3 | matching bottom 3 || matching top 4 | matching bottom 4
hello april
what i particularly like about a matching skirt and top is that they act as a dress for a no-fuss-no-muss look. but when pulled apart they are independent separates that can be mixed and matched with your wardrobe. that’s a win/win in my book.
Vince Camuto separates
how to wear matching separates
preppy blazer with a color pop
Vince Camuto separates dressed down
while this Vince Camuto top is from last year, J.Crew and Nordstrom offer great options this season.
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Ooh I adore your hair in the ‘hello April’ post. Fabulous.
Lovely ideas! Just wish I had a waist to wear a belt. I also seem to be getting shorter with age. Now 71 and only 5ft 2ins.
IAvril, I share your problem. I’ve been 5’4″ all my life and at my last checkup I found I had lost down to 5’2 & 1/2 inches. Shocked and I think I am now into the petites category in pants at least.
I love separates because I wear a different size on top since I’m busty, the problem is sometimes the shoulder will be too wide if the bust fits. I probably wouldn’t wear a solid flower outfit because I’m short but solids or small prints are mixed in sets so I wear those. You rock flowers!
They’re all lovely! I love matched separates for their versatility–all the mixing and matching you can do with them is attractive to me. You look great in all of them.
Love your ideas! Perfect for travel when we used to do that. After lugging way too many outfits around the British Isles, the next trip to Ireland, I took only a carry on sized bag. Using your concept, everything did double or triple duty. It still works for the RV. Thank you for the new ways to look at what’s already in my closet
When you have a nice top and matching skirt it can easily look like a dress, and it usually fits better than a dress since you can have different sizes in the top and bottom pieces. Love the Vince Camuto clothing.
After reading the comments by the gal going to Ireland next it reminded me of a funny thing that happened a few weeks before one of our Ireland trips. I had purchased a 2-piece top and skirt in a small floral print to take with me on the trip. I knew I could mix and match it with a lot of other items in my suitcase. When I came home from Macy’s, I simply kept it on the hanger and hung it over a door in the room where I was packing. It wasn’t until about a week before leaving that I realized that the store clerk hadn’t removed a rather large security tag on the skirt. It was kind of hidden in the folds of the skirt. I don’t know why the store security alarm didn’t ring when I walked out of the store, because as I walked in the alarm did go off. Lots of laughs, but what if I actually took it on the trip and discovered it then! After years of wearing a lot of solids, I have been adding more prints to my wardrobe.
These are lovely and versatile outfits, and so great for packing when traveling. Like you mention, they do double and triple duty. I love the paisley Vince separates. They look so light and airy. Also, the palm print skirt is very flattering. You look wonderful in all of these! Thanks, Beth. I love your blog. Blessings to you and your family. Joanie
Morning Beth, Total unrelated to fashion, but I wanted to share with you an essay i just read by Sallie Tisdale, “Learning to Grieve” featured in September/October 2020 issue of Saturday Evening Post, pg 46. It was helpful.
Matching tops and bottoms are perfect for those of us who can’t wear jumpsuits, or prefer skirts and tops to dresses.
Your hair looks amazing, Beth.