Hi friends!
The crisp air has definitely hit us here in North Carolina and you know what that means, fall has arrived along with cozy sweaters, hot lattes, changing leaves, and one of our favorite traditions, family photos!
There’s something so special about gathering the people you love most to capture the smiles, laughter, and memories together. But before you gather the family and head out for pictures, there’s one big question: WHAT is everyone going to wear?!
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. From choosing Mom’s outfit first to finding the perfect colors and textures for the rest of the family, we’re sharing our favorite tips for creating a beautifully coordinated fall photo look.
1. Start with Mom
Our favorite styling trick? Start with Mom. Choose a piece or outfit you feel amazing in and from there, let’s set the tone for the rest of the family. You can pull colors and textures from Mom’s look to create outfits that feel coordinated without feeling like we all showed up in the same uniform.
Whether you’re drawn to rich burgundy, deep greens, warm browns, or classic fall plaids, there are so many beautiful ways to build your family’s color palette around one special piece.
2. Build the Color Palette
Next, let’s build our ideal “fall foliage” color palette. Remember, we don’t need to incorporate every color in the rainbow, just focus on 3-5 coordinating colors. Some examples we are loving are:
Warm and Earthy
Rust, camel, cream, chocolate, olive
Classic Fall
Burgundy, navy, cream, cognac
Soft and Romantic
Dusty rose, taupe, ivory, muted green
Moody and Elevated
Deep green, espresso, charcoal, cream
A little extra tip: If you’ve had a personal color analysis, this is a great time to incorporate those colors into your family’s palette! Starting with shades that complement your coloring can help you feel especially confident in photos.
Not sure which colors are best for you? Book one of our Color Analysis Appointments in Apex or Durham. We can help you find the shades that make you feel your best, giving you a beautiful color palette to use as your starting point for the rest of your family’s looks.
3. Mix Textures, Not Just Colors
Once you have your color palette, it’s time to play around with textures! Think corduroy, suede, denim, or even a touch of velvet! You don’t need everyone in a different texture but instead sprinkle a few throughout to keep the overall look layered and dimensional. This will help too in keeping the photographs from feeling too flat or overly coordinated.
Here are some fall textures we’ve been obsessing over:
- Cozy Knits
- Corduroy
- Denim
- Suede
- Plaid
- Velvet
4. Outfit Ideas for Everyone Else
Now we are ready to assemble! Below are some easy examples for the whole family. Remember, we are creating all of this around Mom’s outfit!
Dad:
Dark denim or chinos, textured sweater or button-down, brown shoes or boots
Boys:
Chinos and/or corduroy pants, henley shirt or sweater, simple sneakers or boots
Girls:
Knit dress, tights, boots OR skirt, sweater, Mary Janes
Toddlers/Babies:
Soft knit sweater and pants set, little overalls, textured dress
5. Don’t Forget About the Details!
The little details in our outfits can make such a big difference! Accessories are a great way to tie everyone together as we work towards coordination, not matchy-matchy. Think hair accessories, shoes, belts, or even a small pop of color that pulls from a shade in Mom’s outfit.
For example:
- Mom wears a burgundy dress, Dad has a burgundy detail in his sweater
- Mom wears olive, Daughter’s bow or headband picks up the green
- Mom wears plaid, Son’s shirt pulls one color from the plaid rather than wearing another plaid
- Mom wears chocolate brown boots, repeat that tone in Dad’s belt or shoes
And there you have it!
The key to creating the perfect family photo outfits is to coordinate, not match. Start with Mom’s outfit, build your color palette, mix in different textures, and use the little details to tie everything together. Most importantly, choose outfits that make everyone feel comfortable and confident so you can focus on what really matters, enjoying this special time together and making memories with the people you love.
Still not sure what to wear? That’s what we’re here for! Book a Personal Styling Appointment with us at Rose & Lee and we’ll help you find an outfit you feel amazing in that sets the tone for the rest of your family’s looks.