Matchy Matchy
not just for babies & kids anymore!
If you want to skip straight to the shopping, you can do that here and the kids items here.
Lately, I am really into a matching set. Pretty much every other photo in my screenshots album is of a cute set of some kind that I have stumbled across on the internet (side note - is there a better way of organizing screenshots that I don’t know about? My screenshot album is basically a black hole that I comb through to try to find some semblance of order on a regular basis without any luck). I think the set obsession for myself goes back to the beginning of the pandemic when cute matching sweat sets were at the top of my shopping list. In 2020, various loungewear items were probably the only things that I added to my closet — probably to the point where it got a bit out of control, TBH.
Now, sets for women have expanded outside the loungewear category and into daytime wear, activewear, and even chic outfits you could wear out to dinner or to a wedding or other event. Clearly, I am HERE for it. I love that you can wear the set together and look so put-together, especially for an athleisure look, but also take advantage of the pieces individually! I love the ease of knowing what you are going to wear head-to-toe and not having to think about pulling a whole look together if you don’t want to. It’s like a dress, but also…better than a dress because you get additional versatility and closet runway from being able to wear the pieces separately. (They also make for great pieces to pack for a vacation when suitcase real estate is at a premium!)
This history of the two-piece set, obviously, goes back way further than 2020. I have a very clear grade school memory of begging my mom to buy me a two-piece set from the Limited Too (I think it was green and floral…so, maybe nothing has actually changed). At some point in the history of being an adult, I evolved from wearing old grubby clothes as pajamas to exclusively wearing matching pajama sets (I even put pajamas on my Christmas list now…who am I?) It’s unclear exactly when this happened, but it did. And of course, there are the matching sets that Cher & Dion wear in Clueless.
Iconic. Maybe pantsuits are part of the history and the evolution of the matching set? I’m definitely not really looking at any sets that fall into the workwear category right now because most of my work is happening from the comfort of my home office, and even when I do go in, I haven’t had anything client facing in years. But it does make the appeal and value of a well-cut pantsuit make a lot more sense! Maybe Hillary was just on to something that the rest of us needed to go through a global pandemic to understand.
And for kids, the interest, the visual appeal, maybe even the fundamental irresistableness (I realize this is not a word) of a matching set has always been there. I can remember my first round of shopping for my son, nearly four years ago now, and I couldn’t keep myself from hitting “add to cart” for nearly every matching set I came across. What is it about a top and pants in a knit or sweet unisex print for a baby or toddler that is just the most adorable thing in the world? Especially at 2 in the morning when scrolling aimlessly on the internet while endlessly tending to a newborn? Enter the matching set. You won’t be able to control yourself.
Anyways, I am here for it. I love anything that makes getting dressed and feeling great as easy as possible. I love versatility and wearability in the clothes I invest in. I love kids in cute matching outfits. As evidenced by these massive edits below, I have multiple sets across all different categories that I can’t stop thinking about and I can’t stop searching for!
A note about shopping for sets — some of the sets that I have recently tried have high pants and crop tops that look super chic together, but I haven’t been able to see myself wearing the top with any other bottoms I own — and I own some HIGH waisted pants. So far, I’ve steered away from those sets - actually ended up returning this one because I didn’t think I would ever wear the top on its own (too much stomach exposed for me in even my highest pants). But, if you think you’d wear that crop top other ways (also, if you are smaller-chested/are comfortable going without a bra) - that set is ADORABLE. I also just saw this one and I love it (and the top looks longer!)
I hope you find as much joy in browsing matching sets of all kinds as I have!
Agalia Set / 2. Sleeper Linen Rumba Set / 3. Cream Sweater Set / 4. Linen-Blend Tie-Front Top and Pants / 5. Faherty Top & Bottoms / 6. Amazon Set / 7. Clyde Set / 8. Blue Tank & Pants -/ 9. Striped Wrap Shirt & Pants / 10. Linen Lounge Suit / 11. AYR Shirt and Shorts / 12. Madewell Top and Bottom / 13. Zayne Set / 14. Jacquard Trousers & Shirt / 15. Maeve Set / 16. Satin Skirt Set
Agalia Set - Super chic. Could definitely see myself getting so much wear out of this one!
Sleeper Linen Rumba Set - I love this so much - perfect weekend daytime outfit (also on sale right now!) ! I have the navy version on it’s way to me!
Cream Sweater Set - For the top, we might be a little towards the end of the season for this set, but it could be incredible set for a cool summer night - maybe a night at the beach? The pants would get a ton of wear throughout the summertime.
Linen-Blend Tie-Front Top hand Pants - This is so chic. The white would actually be an incredible outfit for a bride on her rehearsal dinner. The top does look like it might be a leeetttttlllleeee short to be worn with other outfits.
Faherty Top & Bottoms - This is sold as two separate pieces…I tried to pull as many 2 pieces that are not sold separately as possible, but not everything is sold that way. What I love about this trend though is that you can buy the two pieces and wear it together, and wear it separately, whereas previously I think I might have felt a little silly about wearing the pieces together (I don’t know why, that’s a little silly, but it’s true!) This is giving me an almost jumpsuit-like vibe when worn altogether, which I love!
Amazon Set - Discovered this via Helena Glazer (@brooklynblonde1) who I pretty much trust implicitly, and it looks great - plus, for more of a cover-up type of set, it’s a price point you can’t beat!
Clyde Set - Blue and white forever!
Blue Tank & Pants - A non crop-top options for those who don’t want to wear a crop top! This tank would look great with a denim mini or white jeans, and the pants would be perfect with a white button-down or bodysuit!
Striped Wrap Shirt & Pants - Dang, this is so chic, and a little different. Linen pants are such a go-to in the summertime, so you would wear these so much, and the full set together could be a great office-friendly outfit this summer!
Linen Lounge Suit - Another Sleeper set that I really love. This would also make a great coverup for the beach or for a warm-weather vacation! The top would also be perfect with white jeans & espadrilles!
AYR Shirt and Shorts - My love for all things AYR runs deep. This shirt is so wearable (actually an all-year-round piece!) on its own, which makes it worth the investment. Blue would normally be my first pick, but I already have a great blue and white button down, so I’m liking the yellow a lot!
Madewell Top and Bottom: This is one of the ones that started it all. The green. The Gingham. So cute.
Zayne Set - This is just so, so, so cool.
Jacquard Trousers & Shirt - A matching set for work, yes, please!
Maeve Set - Do I love yellow now? Maybe. I love the mod feel of this one!
Satin Skirt Set - An incredible outfit for a summer wedding if you have one!
And because I truly can’t resist, a roundup of things for kiddos here (also, as a personal rule, all are under $30, most under $20!). But, just in case you are looking for an absolute splurge, or shopping for a gift for someone expecting a baby girl, this is to-die-for.
Floral Set - Definitely getting this one for my daughter!
Linen Set - Old man on a beach is a total vibe for a baby and this fits the bill!
Blue Linen Set - obsessed with this! so cute for the beach
Gingham Set - this has a family matching set so you could match with your kids!
Cotton Set - So sweet for a little girl this summer!
Swim Set - Great for covering as much of a baby’s body as possible (and avoiding having to also cover them in sunscreen!)
Geometric Set - comes in baby and toddler sizes for a set of siblings in matching sets!