How I Build Outfits featuring Nordgreen Watches

Note: This post is sponsored by Nordgreen and the featured rose gold watch was kindly gifted for me to share with you. Product links in this article are affiliate links meaning I make a small commission from purchases made through these links. Please see my disclaimer for more information. Thank you for your support!

Hello and welcome back to the blog (or just welcome if you’re new here!) Since I’ve started blogging about minimizing my closet and doing capsule wardrobes, one of the questions I get asked a lot is how to build basic outfits. So in this article I thought I would take you through my process step-by-step and show you how I create simple outfits and then elevate them using accessories and layers. I’m also going to be sharing a beautiful, minimalist rose gold watch which was kindly gifted to me by Nordgreen for the purposes of this post. Let’s get started!

Nordgreen Rose Gold Watch — *Wearing the Native 36mm rose gold watch with mesh strap*

Nordgreen: Scandinavian Minimalist Watches

First, let’s talk a little about the brand and why I wanted to work with them again. Nordgreen creates classic, timeless watches that are also versatile in that the straps can easily be swapped out to change your look. Nordgreen is a Danish company based in Copenhagen with watches designed by Jakob Wagner, a renowned Scandinavian designer. This is special to me since I’m half Danish on my father’s side, so it feels like a little reminder of my heritage and connection to that side of me.

Nordgreen’s watches are all high-quality pieces that are meant to last and be worn for years to come. They also support positive causes through their give back program, which partners with three NGOs: Water For Good, which helps provide clean water to those in need; Pratham UK, which provides education to children in India; and Cool Earth which is working to preserve the rainforest in Latin America.

Outfit Building 101

Okay, so let’s get into how I build outfits! Having a capsule wardrobe means my closet foundation is built on a lot of great basic, classic pieces. These mix and match well together and make easy outfits. I’ve also gone for a more neutral colour palette in my closet, so I don’t have a lot of bold colours or prints. I like keeping my looks simple and minimalist, but one of the ways I do make them a little more exciting is by adding accessories.

When I build an outfit, I always start with my basic foundation and then incorporate some accessories and (especially in winter) some layers to keep things interesting and elevate it a little. My basic foundation or my ‘uniform’ is pretty much always a simple top and a pair of pants, although I do have one skirt and a few dresses. For this look I’ve gone for a warm waffle crew sweater paired with some tapered cream pants. It’s a simple but cozy look that works well for me across a variety of occasions, like errands and work (as my office is quite casual).

Adding Accessories to a Basic Outfit

Now that we’ve got the basics down, I like to add a couple of touches to my outfits to elevate them a little. One thing I like to do to look a little more polished and appear taller is tuck the front of my top into my pants (aka a French tuck – thanks Tan France!) This works well with a lot of high-waisted pants which is my go-to fit. When I do this I often like to add a belt which helps to further accentuate my waist and break up the outfit a little.

When it comes to jewelry, I typically wear some minimalist dainty gold pieces on an everyday basis. I have a couple of sentimental pieces which I like to wear: a necklace that Jason got me and a monogram pinky ring which was given to me as a baby. You can also incorporate larger, more colourful pieces to create more of a statement in your look – it’s totally up to you!

Elevating my Look with a Rose Gold Watch

The finishing touch for my accessories is to add a watch. A watch is a great way to polish off a look and add a little more sophistication. I like to combine watches with cozy, chunky sweaters for the weekend, a collared shirt for the office, or a sleeveless top or dress in the evenings for a bolder look. This one from Nordgreen is the Native rose gold watch with a 36mm face and matching mesh strap. It’s a classic and versatile piece that works well with just about any outfit, day or evening.

Finishing the Outfit with Layers

Finally, I add my layers to my outfit and my shoes, and I’m ready to go! For this outfit I chose to add a lovely warm grey scarf to keep me nice and toasty in the chilly winter weather. I’m also wearing my black wool car coat and my trusty chelsea boots which I wear all the time. For my bag I chose a tan tote to warm up the palette a little. A tote like this is a great carryall for the season and can fit all of my essentials plus my winter accessories like scarf, toque and gloves when I’m not wearing them.

And that’s the finished look! I hope you enjoyed reading this post. If you’re interested in browsing Nordgreen’s collection of minimalist Scandinavian watches, you can save 15% off of your purchase with the code EMILYL15. And, let me know how you like to build your outfits in the comments below – I’d love to hear from you!

Until next time,