Trend Alert: Matching Sets
Your alarm clock goes off, you slide on your slippers, rub the sleep out of your eyes and walk to the kitchen to make your morning coffee. After conducting your morning routine, you stand in front of your closet pondering the question you ask yourself every single day: “What should I wear today?” This daily decision seems like it should be easy, but how many times have you uttered the words, “I have a closet full of clothes, with nothing to wear”? This daunting thought is what makes the trend of matching sets such a game-changer.
Matching sets have been a trend for a couple of years now. Starting as more of an athleisure and loungewear phenomenon, sets are transitioning into more of a high-end, ready-to-wear staple in people’s wardrobes. Amy Hassebrock, the owner of Aimée, a high-style boutique located in the East Village of Des Moines, Iowa, says, “The first sets that I started getting in, I’d say four years ago, were loungewear styles. They sold well, but now the ladies have plenty, so most recently it’s been high style.” The great thing about this subsect of clothing is that it is easily adaptable and can incorporate other trends into it. For spring/summer 2021 expect to see sets with intricate ties, detailed cutouts, bright colors and more.
When it comes to brands that carry matching sets, it is hard to find one that doesn’t. Hassebrock carries both loungewear and more stylized sets in stripes, tie-dye, floral patterns and more at Aimée. “The ‘easy’ sets, in the beginning, were from Velvet, Spiritual Gangster, and CHRLDR––oh and Wildfox. The fancy, high style sets have been from my European lines, and for the ‘out of the box' ladies,” says Hassebrock. These sell well for her because they are unlike anything else that you can get in the middle of Iowa. Maddie Fischer, apparel merchandising and design student at Iowa State University, buys her favorite two-piece sets from the sustainably sourced brand, Girlfriend Collective. “I have so many sets from [Girlfriend Collective]. They make sweat sets, tennis skirts and tanks, and leggings and sports bras. I practically live in these clothes because they are practical and chic,” says Fischer. Her favorite look is an all-green tracksuit, with a matching hoodie and sweats.
The concept of matching sets has traditionally been a matching top and bottom, usually, shorts or pants with a top, either long or short-sleeved. The trend is evolving into more intricate pieces. Cassie Hendrix, editor in chief of Uprising Magazine at the University of Northern Iowa, says, “The trend has been popular for the past few years, but I think it’s a sustainable concept. I believe the fashion scene is returning to a maximalist trend, so I foresee matching sets evolving more - not just a matching top and bottom but also jacket, mask, scrunchie, shoes, etc.” The timeline of this trend has no end in sight with its ability to evolve.
One of the most popular trends at the moment is street style. It is all about incorporating high-end pieces with more relaxed basics. Alyssa Turzenski, a Milwaukee-based social media influencer, hosts an Instagram feed filled with matching neutral tone two-piece sets. “I love sets because they are so easy and comfortable - I feel so put together and it’s easy to transition from a cozy look at home to a street style look,” says Turzenski. Some ways to take a look like this from day to night is by adding heels, a leather jacket or bold accessories.
Hendrix is dedicated to creating a sustainable capsule wardrobe. They have become very popular in recent years, as people are shopping more consciously. “The two-piece sets trend is effortless, mainly because it requires little work to put together a whole matching outfit. Contrary to the purpose, I like to style the pieces together, but also separately to make more outfits out of my pieces,” says Hendrix. While shopping sustainably, Hendrix also shops fiscally responsible spending on average $80-$100 for a set.
When talking to Hassebrock on whether or not people usually buy both parts of a set she said, “Most do, however it takes some explaining to them why they need both. However, there are financial reasons as well. Can they afford both pieces? I have toyed with the idea of pricing as a set, but then sometimes ladies need different sizes, for example, a small top and larger bottom.” The average price point for sets at Aimée is $80 for the top and $98 for the bottoms, totaling $178 for the complete set, which is on the higher-end price point, but Hassebrock sells only amazing quality. The set trend promotes size inclusivity when it is flexible to get a different size in both pieces, unlike when you get a jumpsuit or dress and it might fit in some areas, and not others.
When talking to Hassebrock about her predicted lifeline of this trend she said, “Well I didn’t think that maxi dresses and jumpsuits would still be strong statements and adding in COVID, sets are cut, easy and you have two pieces to play with, so I’d expect them to keep kicking.