This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s summer editorial intern Ana Sofia Corral Morales. Find her on Instagram at @sofi.photographsss. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Growing up when I was figuring out my style, I used to combine the upper part of the outfit (like a top or a jacket) with the footwear. And I didn’t realize it was a thing until TikTok started serving this thing called ‘Sandwich Method’. This technique involves balancing the elements of an outfit to create a united look. In this article we’ll review some key elements, how to make it work and some references in people.
Understanding The Sandwich Method
As explained in articles by Byrdie, Real Simple, and The Everygirl, it revolves around the concept of creating a harmonious balance in your outfit by “sandwiching” a central piece with matching or coordinating elements. This style can be applied to colors, textures, fabrics, or even proportions, allowing for endless creativity and versatility in styling. Think of it this way, it doesn’t matter what you put between the sandwich’s bread, since it’s still a sandwich! But be careful of style crashes and overloading your outfit.
Key Elements
Top and Bottom Coordination: Match an element of your top half (such as a top or jacket) with an element of your bottom half (like pants, a skirt, or shoes). For example, a brown sweater paired with brown shoes, while the middle piece (like blue jeans) acts as the “meat” of the sandwich.
Balance Proportions: Use the method to create a visually balanced outfit. For instance, if your top and bottom pieces are oversized, opt for a more fitted middle piece to maintain a balanced figure.
Texture and Fabric Harmony: Combine different textures and fabrics to add depth to your outfit. A delicate blouse can be sandwiched between more considerable pants and shoes, creating an interesting and stylish contrast.
Become An Expert In This Method
I feel like the sandwich method concept started going viral thanks to this fashion influencer, ‘Lydia Tomlinson’, who has over a million followers. I gathered her top tips on how to master the sandwich method:
- Start with neutral colors like black, white and beige. These colors are easy to match and give an opportunity to create a solid foundation when trying to experiment with bolder colors and elements. For example, you can wear a white blazer and shoes, with a vibrant dress in between, like the image below. It’s all about color coordination.
- Don’t be afraid to play with patterns and add them into your sandwich. Stripes, florals, polka dots can be a visual gift and give personality to your outfit. The photo above is a great example.
- Use layering to your advantage as it can create additional dimension.
- Customize your sandwiches to the occasion. For casual outings, opt for more relaxed pieces, while for formal events, choose more sophisticated elements.
Lydia’s videos also emphasize understanding the “weight” of each clothing item, whether through colors, fabrics or shapes. For example, black carries more visual weight than beige or white, and wide-leg pants have more weight than skinny jeans. By understanding the weight of each element, creating the sandwich effect becomes simple.
I would add a belt to the fit, however, it’s a great example to prove all of our points.
Extend the sandwich concept to accessories. Match your bag and belt to your shoes and top, creating a firm look. Adding a belt can help define the middle part of the sandwich, creating a differentiation point that harmonizes the entire outfit.
In terms of overall matching, the hat, as the surface of the sandwich shape, is a key element to show personality and style.
Customize the hat to coordinate with the color of the clothing or other accessories, but you can also try to add some contrasting colors or metallic colors to add highlights. You can also add personal logos, favorite patterns, and colors when customizing the hat to make your overall look more individual. Through the unique charm of custom hats, you can easily create an overall look that is both coordinated and personalized. Whether it is a daily trip or a party, it can show your fashion taste and unique style.
Why Does It Work?
The Sandwich Method works to inspire style with certainty and allows you to dress appropriately without visually clashing or wearing weak (and often chaotic) looks. It’s effortless, which has you ready for the day more stylishly quicker and further improves visual appeal by giving well-balanced “finished” finished off looks. Open composition supports experimentation with styles, colors of clothing, material textures and proportion. On top of that, when you look at yourself and realize your attire matches perfectly it drives confidence; a benefit in knowing things are all put together well.
Give a comment below on how you apply the sandwich method on yourself!
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