Complete Outfits for Women: Sets, Dresses, Trousers and Skirts

A complete outfit for women consists of a top, a bottom and a third layer such as a cardigan – or of a ready-made two-piece set in which top and trousers already match. Putting together complete outfits instead of single pieces saves you the search in front of the wardrobe, because the pieces go together from the start.

Many wardrobes are full and yet the finished outfit is missing in the morning. The reason is rarely the amount, but that single pieces were bought that don't go with anything else. Here you'll read how to build complete outfits: with two-piece sets, with a dress and a cardigan, with trousers and a matching top, or with a skirt and a top. There are also separate sections on elegant looks and on outfits for women over 50 and for curvy women.

Two-piece sets: the fastest complete outfit

A two-piece set is the most direct route to a complete outfit. Top and trousers, or top and skirt, come in the same fabric and the same colour, so the question of whether the pieces match no longer arises.

• A set in one tone looks calm and continuous, because the colour stays the same from top to bottom.
• Worn separately a set works too: the trousers with a plain top, the top with jeans.
• As a base for layers a set works well, because an open cardigan or a blouse over it doesn't disturb anything.

You'll find the selection in the Two-Piece Sets.

Dress and cardigan: a complete outfit with one piece less

A dress takes the decision about top and bottom off your hands. To turn it into a complete outfit, only the third layer and the shoes are missing.

Cardigan worn open over it. It follows the line of the dress and turns a summer dress into an outfit for cooler days. You'll find a selection in the Cardigans and Knitwear.

A belt as an in-between step. With loosely cut dresses, a belt sets a line at the waist and visibly divides the outfit into two halves.

Tights and boots turn the same dress into an outfit for autumn and winter without you needing anything new. You'll find the dresses in the Dresses.

Combining trousers and a matching top

The most common combination is also the one where the most can go wrong. A simple rule helps as orientation: one piece sets the volume, the other stays calm.

• Wide trousers, narrow top. With wide fabric trousers, a short-cut or close-fitting top works, so the waist stays visible.
• Narrow trousers, wide top. The other way round, an oversized jumper sits more calmly over straight or narrow trousers.
• Same colour family. Trousers and top in related tones create a continuous line, and one pattern per outfit is enough.

The tops are gathered in the Tops, the trousers in the Trousers and Skirts, and the flowing models in the Fabric Trousers.

Skirt and top: a complete outfit with a skirt

With a skirt, it is mainly the length that decides what works on top. With short and knee-length skirts, more volume works on top; with midi and maxi skirts, the top usually stays narrower.

Short skirt and jumper. A chunky jumper over a short skirt creates an outfit where the weight sits at the top.

Midi skirt and top. A narrow top or a loosely tucked-in blouse keeps the line calm. You'll find blouses in the Blouses.

Skirt and cardigan. Worn open, a cardigan extends the line and makes the outfit suitable for everyday wear. You'll find the skirts in the Skirts.

Complete outfits for women over 50

Over 50, it isn't the structure of an outfit that changes but usually the emphasis: calmer colours, clear cuts and lengths that suit everyday life. Here too, a complete outfit is made up of a bottom, a top and a third layer.

• Two calm pieces, one accent. Trousers and top in muted tones, plus one piece with colour or texture – for example a cardigan or a patterned blouse.
• Coordinate the lengths. Tops that end at or just below the hip work with wide trousers and with midi skirts.
• A plain base. Simple tops in black, cream or brown can be combined with many bottoms. You'll find a selection in the Basics.

More combinations for different occasions can be found in the guide Outfit Ideas for Women.

Complete outfits for curvy women: cuts and lengths

This isn't about rules, but about cuts that are comfortable to wear. Loosely cut pieces in flowing fabrics fall softly and allow freedom of movement.

• Flowing fabrics such as muslin, viscose or soft jersey fall gently.
• One continuous colour. Top and bottom in the same tone create a calm line without a break in the middle.
• Longer tops that reach past the hip sit calmly over wide trousers and skirts.
• Open layers. A long open cardigan forms two vertical lines and can be worn over almost any outfit.

Many pieces in the shop are cut as One Size in roughly sizes 34 to 42 (UK 6 to 14). What that means in everyday life is explained in the guide One Size Fit; the specific measurements are listed on each product page.

Elegant complete outfits for women: looks for special occasions

A complete outfit becomes elegant less through individual pieces than through calm in the overall picture: few colours, clear lengths and one material that stands out.

A two-piece set in one colour. A set of top and wide trousers in the same tone looks self-contained and needs hardly any accessories.

A dress with texture. A dress in lace, pleats or with sequins carries the outfit on its own, and simple shoes are enough with it.

One shiny piece per outfit. If the skirt shines, the top stays matte – and the other way round.

Calm cuts in muted colours can be found among other places in the Italian Fashion.

Shopping complete outfits: how to find pieces that go together

Shopping for complete outfits mainly means thinking in combinations instead of single pieces. Three questions help before buying.

• How many pieces does it go with? A new piece that goes with at least two things you already own immediately creates several outfits.
• What colour base do you have? If black, brown or cream form the basis, new pieces are easier to fit in.
• Are you missing a piece or a layer? Often it isn't the next top that's missing, but the third layer over it.

Shopping this way, after a few purchases you have several complete outfits instead of many single favourite pieces that go with nothing.

Matching items in the shop: Two-Piece Sets and Dresses for Women.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a complete outfit?

A complete outfit consists of a bottom, a top and usually a third layer such as a cardigan, plus matching shoes. A two-piece set or a dress already covers two of those pieces at once.

How do I put together a complete outfit?

Start with the piece you want to wear and choose a second piece in a calm colour to go with it. Then comes the third layer, and finally the shoes.

Which complete outfits work for women over 50?

Combinations of two muted pieces and one accent piece are uncomplicated, for example wide trousers, a plain top and a cardigan with colour or texture.

Which cuts work for complete outfits for curvy women?

Loosely cut pieces in flowing fabrics, longer tops past the hip and long open cardigans. Top and bottom in the same tone create a continuous line.

What makes a complete outfit elegant?

Few colours, clear lengths and one striking material, for example lace or pleats. One shiny or patterned piece per outfit is usually enough.

Is a two-piece set more practical than single pieces?

A two-piece set immediately gives you a finished outfit and can also be worn on as separate pieces. Single pieces are more flexible but need a coordinated colour base in the wardrobe.