Couple dressing — the act of coordinating your outfit with your significant other — once attracted attention for all the wrong reasons. Who could forget Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake in their matching denim red carpet looks circa 2001? But just like dad sneakers, sandals and socks, and fanny packs, things that were once decidedly uncool often become the exact opposite — and couple dressing is a perfect example.
The re-emergence of matching style hasn’t been as much an instant revival as it has a slow burn — over the last few years, it’s likely that scrolls of your Instagram feed have slowly been peppered more and more with your favourite street-style stars and celebrities in coordinated looks. Sometimes, so subtly so, that you might not even be clocking it as couple dressing. And that’s the art of mastering this style trend: subtly complementing each other, never matching each other completely. This means a synergy in dress code, colour palette and/or sensibility.
The result can offer surprising sophistication, and when it’s done well, your own look becomes doubly impactful.
With Valentine’s Day just a few days away, what better time to trial some Valentine’s Day dressing? To give you some inspiration on how to nail it, we round up some celebrity takes on couple coordination across different occasions.
DRESSING FOR… AN EVENING AFFAIR
Inspiration: Hailey and Justin Bieber
Why it works: The duo’s trademark youthful, street edge — achieved through Justin’s backwards cap and Hailey’s gold chains — complement their monochrome formal looks perfectly without being matchy-matchy.
Hailey and Justin Bieber. Image source: instagram.com/haileybieber
