Of course, there are easy ways to dress monochromatically which include throwing on your favorite suit or a matching set.  Here, the designer has done the work for you—incorporating structure and other elements to add interest and balance proportions. All you have to do is throw it on.  But, we all have favorite colors that we gravitate towards, and if, like me, you sometimes find yourself staring at a closet full of go-to colors (i.e. surprise, surprise, I have tons of black and red), try pulling out those similarly-hued pieces and making them work together.  The styling trick for making them work together is texture.  I’ll explain.

When you’re styling pieces in the same color, the most important thing to do is mix textures. It gives the look interest, dimension and, perhaps most importantly, makes the outfit appear intentional. You can see in my outfit today we’ve got a lot going on texture-wise: the bodice and sleeves of my dress are covered in gathered smocking before releasing into tight pleats with lots of movement; my slingback leather pumps have a rich woven texture; my hoop earrings are adorned with a series of beaded red balls; and, it’s all finished with a creamy bold red lip.  This texture play becomes even more fun in the fall and winter when you can introduce chunky knits, thick wools and other cold-weather textures into the mix.

You can score my dress on sale here, but it’s also worth mentioning that I personally got the dress (and the earrings) through my Rent The Runway Unlimited subscription which I’ve discussed before here. It’s the best. If you’re interested in trying, code RTRMARY will give you $100 off your first two months!