A definitive guide to matching sets

Image Credit: Sarah Natchipolsky for The Campus Trainer

Quarantine brought about a host of new fashion trends, ones primarily centered around ease and comfort as we were all staying at home. One of those trends is matching clothing sets. Whether it’s a casual matching short and top set or a dressed up skirt and top, matching sets provide a certain type of versatility and functionality while still being trendy and fashion-forward..

According to fashion blog Fashionfolks.com, matching sets “come in all kinds of different colors, patterns and styles but have their high level of wearability in common. The matching sets of 2020 can be anything from a colorful pantsuit to a cropped top and skirt, to shorts and a blouse – the idea is that the color/pattern/design is the same top to toe.”

Fashion micro-influencer and blogger Chloe Miller is a big fan of this trend.

“I think matching sets are so popular because they are easy to put together. People get stressed when they have to figure out what two pieces “go together” in an outfit; with matching sets, It is implied that these two pieces go together easily and look great at the same time,” Miller said.

Kasey Borduas, a junior journalism and film double major, runs a blog where she discusses prevalent issues in society, such as fast fashion. She felt similarly and believes the coronavirus is currently having a large impact on fashion trends.

“I think loungewear in general right now is huge because of quarantine, and loungewear tends to look sleeker and honestly less like pajamas when it’s matching, so I think that might be why sets are having such a moment right now. Another thought is people honestly might’ve just gotten lazy over the last six months when they don’t have to leave the house and now that they have to leave the house and look presentable it’s so easy to look presentable in a set. Obviously the top and the bottom are going to go together when it’s a set. I do think that COVID actually had a really big impact on people‘s fashion choices,” Borduas said.

Despite finding sets to be trendy, Borduas is not loving matching sets.

“I am personally not a fan at all. When I was trying to buy clothes for coming back to school all I could find was sets and honestly, I’m just not a fan. I think they lack creativity and originality. I do like them on some people but they’re just not for me. I think there’s a time in and a place for them but they’re so overworn right now that I just can’t get hip to it,” she said.

Another UMD student, Olivia Beach, a junior Economics major, enjoys the sets and argues that they were definitely influenced by quarantine. “I think they are cute and practical, but the tie dye ones are overdone,” said Beach.

Regardless of opinion, seemingly every online store has released their own matching sets, in a variety of styles ranging from athleisure to formal attire. What arguably makes this trend so popular is the cohesiveness that comes with a matching set, while also requiring minimal effort and outfit planning. Sets also come in a wide range of styles from a variety of different stores, which provides consumers options when it comes to finding clothes to fit their style and budget.

Below are some popular stores to check out!

Tigermist: Offers lots of fashion-forward, skirt and pant matching sets.

Forever 21: Offers a lot of casual matching sweats and athleisure-esque options.

Pretty Little Thing: A large variety of options between casual wear and more formal outfits.

Missguided: Lots of workout options and going out options.

ASOS: Very diverse options to choose from.

Lucy in the Sky: Good options for going out and fancier occasions.

Hello Molly: Offers lots of skirt options.

Reformation: Lots of options for a variety of occasions and dress codes.

Nasty Gal: Cute ensembles that keep up with current trends and patterns.

Lulu's: Offers a large range of options for dressing down and dressing up.