When Something Feels ‘Off’ in an Outfit
Larissa posed a really interesting question in the group this week that I wanted to highlight — and dig into a little more with you.
She shared a shirt that should have worked for her — it was the right style, the right colour season, and even from a brand she loves. But every time she put it on, she felt a bit miserable. And she couldn't quite put her finger on why.
I posted a similar post as well - taking about why an outfit I had worn the other day, just really didn’t feel like me - you can read it here.
Here’s the thing:
Sometimes you put something on, and something just feels wrong. It might be something you're trying for the first time, or something that's been sitting unloved in your wardrobe for ages.
Sometimes it is just the item (like Larissa) or sometimes its the whole outfit (my example)
And it's so frustrating when you can't work out why!
So how do you figure it out? How do you turn it into a learning moment?
Here’s a simple process you can try:
✨ First, style the item how you would normally wear it.
Look in the mirror and (this is key) take a photo. Sometimes seeing yourself through a different lens helps you spot what your eye couldn’t pick up in real life. Really take a look at the photos you took and…
✨ Ask yourself:
How do I feel in this outfit?
What sort of person would wear this?
What about it works? What doesn’t?
Does it clash with my style words? My colour season? My usual vibe?
✨ Play around with styling it differently.
If it feels boring, could you add something with more colour, texture, or shape?
If it feels too much, could you simplify how you are wearing it.
How have you styled it - does it maybe not follow some of the rules you know make you feel best when you get dressed?
Could you try different accessories, different bottoms, layering a jacket over it?
✨ Still not sure? Post it in the group!
Sometimes it’s hard to be objective about your own outfit. That’s what we’re here for — to help you break it down and spot the things you can’t see yet.
Why does this happen?
Even if the colour, style, and shape seem ‘right,’ a piece can still feel wrong because:
✅ The pattern layout feels ‘off’ — A busy, messy, or distorted pattern can feel overwhelming or jarring even if the colours are perfect. (This is what was happening for Larissa — the straight, messy lines didn’t sit neatly, so it felt chaotic.)
✅ The contrast is higher (or lower) than you feel comfortable with — You might love a little contrast in theory, but in practice prefer softer blends or sharper, cleaner lines.
✅ The texture feels wrong for your style words — A stiff fabric when you prefer softness, or a too-casual weave when you prefer polish, can throw the whole outfit off.
✅ The emotional tone is wrong — Sometimes the vibe is wrong. Maybe it feels too serious when you want playful, too structured when you want relaxed, too plain when you want expressive.
✅ It fits technically, but doesn’t sit right — Maybe the item looks fine, but it just doesn’t feel good when you are moving around or wearing it.
✅ The colour or pattern feels a bit too much near your face — Even if it technically suits your season, sometimes a bold print or strong colour can feel louder than you want. Trust yourself—you can always use it in accessories or further away from your face if that feels more joyful.
✅ It ‘technically’ works for your body shape — but we all know that rules aren’t always meant to be followed, and that the body shape rules are a jumping off point to help us find what we love on US.
👉 The goal isn’t just to decide if you should keep or toss the item — it’s to learn what you love, so you can buy or style more confidently next time.
Because every 'not-quite-right' outfit is actually an intentional step closer to an outfit you love.