When you are choosing your clothes, there are a lot of factors that need to be taken into consideration. Cut, shape, color, texture, pattern and shine are all very important factors when it comes to the things you put on. Another parameter one should always consider is the fabric from which each piece is made.

Mixing fabrics is not hard, but if you do it wrongly, you are going to stand out in a negative way. We generally advise people to move away from synthetic fibers, as they won’t do you any justice, both in terms of feel and in terms of looks. Never wear synthetic fibers unless you are on the sports track or are wearing them for another utilitarian look. Natural fabrics, should they be of animal origin or made from plants, are always the best way to go. They might cost more than synthetic fibers, but they will last longer, feel better and you will have an overall better experience.

 

 

How to match fabrics

The rule to mixing and matching fabrics is very easy; what you should do is opt for fabrics that are quite contrasting, but not too different. You need to have a trained eye and to experiment a lot in order to be able to tell where that fine line is between “contrasting” and “too different”. For example, if you mix cotton with denim, that is a good combination, as the two fabrics look and feel similar. However, mixing denim with a very smooth material, reserved for formal settings only will make the contrast so high that the two pieces will simply reject each other and will not look harmonious at all.

Of course, it is not wrong to make a fashion statement and wear the same fabric from head to toe, but then you should really affirm it.

 

 

Why wear different fabrics

The reason why you should wear clothes that are made from different fabrics is because they each have their own texture and look and, combined, they will result in a visually interesting combination. As you can see in arts and nature, things that have different textures and levels of hardness go together well.

 

Examples of how to wear different fabrics together

Let’s look at some examples of great fabric combinations. You can also make up your own and see what works best for you. These combinations work great, but make sure that when you are putting your outfits together, you don’t wear formal pieces with casual ones, as they will clash and your look will not be fluent and continuous; you will look like there are many styles mixed together.

 

Cotton+leather

 

 

Cotton is one of the most versatile fabrics and one of the most popular as well. It can easily take any shape, form or color and can be very easily accessorized. Cotton looks amazing if you pair it with leather, there’s something about the dynamic of the two materials that make them a great mix. If you are wearing a cotton shirt, you can always match it with a leather jacket or with a leather bag.

Velvet+cotton

 

 

 

Velvet is the fine fabric of the casual family. This is why, if you want your velvet piece to stand out, you can pair it with something more common, such as cotton. These two make a great combination and don’t make each other “uncomfortable”. Since both cotton and velvet are quite versatile and can be worn, depending on the cut of the garment, in both casual and formal settings, the number of ways in which you can apply this combination is really infinite.

Suede+Egyptian cotton

 

 

 

Suede is a very soft fabric, which is why you should wear it with something softer. Egyptian cotton is a great fabric that goes very well with suede, but always make sure that your pieces are from the same category in terms of cut. This means that you should not wear a suede piece that is casual with a dress shirt made from Egyptian cotton, just because the fabrics match. Your overall look is what counts, so make sure that you don’t get stuck in details.

Of course, for some suede and Egyptian cotton won’t work, which is why you should try this combination out before you decide on the final look of the outfit you wish to put on. If you are putting together new outfits, make sure that you always have a back-up. The only time when you can simply take things out of the closet and wear them is when you have successfully worn those combinations before.

Denim+linen

 

 

 

Denim and linen is a pair made to work well together. If you think about it, since denim became popular, it has often been worn with linen. They really make natural allies and you can make sure that you won’t look strange if you choose to wear these two fabrics combined.

Since denim is a neutral, it can be matched to any color, so this combination is very easy to put together, regardless of the clothes you have.

Tweed+velvet

 

 

 

Tweed is very harsh material that has a lot of presence, which is why you should match it with something softer, but that has just as much presence as tweed. Velvet is a great way to go, as these two fabrics are both strong in terms of presence, but they don’t clash, as one of them is softer and the other one harder. Wearing a tweed jacket with a velvet vest can be a great choice if you want your layers to look interesting and get a special overall vibe.

 

 

Additional information

a) Some fabrics should be kept only for certain settings. For example, fleece is a fabric appropriate for hiking and similar activities. We don’t recommend that you wear it in other settings and by no chance at semi-formal or formal occasions.

b) Whatever fabrics you wear, make sure that the accessories you put on match them as well. This way, dressier fabrics go well with more valuable accessories (things made from gold, silver or that have precious stones), while casual fabrics go great with accessories made from more common materials, including cotton, wood or even polyester (but only if you do it right).

 

Fraquoh and Franchomme

 

 

 

 

 

P.S. What fabrics do you like? What do you wear them with? Share your comments, questions or feedback in the space below and don’t forget to follow us via e-mail or on our social media!