Plus, a high/low outfit you can wear anywhere on a casual night out.
There’s a secret trick that people with average budgets, enviable personal style, and stunning, well-designed interiors always rely on: a concept known as high/low. At its core, high/low styling is about finding the perfect balance between investing in special pieces and stretching your budget on affordable wardrobe essentials, then mixing these elements in a way that looks effortless and cohesive.
It is the surprising juxtaposition of a vintage leather motorcycle jacket with a $20 sweatshirt or a hand-thrown ceramic vase sitting on an IKEA shelf that makes a space feel neat and fresh.
Think of these luxury items as the clothing equivalent of a stylish picture frame. Just as a refined frame can make even the most minimalist artwork and paint splatters look meaningful and gallery-worthy, a single high-end piece of clothing can transform a basic jeans and t-shirt combo into a statement statement. intentional style.
By basing your look on a few carefully chosen investment pieces, you create a strong foundation that makes the rest of your outfit shine.
The real genius of this approach lies in understanding which items are worth the extra money – those where the premium quality and craftsmanship are immediately apparent, instantly elevating everything else around them, like a soft leather jacket like butter, a decadent cashmere sweater, a perfectly fitted dress. wool suit or a one-of-a-kind vintage rug. It’s the show-stopping pieces that do the heavy lifting, making whatever you’re wearing look a little more considered and polished.
High/low mastery is a mindset that goes beyond simply prioritizing what’s on sale. It’s a conscious approach to getting the most style out of your wardrobe, ultimately splurging selectively on what you adore while remaining discerning about which everyday items benefit from big amounts of money and where to adopt value offerings, but always well done.
To illustrate a high/low example, we’ve put together the ultimate casual night out Get up it works just as well for a low-key beer as it does for a spontaneous gallery opening, striking an ideal balance between nonchalance and sophistication.
Suede leather jacket
High: Todd Snyder (shown) | Read my full opinion
Weak: Quince
The cornerstone of this look is the olive suede trucker jacket, a piece that effortlessly bridges the gap between luxury and rugged casual style. Its rich texture and deep olive hue that appears brown in some lighting inject a dose of understated sophistication, making it versatile enough to pair with anything from a tee to a more structured look. buttoned shirt. This jacket represents the “top” of our high/low blend, serving as a centerpiece that elevates the entire outfit.
Gray pocket t-shirt
High: Gustin made in the USA
Weak: Hanes (shown: OoS J.Crew)
A simple way to understand the mix of more expensive and less expensive clothing items is to make the most expensive item the star of the show. Let the jacket’s lush pile and distinctive hue be the center of attention, and keep other pieces more subtle to avoid competing textures and shades. A light gray t-shirt allows the shades of the jacket to really pop.
Whatever price point you choose, stick to quality, well-fitting basics without a lot of overt logos or branding. You want that minimalist ambiance that allows special pieces (and your personal style) take center stage.
Washed black jeans
High: Hiroshi Katō
Weak: Amazon Essentials (watch)
These washed black jeans have a practical reading in dark gray, providing a complementary shade to the light gray t-shirt, which creates a hierarchy of shades so that the suede jacket shines on top.
When it comes to jeans, you don’t need to spring for expensive options every time. Of course, investing in a high-end pair that fits you like a glove is definitely worth it. It’s hard to beat quality denim that contours to your body. But you don’t have to approach every jean purchase with this high-end mindset.
Mixing affordable jeans into your rotation is a smart move. The key is to balance it all out – maybe you splurge on one or two killer pairs that will make you feel like you have a million dollars. Then, complete your denim lineup with quality options at a good value, without destroying your style. Wearing these budget-friendly jeans with your designer jacket or fresh sneakers is the epitome of high/low mastery.
Suede boots
High: Joint projects
Weak: Thursday Boots (watch)
Those scuffed, broken boots with big lug soles? The antidote to high fashion, preventing even the most refined casual looks from becoming too precious or pretentious. Real style sweet spot reached.
Robustness legitimately collides with high sophistication – not just by randomly mixing elements together. Mastering this balance between highs and lows is how you achieve the pinnacle of a “cool, easy guy” party vibe without ever getting into too difficult territory.