We Aim To Slay

In last week’s Earth Day article, I mentioned “smart fashion,” which in that context referred to our approach to fashion and styling: donating or recycling clothing we’re not wearing, steering clear of fast fashion, and shopping with intention so that we aren’t buying “one-and-done” items. Now that we’re getting closer to summer and summer travel season I want to introduce another facet of smart fashion – matching sets!

‘Matched Set’ isn’t Even Her Real Name!

You may recognize this concept from its original name: the Co-Ord, short for “coordinated outfit,” and I think the name speaks for itself. Spanning the ages, with a special popularity in European fashion history, a matched set is the ultimate fashion hack.

“The beauty lies in their versatility,” writes Kristina Rutowkski and Andrea Zendejas in the April 2026 Vogue article, 40+ Chic Matching Sets for Women to Take the Guesswork out of Getting Dressed. “When worn together, they create an instantly cohesive moment, offering a pulled-together ensemble without the hassle of mixing and matching separates on your own. Styled as separates, you have multiple outfits to play with.”

The co-ord has once again surged in popularity, with options available from high end brands such as ALAÏA, mid-tier brands such as Banana Republic (as shown in the above Vogue article), and even companies such as Zara and Oh Polly.

What to Look for in a Co-Ord

Co-Ords come in many varieties – ranging from sweaters & vests, vests & pants, cropped tops & long skirts, slips & toppers, etc. – but I’ve always been partial to the top-and-bottom and the top-and-skirt options.

I wore a lot of matched sets as a kid, and while I couldn’t find any photos, I vividly remember my favorite one: a dark blue-and-purple tie die, in a long pants and sleeves variety, that both featured bell bottoms! As an adult I revisited the co-ord as a staple for my professional wardrobe, opting for tops & pencil skirts in my neutrals. 

Like I explained in my “How to Make the Most of Your Wardrobe” article, you’ll want to select co-ords that work with your overall aesthetic – i.e., the color way or theme of your wardrobe. Recently, I bought two matched sets at T.J. Maxx: one a khaki colored vest & capri, the over a cream colored denim vest and an espresso brown, lace slip dress.

From the outset, khaki and cream aren’t colors I’d normally wear. I’ve shared before that my wardrobe consists mainly of shades of red, blue and black, with the occasional green or purple thrown in for fun. But over the last year, I’ve been experimenting with more colors – green and pink, anyone?! – and if there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that every wardrobe needs some neutral colors to expand versatility!

How to Style Them!

At the heart of it, co-ords were designed to be worn together – the styling equivalent of “so easy even a caveman could do it.” But their true superpower is their ability to transform your wardrobe with very little effort! Like this lounge wear set by Astoria Activewear that I frequently wear as traveling clothes, but I’ve also dressed up for NYFW.

Sadly, not all co-ords are cute as a set – like the linen set by Wren from T.J. Maxx. In theory there is nothing more work appropriate than a white t-shirt and a linen set, but I actually preferred how that set looked when styled separately! You can see exactly how I styled it, here!

And sometimes you’ll stumble into the truly magical occurrence of creating your own matched set! The vest-and-dress set from T.J. Maxx was adorable together, but when I challenged myself to style them as separates I realized that I had bought a skirt last year from VAV New York that was the exact same material and color!

When styling your co-ords as separates you’ll want to consider: the colors you’ve selected, the dress code you’re adhering to, and most importantly, how the clothes make you feel! I mentioned earlier that I’m partial to the top-and-skirt co-ord, which usually entails a cropped top and midi or maxi skirt. But, I’m self conscious about my midriff so I’ll pair the skirts with button downs (perfect work attire!) and the cropped tops with high-waisted jeans or shorts.

When packing – something I’m notoriously terrible at doing – I include a few matching sets to add versatility without losing space! Last year I teamed up with my friends at Renee’s Retail Clothing Outlet to share some curated vacation capsule wardrobes, and similarly, co-ords can create the backbone of a well organized suitcase! 

What Do You Think?

Will you be exploring the captivating world of co-ords? I’ll be packing several for my upcoming road trips, and I’ll be sure to share the process! In the meantime, you can find some of my favorite co-ord styles linked on my ShopMy and Benable accounts – both of which are now linked in the “Shop” page, which can be found above! I do make a small commission from your purchases, and those funds allow me to continue bringing you fresh content each week! Thank you for your continued support!

I’ll be back next week to re-examine the intoxicating world of fragrance!

Have a great rest of your week, and remember to SLAY!