How To Create A Tonal Outfit In 5 Steps

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Thank you to J. Crew for gifting me the cashmere scarf and gloves featured in this post!

A tonal outfit is a polished, flattering way to dress and is aligned with the minimal, modern and “quiet luxury” style. With this technique, it is easy to take a casual look and make it appear more chic and elevated. In this post, I’m sharing more about what tonal dressing is, some easy tips for creating your own looks, and an example of a tonal outfit.

I chose this Cashmere Wrap c/o and Cashmere Tech-Touch Gloves c/o both in the “hthr grey” colors from J. Crew to coordinate with my Cashmere Sweater in “htrh ash”. I have had this sweater in my closet for several years and it is one of my most favorite sweaters! I been shopping at J. Crew for a long time! They always have styles that are both classic and on trend and their quality is impeccable.

For size reference, my height is 5’9″ and I weigh approximately 175 lbs., have an hourglass figure and I am mid-size. For tops, I typically wear a size Medium (10) or Large (12), depending on the brand and fit of the top (for slim-fit, I usually wear a Large). For bottoms, my normal size is a 12 (depending on the brand and fit of the bottom) OR a 31 waist; a 10-inch high rise fits my waist the best and a 28 inch inseam falls at my ankle, 30 inch inseam is full-length on me. My shoe size is 9 medium or 40EU.

What Is Tonal Dressing?

Tonal dressing is pairing together pieces either in the same color or within the same color family. It’s a great way to make an outfit appear more polished or even to modernize a more tailored outfit, like workwear or smart casual style. Neutral colors, like black, gray, cream, brown, etc. work well as tonal outfits since neutrals are subtle colors.

A tonal outfit:

• Creates visual harmony
• Looks intentional and elevated
• Is very flattering (elongate the body)
• Is easy to repeat without looking boring

Cashmere Sweater in “htrh ash”
Talbots Barely Boot Jeans in “black”
Dr. Scholl’s Northbound Chelsea Boots in “black”
Quince Wool Coat in “heather charcoal” 
Cashmere Wrap in “hthr grey” c/o
Cashmere Tech-Touch Gloves in “hthr grey” c/o
Italian Leather Box Shoulder Bag in “black”

How to Create A Tonal Look

Here is an easy way to create a tonal outfit:

1. Choose ONE Color Family

Examples:

• Blue (navy → denim → powder blue)
• Beige (camel → oatmeal → ivory)
• Gray (charcoal → heather grey → light grey)
• Green (olive → moss → sage)
• Brown (espresso → cocoa → tan)

2. Use Light–Medium–Dark Contrast

A great tonal outfit usually has at least 2–3 depths of the same color. This prevents the outfit from looking flat.

Simple formula:

• Top: light or medium
• Bottom: medium or dark
• Layer (jacket/cardigan): opposite depth of the top

Example (blue tonal):

• Light blue blouse
• Mid-wash denim or navy pants
• Deep navy cardigan or blazer

The color family I chose for my tonal outfit is grey and I added pieces to my outfit in darker and lighter tones for contrast. I wanted to create my outfit around this cashmere sweater in “htrh ash”, this cashmere scarf in “hthr grey” c/o and these Cashmere tech-touch gloves also in “hthr grey” c/o. I added these Talbots Barely Boot Jeans in “black” and Dr. Scholl’s Northbound Chelsea Boots in “black”, then completed my outfit with this Quince Wool Coat in “heather charcoal” and this Italian Leather Box Shoulder Bag in “black”.

3. Mix Textures (This Is Key)

When you create a tonal look, it is best to mix multiple textures to create a more interesting look. For my outfit, I included textures like cashmere, wool and denim. The smoothness and courseness offset each other

Examples of texture mixing:

• Knit + denim
• Wool + silk
• Linen + leather
• Cotton + suede
• Cashmere + denim

4. Keep the Undertone Consistent

Make sure all pieces lean warm, cool, or neutral—mixing undertones can break the harmony. The undertone in my outfit is Cool.

• Warm: camel, tan, cream
• Cool: stone, greige, icy gray
• Neutral: balanced beige, soft taupe

5. Add Subtle Contrast with Accessories

Accessories should support, not interrupt, the color story. The accessories in my outfit are the cashmere scarf in “hthr grey” c/o, these Cashmere tech-touch gloves also in “hthr grey” c/o and Italian Leather Box Shoulder Bag in “black” which are all in the grey color family.

Best choices:

• Same family, slightly darker or lighter
• Soft metallics (gold for warm, silver for cool)
• Leather in a matching tone

Example:

• Taupe bag with a beige outfit
• Brown shoes with a brown tonal look

Thank you for visiting the blog! ❤️

A Bit Of Inspiration For Your Day:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33