How Outfit Formulas Can Make it Easier to Get Dressed (in the morning!)
MY EVERYDAY OUTFIT SERIES Part 1: Welcome to my everyday outfit series where I’m taking one basic piece and styling it three ways with my four part outfit formula (top, bottom, shoe, layer). This week I’ll be styling each of these three ways: a white button up, a black tee, a white tee, a trend jean, a loafer, a trouser pants.
When you’re a busy mom, with 5 minutes to get ready in the morning, filling up your to go coffee mug while heading off to work or dropping the kids off at school, trying to build a new outfit is the last thing on your mind. This is one of the reasons why I like to build what I call Outfit Formulas - or those grab and go outfits that you know just work. If you know an outfit formula works, there’s confidence in that. And when you start to understand what elements you like to put on your body, you’ll start to have a better understanding of your personal style.
If you want to take a piece in your closet and mix and match pieces to create go-to outfit formulas, we can do that virtually or in person with my Shop Your Closet Outfit Planning Session! If you’re interested in how it works, book a free 10 minute consult and we can chat.
How to put together outfit formulas
1. Start with a base piece a white button up (keep this same)
2. Add a bottom a jean (keep this same or change out)
3. Add a shoe change this every time
4. Add a layer change this every time
So you’ll have three outfits with the same top + bottom (or same top) and the outfit will look different with different shoes and layers* *If you find your outfits looking uninteresting or flat, apply the style rule of three (make the layer and shoe a print, pattern, color or texture) to add interest!
It goes like this:
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = outfit
Example: Bottom + top + shoe + 4th piece (this could be a: layer, scarf, hat, sock, accessories, bag) = outfit
These formulas vary by style preference, location, style descriptors, and such but for me, my go to repeat outfit formula tends to be jeans + top + blazer + flat. And I build off of that by repeating my base (top + jeans) and swapping out my blazer + shoe to change up the outfit. Here is an example of how to do this with a white button up:
White button down outfit formula #1
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = outfit
Example: Jeans + white button down/up + kitten heel bootie + suede will coat = outfit
I can add in additional pieces to make the outfit feel more styled = so I added in a belt, bag, and sunglasses.
White button down outfit formula #2
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = outfit
Example: Jeans + white button down/up + brown loafer + brown cardigan = outfit
I can add in additional pieces to make the outfit feel more styled = so I added in a bag and sunglasses.
Wearing:
Jeans: The Fran Jean from Agolde on Evereve (I sized down)
Shirt: The Kayla Oversized Poplin Button down from Citizens of Humanity
White button down outfit formula #3
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = outfit
Example: Jeans + white button down/up + woven Jada flats + wool wrap coat = outfit
I can add in additional pieces to make the outfit feel more styled = so I added in a belt, bag, and sunglasses.
Wearing:
Jeans: The Fran Jean from Agolde on Evereve (I sized down)
Shirt: The Kayla Oversized Poplin Button down from Citizens of Humanity
White button down outfit formula #4
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = outfit
Example: Jeans + white button down/up + classic sweater + white sneakers = outfit
I can add in additional pieces to make the outfit feel more styled = so I added in a vintage coat, bag, and sunglasses.
Once you start thinking in patterns like this, you can begin to create go - to outfit formulas that will make getting dressed much more efficient. The joy is in knowing your formulas (keeping the same bases (top and bottom) and then changing it up by bringing in print, pattern, color, or texture. You can learn more about how to do that in some recent reels here and here.
If you like the idea of making getting dressed easier but feel slightly lost with what your style even is or where to start, taking my self-guided, step-by-step class to find your style again is the best place to start. It’s called Style 101 and there are worksheets and videos that, after watching, will bring clarity to your personal style.