From Chaos Comes Order

In my younger style experiments, I often mixed and matched for the sheer joy of it. Pattern against pattern, color against color — sometimes it worked brilliantly, sometimes it looked like a painter had sneezed on my wardrobe. But the thrill was in the attempt. Fashion, after all, is not only about looking composed; it’s also about testing boundaries, about asking: what happens if I throw this together?

Over time, however, I discovered something curious. The best ensembles weren’t necessarily the loudest. They were the ones where the chaos of bold accessories was tamed by the calm of neutrals. A daring tie works better when the jacket is plain. A flamboyant pocket square finds its stage against a simple navy suit. Even shorts in summer, if neutral, allow a brightly patterned belt or bracelet to shine without screaming.

There is philosophy in this balance. Life, like style, rarely rewards pure chaos or pure order. Too much of the first and you become noise; too much of the second and you risk sterility. Harmony lies somewhere in between — a dialogue between extremes, mediated by restraint.

I used to chase chaos just for its own sake, and yes, many times I succeeded. But looking back, the looks that endure, the ones that still feel right in memory or in photographs, are the ones where I found balance. From chaos comes order, but only if you allow one to temper the other.

That is the lesson: accessories should not compete with your outfit, they should converse with it. A bold watch face, a patterned tie, a brightly colored pair of socks — each needs the grounding presence of a quiet backdrop. The neutrals — navy, grey, white, beige — act as the stage upon which the bold piece plays the leading role. Without them, everything fights for attention, and nothing truly wins.

Perhaps this is why, as my style matures, I value harmony above shock. It is not about silencing boldness — I still love my eccentric ties and pocket squares — but about placing them where they can breathe, where they can be appreciated. In art, music, or even philosophy, contrast gives meaning. In clothing, it’s the same.

So, next time you feel tempted to throw every color and pattern at the mirror, remember: chaos is exciting, but order is memorable. A plain jacket can make your most daring accessory look like it belongs. A neutral pair of trousers can let your bold shoes sing. And when the balance is struck, you’ll find that what once felt like madness becomes elegance.

From chaos comes order — not by suppressing either, but by allowing them to coexist.