Designing a custom co-ord set: proportion and detail

Proportion: top length against trouser width

This one relationship decides most of the look:

• Short top, wide trousers: a hip-length top over wide-leg or palazzo trousers feels relaxed and modern.
• Long top, slim trousers: a knee or calf-length kurta over cigarette pants is neat and works well for the office.
• Mid-length top, straight trousers: a mid-thigh top with straight trousers is the easy middle ground for every day.
• Avoid two fulls: a wide, flowing top over very wide trousers can swallow the figure unless the fabric is soft and fluid.

Repeat one detail

What makes a co-ord read as a set, rather than two pieces that happen to match, is a detail that appears on both. Ideas to ask for:

• A contrast piping at the neckline and the trouser hem.
• A matching cuff: the same band at the sleeve ends and the trouser ends.
• Buttons or a placket echoed by a small button detail at the trouser side.
• A border print placed at the top’s hem and again at the trouser hem.
• Embroidery at the neckline with a smaller motif at the trouser hem.

Fabric: one cloth or two

The simplest co-ord uses one fabric for both pieces. A printed fabric gives a bold, all-over look; a plain fabric lets the cut show. If you prefer, use a print for the top and a plain for the trousers in a colour drawn from the print, which still reads as a set and makes the trousers easier to wear with other tops.

Choose a fabric that suits both shapes. Lawn and cambric work for straight and slim cuts; linen gives a relaxed, textured co-ord; softer viscose drapes well in wide trousers. The fabrics library and our guide to linen describe how each behaves.

Design each piece to work alone

A well-designed co-ord is three outfits: the set, the top with jeans or other trousers, and the trousers with a plain top. To make that work, keep the colours versatile, avoid details that only make sense together, and make the trousers comfortable enough to wear on their own. Tell us in your notes how you plan to wear the pieces, and we keep it in mind when proposing fabric and details.

Sending your co-ord design

Choose two-piece or co-ord on the custom quote form, upload any references, and describe the top, the trousers and the shared detail. Add your measurements, including trouser length and waist; our trouser size guide explains how to measure. See Send Your Design for the full process.

Ordering from Amsterdam or Rotterdam? The Netherlands custom design page explains quotes in euros, US dollars or pounds, with delivery and any import charges included. Making takes 5 to 7 working days once you approve and pay in full.