The Third Piece

It's time to look like you know what you're doing (or at least faking it well)

Hello again!

The longer I go on writing “Nice Outift!”, the more internal dialogues I have about getting dressed. I often think about whether you all are having the same questions or needs regarding your wardrobes or outfits and try to break down in all the ways I can relate, usually in these terms: As a women, as a professional, as someone my age, as someone in a hurry, as someone going on a trip, or as someone with a busy social calendar- what am I needing from my outfits right now and who’s on them same venn diagram of needs as me at this moment? After all, I did start this newsletter to try to serve some sort of public service in helping other women feel more stylish and in touch with their wardrobes. Naturally, I’m constantly thinking about how you all may be suffering the same outfit woes as me.

The woe of the moment, for moi, has been the fatigue of getting dressed for work or a dinner out in the summer and not making it feel like just like another sundress with sandals (insert any boring outfit go-to here). I’m craving the layering of early spring or fall- when you’re not dressing for surviving the elements, but more for the spirit of dressing and looking good. I am so over wearing outfits that remind me that I am just trying to survive the merry-go-round of sweltering days that are blending together!

Enter the third piece, but the summer edition. Many of you may be familiar with the third piece rule, which is that outside of your top, bottom and shoes, you have another piece of interest added to your outfit. I think a vast majority of people default to a jacket, which is a qualifier, but not exactly practical in August. So what do you do for your third piece in summer? Time to get creative with your accessories.

I have been very intentionally practicing what I’m preaching for the past couple of weeks and I’ve been having a lot more fun with my wardrobe than I usually do in August. For starters, it’s time to figure out what accent colors you like the best with your day to day wardrobe- for me I love throwing in a bright red, a soft yellow, or a bright blue for great contrast and because it still feels summery. I pull these colors in via my jewelry, scarves, button down shirts, and light weight knits. Ta-da a third piece that adds more depth to your look and a nod of color that feels intentional and makes you look more put together. Now you may look like you know what your doing (something I would like for all of my outfits to amplify)

Actually wearing this outfit today, on my day off, as I type this! See the denim shirt around the waist just gives it a touch more depth. Then a pair of pearl earrings for a contrast to all of the “tomboy” aspects of the rest of my outfit!

A scarf for that added pop of color! It also pulls together the more casual white tee and jeans with the more polished navy blazer. They needed a third piece to bring it all together!

I’m all for throwing a sweater around my waist as a layer!

Or even an oversized button down! I love it with a super simple sundress for added detail. It's also a more practical layer for these last few weeks of crazy heat.

A big leather belt is my honest go-to for pulling a look together. It always makes an outfit feel more complete and there are SO many cute belts out there now!! I also use a western looking Isabel Marant belt alot and my oxblood croc embossed one too!

Voila! Another belt, another third piece pulling an outfit together.

The third piece for an evening out with friends- a necklace that makes the right statement! Imagine this without the extra pop of green from the beads? The outfit needed the necklace to help with the deeper neckline and the high contrast top and bottoms.

My most complimented bandana and it’s over a decade old (of course). I wore this blue shirt with simple khakis and sandals, but the pop of red at the top made me feel more put together!

I also want to note that adding a third piece does not only apply to colorful or maximalist dressers. The minimalist third piece is even more important because it means your outfit is already more paired down with nothing to hide behind. A simple third piece can go along way in minimalist styling. This past weekend for my husbands birthday, we went out for a casual dinner and I didn’t want to change out my white tee so I threw together something super simple. I just added a silk scarf and a really simple necklace that added a little pop of blue and boom I have a proper outfit!

I know you all are itching for fall clothing like me (maybe?), but in the meantime we are stuck in the season at hand and the only way out is through! So to get through, try adding a third (or a daring 4th) piece to your outfit for a summer version of layering, I promise you’ll feel put together and hopefully even a little less bored of the your same old same summer outfits. Play around and your wardrobe and have fun!

xx Cheers,

Taylor