What is Outfit "Sandwiching?" Everything to Know About TikTok's Favorite Capsule Wardrobe Hack

Over the past few years, TikTok has become as much a place for fashion inspiration as it is for entertaining videos, and the trending aesthetics (think mob wife and tomato girl style) and styling hacks have truly changed the game. From accessorized sneakers to making scarves into shirts, there's a hack for pretty much everything, but one of our favorites is outfit "sandwiching." Read on to learn all about this TikTok-approved method for getting dressed, plus see our menu of six outfit sandwiching ideas to try.

What Is Outfit Sandwiching?

Just as it sounds, outfit sandwiching is a styling formula that involves starting with two pieces of clothing in the same color (your "bread"), then adding a piece in a different color in between (the "meat"). This could mean matching your top and shoe color with a contrasting skirt, shorts, or pants, as well as sandwiching your layers or playing with texture, fabric, or proportions. The theory of "sandwiching" your clothing has been circulating the fashion and blogging communities for a while, but it's achieved newfound popularity among Gen-Z after going viral on TikTok.

How to Try It

To start, you'll want to choose two colors: One will be your "bread," and the other will be the shade that you're sandwiching. For example, if you have a black top, black shoes, and white pants, the black color is your bread, and the white is the sandwich contents. In other words, you'll want to match the color of your top and bottom and add a contrasting color in between. Below, TikToker @barbieekaay breaks down some examples of how she uses this style hack when she's on the go or running late.

The appeal of outfit sandwiching as a styling hack—whether you're working with a capsule wardrobe or looking for a fresh way to get dressed—is that it focuses on balancing an outfit. A black top with white shoes and white pants can make the outfit feel top-heavy, or black shoes with a white top and white pants can pull attention to the shoes instead of the outfit as a whole.

Sandwiching doesn't just have to be with colors, though: You can also use the sandwiching concept with proportions. In this case, you'd pair a baggy top and chunky shoes with straight-leg pants, or baggy pants with a tighter top and "barely there" sandals.

Ahead, find six outfit sandwiching ideas using pieces you probably already have in your closet.

The Best Outfit Sandwiching Methods to Try

Laid-Back Luxury Sandwich

Sandwiching white in between two black pieces (or vice versa) is one of the easiest ways to integrate this method into your style. Together the two colors look so effortless and not to mention very Sofia Richie-inspired. Here, we've taken a black tube top and a pair of black Birkenstocks and added white linen pants in between.

Workwear Casual Sandwich

The beauty of sandwiching is how easy it makes your getting ready process in the morning. If you're running late for class or a meeting, simply choose your two colors and go from there. Every capsule wardrobe should include white sneakers, a classic white tee, and trousers, so put them all together for a timelessly stylish look that comes together in under a minute.

Neutral Sandwich

Sandwiching may work great for your everyday looks, but you can also use the outfit recipe to help you figure out how to dress for an event. Matching your outerwear to your shoes with a solid color in the middle is a foolproof outfit, especially in a classic neutral palette. For example, if you have a camel-colored blazer and camel-colored heels, pair them with an LBD and you're ready to go. Bonus points if you add minimalist gold jewelry for a quiet luxury feel.

Off-Duty Sandwich

As we said, sandwiching doesn't just have to be about color. Sandwiching proportions in your outfit is another way to easily create balance in your look. Take this EmRata-inspired look, for instance: Pairing your baggy denim with a tiny tank and minimalist shoes adds more shape to your outfit.

Accessory-Focused Sandwich

Another way to create your outfit sandwich is by using your accessories as the "bread." You've probably heard of the style tip of matching your shoes to your bag (plus, Ava Phillippe recently endorsed it when discussing her spring favorites), and that's the essence of sandwiching. Here, the sunglasses and bag add a subtle pop of color to this neutral crochet maxi dress.

Textural Outfit Sandwich

Just like you can outfit sandwich with color or silhouette, pairing two textures can create a visually interesting yet put-together look. Below, we've paired a leather jacket and boots with a silky slip dress for a moment that balances edge and elegance with minimal effort required.