Whether you both like bright colours and bold prints and need to ensure you won’t clash, or you just like the same styles and want to complement one another, it’s fun to get a little matchy-matchy sometimes. You may not want to wear exactly the same thing, but outfits that work well together will pull you together as a couple and make for great photos.
There are even people hosting ‘dress like your spouse’ parties to give couples the opportunity to show off their style and see how well they know each other’s wardrobes.
There are a few things you can do if you want to ensure that you present a united front, such as:
Be prepared
Couples who both favour eye-catching designs cannot afford to leave it until the last minute to pick an outfit if they want to be sure that they won’t clash with their partner. If you are planning an event, start thinking about what you will wear as soon as possible to give yourselves a chance to find pieces that work well together.
If your style is a little more understated, you will still look better if you have had a chance to discuss your choices and make sure you’ve had a chance to see each other’s outfits. This is also true if you have similar styles and want to make sure you’re not too well matched – while you may want to bring out the best in each other, if the colours or combination you are wearing is identical to your partner, you may look more like you are in uniform than just a well-coordinated pair.
It’s also worth checking the dress code to ensure that you are both on the same page in terms of dressiness. If you’re wearing signature ripped skinny jeans, your partner might feel overdressed in evening wear, so planning ahead can spare both of you blushes.
Agree on what you want to achieve
The practice of dressing like your partner is popular in South Korea, China, and Japan, where couples often choose the ‘kou peul look’ to signify their commitment to one another. Some couples go so far as to commission specially made outfits that match each other exactly, whereas others will just opt for dressing in the same colour or style.
If you and your partner have the same idea of what you are trying to achieve, it will be a lot easier to get the look right, so be clear about whether you are trying to create a ‘brand’ or just look good together. Of course, the longer you spend together, the more you will naturally influence one another, so many couples find that their wardrobes start to converge after a while.
This is particularly true in cases where personal style is an inherent part of your shared hobbies and interests, such as a particular genre of music, favourite sport, or love of the outdoors. It’s no surprise that a couple that surfs together might have a similar style, so you may find it easy to find outfits that go together naturally.
Stay positive
Whether you and your partner share a sense of style or are polar opposites, planning an outfit together should be fun for both of you. If your partner has a shirt, you hate or a pair of pants that are more ‘past-it’ than ‘retro’, this isn’t the time to try and persuade them to give it up.
Dressing together should be a celebration of your shared interest in fashion and the way your styles complement each other. If you have very different colour palettes, then find anywhere they converge to choose a theme that suits you both even if you go for different shades and hues.
Even the most unconventional couples will have some overlap when it comes to their wardrobes, so even if all you can agree on is that you’ll both dress all in black, you can make a statement together.
