Co-ords are all the rage in women's fashion right now. Whether it's for a classy evening event or a brunch date with friends, having a matching set in your wardrobe can help you put a trendy outfit together in seconds. Those consisting of shorts, tops or hoodies are great for lounging at home or running errands, whereas others that feature skirts, trousers or knitwear are suitable for office parties and nights out.
In this handy guide, we'll discuss the main things to look out for when buying a new co-ord set. Once you're ready to start shopping, you can browse through our selected list of top-trending products available at UK sites like ASOS and Amazon. From sporty shorts and crop top combos to floaty plus-size friendly pieces, there's something to suit everyone on our list!
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Table of Contents
First up, let's dive into the tips and tricks for finding the most stylish co-ord pieces out there. Skirts or trousers, hoodies or blazers? The options are endless and the choice is ultimately yours to make, but we've created a buying guide to help you out.
There's a very fine line between casual and dressy these days, which can make it difficult to navigate your way through the plethora of styles on the market. Is pairing comfy shorts with a blazer too dressy, and when can you get away with wearing a knitted dress? Don't worry, we're here to walk you through each step.
Dressing casually means something completely different now than ten years ago, thanks to influencers on social media. It's much more acceptable to wear casual clothing in a variety of settings, so a hoodie or an oversized tee paired with shorts or joggers can work for heading to the shops with friends as well as lounging around at home.
To take things up a notch, look at something a little sportier or a set that combines a casual piece like a knitted dress with a smart cardigan, to help you stay comfortable while looking glam. Whatever your style, casual wear suits everyone and it's a co-ord staple that you should definitely have in your wardrobe!
Most of us will need to dress up too once in a while, for an event such as a formal work do, a wedding or perhaps a night out on the town. Shopping for something smart often requires a larger budget, as the price is usually related to the additional detailing and quality that you simply cannot get from casual wear.
Owning a dressy co-ord is essential if you tend to head to formal events often, and it can really help to minimise the stress of getting ready. Once you find the right set, you'll have at least three outfits at the ready for any occasion — you can wear the full set, the top with different trousers, or the bottoms with another top. Versatile and chic!
The best part about a co-ord is that it's a full outfit that has already been matched and prepared for you to throw on and head out the door with minimal effort. The only thing you have to do is consider which combination of garments you're looking for.
A basic co-ord usually consists of bottoms and a top, which could be shorts and a shirt or a skirt and a bralette. Then you can look at the cover-up options, which include blazers, hoodies and cardigans. Whether your main priority is something comfy or you're after an outfit to turn heads at the club, our specification tables will help you to select a clothing combo that's suitable for the occasion!
The two most common materials used for co-ord sets are cotton and polyester. Cotton is a softer fabric than polyester, but it's also slightly more expensive due to the fact that it's higher quality. Moreover, cotton is hypoallergenic and easy to clean, while polyester is durable and wrinkle-proof.
Another popular material is viscose, a semi-synthetic fabric that's derived from wood pulp. Whilst it's lightweight, viscose is not as strong as cotton. Lastly, polyamide (AKA nylon) is often used for sporty co-ord sets due to it being waterproof and flexible. However, it can shrink in the washing machine so make sure you use the right setting.
Once you've decided which base material works for you, it's time to take a look at the percentage of elastane in your clothes. Elastane generally varies between 1% and 5% and determines just how stretchy your piece of clothing will be. If you prefer clothes that are super stretchy and not too restrictive, you should opt for a higher percentage.
The terrific trio of plain black trousers, a cropped long-sleeve top and a belted midi cardi is an easy go-to outfit for any day of the week. You can style it up with some chunky gold jewellery or play it cool with a bucket hat and shades.
We think this co-ord set is an essential addition to any wardrobe, thanks to its versatility and relaxed vibe. It comes in a range of sizes and the soft, stretchy material of each piece feels great against your skin. It just had to be our top pick!
