As you may remember, a cluster is simply a small group of clothes selected and coordinated to meet the needs of one specific person. Every cluster will always be different depending on difference in the person's lifestyle, the climate, finances, values, personality traits, roles, body build, personal coloring, and so on. When I get it right my client is so delighted and confident, too, knowing there are clothes in their closet that can take them virtually anywhere they need or want to go in their day or evening, enabling them to more easily achieve their goals.
The easiest first step
in building a cluster is to find a pattern of colors you love and feel like you could wear forever. The pattern might be in a shirt, a scarf or tie, a necklace−anywhere you find it. The colors in the pattern form the color scheme you will build your cluster around. Ideally, one of the colors will repeat one or some of your personal body colors−your hair color, eyes, skin, or blush color-making you part of the color scheme with your clothes. This color harmony is the goal. Ideally one or some of the colors is or are muted wardrobe neutrals, allowing them to mix easily with other colors. Ideally there is a mix of lighter, medium, and darker colors to make the color scheme of clothes more interesting to look at. As a timeless truth, it works!
You don't get more sporty than this red, blue, and white plaid,
all-season camp shirt at Macy's. The red repeats cheek and lip
color. Blue is complementary contrast to the blonde hair and skin
color. She looks terrific with many options to fill out a fun at-home
cluster.
My client expressed an interest in building a cluster around burgundy with something flattering to wear in a family picture. A little snoop shopping turned up the best options to reflect her softer, sporty-romantic personal style at Christopher & Banks. Wonderful textured pieces included a burgundy leather jacket, suedecloth skirt, solid shirt, plaid shirt, T-shirt, and this sweater vest with leather closure.
A classy, silky poncho sets the color scheme for this best-dress cluster. Pieces are by Nygard, found online or at Dillards. They fit the need for sporty-romantic looks.
Moderately priced basic suiting pieces worth building on are always available at Dillards, with brands like Nygard, Jones of New York, Alex Marie, and more. Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, White House-Black Market, Express, and Talbots offer more options. I outfitted clients with staples from these stores.
I have to chuckle when I think back on all those trend-watchers telling us not to wear black anymore. Then you see clusters based on black in stores nationwide.
This cluster is more creative colorwise, fabulous on a vibrant redhead or strawberry blonde. There's something for everyone "out there." Add-ons might include an asymmetrical cotton knit tunic from Target and a contemporary sheath from Nordstrom. When the price is right, you buy what works for you wherever you find it.
Another of my clients needed a more high-powered, sophisticated cluster of clothes that ranged from Romantic to Classic to Sportive styling. I found exactly what I was looking for in Lafayette 148, an impressive mail-order catalog. A beautiful line of clothes, be assured that we can find more easily affordable look-alikes in stores mentioned above, as well as in local boutiques nationwide. We may have to look a little longer to find them, but we do have options--consumers and consultants alike.
