How to Look Easy on the Eyes…but Interesting

As much as I love putting together really chic, elevated outfits, that’s not how I really live generally. Like most of my readers, I live a very casual lifestyle and have the option to dress “down” most days. So the bigger challenge then becomes for me to put together easy, casual outfits that also look polished and pulled together. Let’s break down the elements of this easy on the eyes outfit so that we can look appropriately casual, but also interesting and stylish.

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Several years ago when I was trying to get to the bottom of what it really means to look “chic,” I landed on the concept of creating outfits that are “easy on the eyes.” You can’t really look chic if you look like you’re trying too hard. And when you’ve got so much going on in your look from head to toe, the beholder’s eye doesn’t know where to land, and it’s unsettling and bothersome. Conversely, when your outfits looks a little effortless and not fussy, you’ll look mysteriously appealing.

While many of us love to layer on complex outfits in the fall and spring, I find that I really get back to creating more easy on the eyes looks in the summer. And those outfits are good training because they remind me that there really is something to be said for keeping it simple.

So while I talk big about layering most of the year here at Dressed for My Day, you can breathe a little easier as summer approaches, knowing that I’ll be creating much more pared back outfits for the hotter months. If you live in the south, you’re probably doing a little happy dance right about now. Ha! I get it. I’ve spent more than half of my life living in hot zones like Georgia, the Gulf Coast of Texas and just miles from the border of Mexico in Arizona. This girl knows how to dress for the heat.

We can create easy on the eyes looks this summer with lightweight fabrics, colors that soothe, relaxed styling, minimal but impactful jewelry and soft, summery accessories. My jeans and button-up shirt outfit might not seem to be a likely choice for a cool summer outfit. But these Madewell summer-weight jeans are extremely comfortable and the wide leg silhouette is breezy on my legs. And the Z Supply linen blend shirt is both cool on the skin and easy on the eyes.

SALE ALERT: Madewell is having a secret sale in the LTK app today through May 13th. You can get 20% off your purchase at Madewell, but only if you shop through the LTK app. You can shop HERE, where you’ll get the secret code to enter at checkout.

Another key to creating easy on the eyes looks is to pay attention to your contrast in intensity. I discuss that concept extensively in the video below. But the bottom line is that you want to determine your own contrast in the intensity levels of your eyes, skin and hair. Then you want to mimic that contrast in intensity in your outfit. Because my hair, skin and eyes are all light, I have low contrast in the intensity of those three features. So I look best in outfits where the intensity is all the same or nearly the same. Whether I’m wearing darker or intense colors or lighter, less intense ones, I try to keep the contrast minimal. Make sense? Try it for yourself and see if it doesn’t help you to create a more easy on the eyes look.

So you don’t have to overthink putting outfits together in order to create a look that is interesting and appealing. You absolutely can wear just a pair of pants or jeans or shorts or skirt…and a top. No need for another layer. Keep it simple.

Then to add a little interest to your outfit, just add some pretty jewelry and incorporate a noteworthy accessory or two – nothing that grabs too much attention, but that simply adds a little “something, something.” If I’m wearing a busy, print blouse, I carry a solid, more understated bag. But since my outfit here is more subdued, I think my Spartina 449 Sabine shoulder bag works perfectly.

Thanks so much for stopping in today. You can shop this look through the links in the captions of some of the photos as well as through the shopping widget below. Have a lovely day!

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You can shop the look through the links in the copy above or through the shopping widget below. Sale prices are not always reflected in the widget, so click through to get pricing info. Remember, if you purchase anything through these links I potentially earn a commission, but at no cost to you. Thank you for shopping through Dressed for My Day. I am grateful!

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