Into super sporty sets? This "tennis luxe" co-ord by Adidas Originals is an athleisure-style outfit that you'll never want to take off! The off-white cotton base and forest green accents create a classic colour combo that'll never go out of style.
The single off-the-shoulder strap adds interest, while the stretchy fabric makes this co-ord incredibly comfortable to wear. Suitable for festivals, BBQs or simply chilling out at home, this is superb set that you should definitely add to your basket!
If you love ditsy prints, you'll want to get your hands on this gorgeous set from the Labelrail x Collyer Twins range ASAP! We love its versatility — you can wear the two pieces together, of course, or you could mix and match the shirt with a pair of blue jeans and some fresh white Converse.
This pretty set features everything that's trending right now: a floral pattern, frills and a high-waisted elastic skirt. It's the perfect outfit for a "staycation" in the Cotswolds or Cornwall.
This sassy set is ideal for a day out at the beach or lounging by the pool. The eye-catching animal print would go particularly well with chunky jewellery and a pair of espadrille wedges to complete your summer look.
Best of all, this co-ord set is available in sizes 16-28 and it has a fairly relaxed fit. The sheer chiffon fabric is fabulously floaty too, so it'll keep you feeling cool as well as looking chic!
This monochromatic sage green set is bang on trend at the moment and suits a variety of skin tones. It'll work well with sandals during the day or can be styled up with some heels and jewellery for a fun evening look.
You can rock this set whatever the weather, wearing just the plain knit dress in summer and staying cosy by covering up with the maxi cardigan during the colder months. It's an all-year-round type of dress that you'll never get tired of wearing.
This cute tie-dye set is casual, colourful and super affordable. Since the shorts are fastened by a drawstring, you can adjust them to a comfortable position rather than feeling restricted by a fully elasticated waist.
The crew neck crop top looks best when worn with the matching shorts, but you could also pair it with a pair of jeans, some denim shorts or a white skater skirt. Both pieces are extremely versatile and can be mixed into any outfit, so you really get your money's worth!
This cool, casual Playboy set is made from a lightweight waffle print fabric that's great for the warm summer months. The logo print on the hoodie is duplicated on the side of the shorts too, for a bold statement co-ord that matches perfectly.
In terms of the fit, the shorts are quite long and baggy, with an extended hem. So, anyone who's a little shorter than average or requires petite clothes may prefer one of the other shorts co-ords on our list instead.
Decorated with glam gold buckles, this bralette and wrap skirt duo is a fabulous piece to whip out during party season — it'll really make you stand out in the club or bar! It's also available in black, neon green, white and red in case you're not keen on pink.
The waistline sadly isn't very sturdy and lacks a strong band of elastic that would create a more secure fit. That said, the A-line shape is naturally flattering for the hips so you might love the way it hangs.
We love this light green combo set that can easily be dressed up for the office or dressed down for a casual lunch. The blazer has a super relaxed fit with a two-button closure, while the shorts are comfortable and stretchy thanks to the elasticated waist.
While this is certainly an elegant set, it's also a bit expensive which is why we've ranked it lower down our list. If your budget is flexible though, there should be absolutely nothing holding you back from trying out this gorgeous fit!
This is an outfit that you can wear anywhere from a nightclub to a large-scale social event. It's bold, stylish and surprisingly comfortable too! Rock the oversized look with some combat boots or pair with kitten heels and a tiny miniature clutch for a sleeker vibe.
Our only qualm with this outfit is the bulkiness of the jacket. As it has a slouchy fit and it's made from a very thin material, it doesn't provide the tailored shoulder shape that you'd expect from a blazer.
Selecting an outfit from your wardrobe can be stressful if you're short on time. For those mornings when you just want something easy to throw on before you head out of the house, click the links below!
That's all from us! There's nothing like having a whole outfit ready to go without needing to think about matching colours or patterns, so hopefully after reading through our recommendations you're now ready to buy your new co-ord set.
Author: Annie Speight
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