Hi Readers,
One of my goals as a stylist is to share practical ways to get dressed with more ease. I think we all want to feel stylish and “effortless” in the easiest way possible after all!
One of the best parts about finding your personal style is that you can create more ease in the routine of everyday dressing! When we are able to create more ease with how we get dressed each day, it has the ability to start your morning off right and create a positive energy flow into the rest of your day. How you show up for yourself, your family, at work, with friends.
The most common struggles my clients face when getting dressed are:
Immediately feeling overwhelmed when they have to get dressed for an event or occasion outside their daily routine
Taking forever to pick out an outfit, usually changing 4-5 times before finally walking out the door late and underwhelmed with their outfit
Feeling like they need a lot of new purchases to create new and creative outfits for the week
From what I have seen and experienced, a lot of the frustration stems from feeling like we need to reinvent the wheel everyday. We are constantly thrown aspirational images and new trends, or influencers who are showing “ten new outfits from my Mango haul” which can create the feeling that we need to keep up with all the stylish new ideas being surfaced to us and in some ways, can make us feel like our own outfits are inadequate.
When we try to move quickly from idea to idea, we don’t spend enough time getting clear on what we love (repetition + consistency is key to finding your style!)
What I love about personal style is that once you find those pieces or outfits that feel like you, it makes getting dressed SO much easier because you are dressing for how you want to feel and the vibe you want to create. It’s something that helps ground and root you to yourself and allows you to have an inner confidence so you can enjoy just being in the moment rather than worrying about if you “fit in” or fidgeting with your outfit.
One way to create more ease with your style and streamline outfit creation is finding an outfit formula you can rely on.
What is an outfit formula?
It’s essentially a go-to look that is comprised of key items from your wardrobe that can be replicated and applied in new and different ways.
The reason why people like Steve Jobs, Karl Lagerfeld and Fran Lebowitz relied on “uniform” dressing is because it helped cut out decision fatigue so they could clear out headspace for the other areas of their life.
The same can be said for outfit formulas - it takes a big part of the guesswork out of outfit decisions each day, yet allows flexibility to meet your lifestyle and needs.
Emmanuelle Alt (former editor of Vogue France) was my first inspiration for adopting an outfit formula. She had the ability to purchase any amazing designer or look in the world but she instead relied on her go-to outfit formulas that allowed her to feel like herself, which in turn, radiates to outward confidence and self-assurance. Her outfit formula = a basic top (tee, button down, sweater) + jeans + outerwear
My own go-to outfit formula = tee or tank + jeans + outerwear
There’s something about that outer layer that makes me feel more put together and polished!
With this formula, I change up the outerwear based on my mood or the occasion or weather. I use shoes and accessories to add texture, shape or color.
I can also change it from season to season with simple swaps: tank + jean shorts + open button down in the Summer, sweater + jeans + coat in the winter
Here’s examples from this formula that I have worn the past couple of weeks:
WHAT: Banana Republic denim jacket | White Tank | Micaela Greg Jeans | Flattered Loafers | Dehanche Belt
WHERE: A day of running errands.
NOTES: At home, I just wore the tank + jeans but put on the jacket when heading out. The shoes allow me to be comfortable and relaxed yet polished. The belt adds a bit of interest and texture to an otherwise simple outfit. When I can’t be bothered with thinking more than 3 seconds about my outfit, I usually just stick to one or two colors!
WHAT: Old Celine Jacket (an elusive wishlist item for me for many years that I finally found on TRR) | AYR Tee | Micaela Greg Jeans | Old Celine Heels and Bag
WHERE: Dinner. Usually an evening out means you want to feel a bit more dressed up than your day looks. I get that feeling when I add a bit of structure to a look and my favorite heels. Getting dressed up doesn’t always mean having to put on a dress or head-to-toe statements! The base is the same as the look above but adding some color and a strong shoulder makes me feel more refined for the evening.
WHAT: AYR Tee | Old Zara Jeans | Massimo Dutti Suede Jacket | Old Port & Paire sandals | Bag from Portugal | Jade Necklace from Shanghai
WHERE: Weekend look
NOTES: This day I was feeling relaxed but textured! Enter my polished suede jacket which I dressed down with baggy jeans, a raffia bag and easy sandals.
WHAT: AYR Tee | Old H&M Jeans | Old Zara Trench | Sambas | Dehanche Belt | Old Celine bag (secondhand)
WHERE: Farmers Market.
NOTES: A great way to feel comfy but put together is a monochrome base! Both my tee and jeans are slightly oversized which provides comfort. I added a non-color color with the trench and a belt to add a point of interest. Most of the time, I play with proportions but other days like this day, I just am feeling a full oversized look and I find having a longer layer helps balance it out a bit. The color from my bag helps provide a pop of color!
WHAT: Old PE Nation Tee | Massimo Dutti Suede Jacket | Pistola Jeans
WHERE: WFH with a client meeting
NOTES: Another example of my outfit formula but with a graphic tee! I’m not a big graphic tee fan (this actually might be my only one) but this one has sequins and I’m a sucker for all things sequins :) I liked the juxtaposition of the minimal refined jacket with the casual-ness of the grey tee and pop of red
I’ll continue to help share additional outfit formulas with you but if you have a go-to formula, I would love to hear it!
In a style rut? Can’t find your reliable formulas? Don’t know what to wear when you have to leave the house? Book an hour styling session , it will be fun and helpful, I promise!
xx
Angie
Loved all of these looks! Thanks to Anna at The Wardrobe Edit I have found your account!
You look great! I'm definitely trying to outfit repeat more to get to know my style even better. Also, that suede jacket is to die for!