How to Coordinate Your Outfit with Your Interior: The Updated Guidelines for Personal Style

      Eugénie Trochu is an editor in residence at Who What Wear, recognized for her impactful contributions at Vogue France and her Substack newsletter, where she records and discusses emerging trends, shares her straightforward views on fashion and style, along with other reflections. She is also in the process of writing her debut book, which delves into fashion as a realm of memory, imagination, and transformation. This morning, I opened my wardrobe, torn between the short beige knit cardigan and the long denim shirt. After showering and having breakfast, I grabbed my laptop and headed to my living room. Having just moved in, I was surrounded by the olive-green velvet Togo sofa, a brutalist bookshelf, the uniquely toned beige-khaki walls that leave me uncertain about what to hang on them, the travertine coffee tables I purchased at the Saint-Ouen flea market, and the globe bar I found on Le Bon Coin last week. A doubt flickered through my mind: do these elements actually fit together? More importantly, do they resonate with me? With my style, my essence, the way I dress? Because all these details hold significance, a certain logic that has become crucial in my work as journalism melds with influence, photography, and embodiment.

      I like to believe there’s a hidden dialogue between our attire and the decor of our living spaces—two facets of the same identity. So how can you transition from feeling out of sync (“I’m more bohemian than my home”) to achieving a seamless, personal connection—a true harmony? Here are a few suggestions I aim to explore with you.

      **Assess Yourself**

      To create harmony, you must first understand yourself. Grab a sheet of paper (or your preferred notes app) and respond to these three prompts:

      1. What three words best define your personal style? (Minimalist? Rock? Bohemian chic? Preppy? Artistic?)

      2. What three words would describe your current interior—or the one you envision? (Brutalist? Scandinavian? English countryside? Wabi-sabi?)

      3. What colors frequently appear in your wardrobe? In your living room? Is there a commonality? A navy blue that exists in both spaces? A cozy beige shared among them?

      I’m not looking for perfection but for a common thread—a material, an ambiance, an emotion that flows through both my clothing and my walls.

      **Four Ideal Harmonies**

      Here are four character archetypes where fashion and interiors resonate perfectly. They may not fully embody you, but they might inspire new ideas.

      1. **The Serene Minimalist: Japandi & Quiet Luxury**

       - **Look:** polished cardigans, straight-leg jeans, linen, silver jewelry, or light wood accents, Venetian slippers.

       - **Interior:** white or naturally toned walls, light wood elements, hidden storage, a linen pendant lamp, embroidered cushions.

       - **The magical connection:** texture. The linen in your shirt mirrors that of your curtains.

      

      2. **The Unapologetic Maximalist: Boho/Eclectic/Vintage**

       - **Look:** '70s-inspired shapes, patchwork jackets, vibrant tassel loafers, bohemian accents.

       - **Interior:** wallpapered spaces, layered cushions and rugs, abundant plants, collections of hand-painted vintage ceramics, incense, and stones.

       - **The magical connection:** energy and visual richness. The eye moves from a pearl necklace to the fringe of a lamp.

       - **Tip:** repeating the same pattern—like an Aztec print on both your backpack and a cushion—creates unity.

      3. **The Sharp Contemporary: Mineral/Brutalist/Graphic**

       - **Look:** structured blazers with bold shoulders, the perfect white top, a silver choker, architectural footwear.

       - **Interior:** concrete-gray or matte-black walls, black leather sofas, steel tables, geometric lamps.

       - **The magical connection:** line and contrast. The geometry of your shoulder pads reflects the lines of a shelving unit, while the black-and-white color scheme of your outfit corresponds with the room.

      4. **The Soft Innocent: Scandinavian/Pastel/Cocoon**

       - **Look:** overalls, wool slippers, shearling sleeves, soft colors (butter yellow, sage, lavender).

       - **Interior:** petrol-white walls, a pink velvet sofa, vibrant books, wooden toys, pom-pom rugs.

       - **The magical connection:** emotion. The softness of your knit is echoed in the throw tossed over the couch.

      **Five Practical Ways to Advance Further**

      You might be convinced but not sure where to start. Here are some easy exercises, requiring no extensive thought.

      1. **Choose a texture:** velvet, linen, leather, wool. Let it shine in both an outfit and a spot