style formula – my foolproof way to put an outfit together

pc: maria lloyd photography

most mornings i’m go-go-go [check out more on my morning routine here]. i’m the kind of person that, while i can plan ahead as best i can, i never know 100% how i’m going to feel when i wake up. bloated? important meeting get thrown on my calendar overnight? need a little pep in my step? is it raining/snowing/sleeting? this impacts my outfits and outfit planning. i typically try to have 2-4 outfits in the back of my mind and easily accessible for options for the week, but depending on a number of factors, i might not like what i have picked out. i used to end up trying on SO MANY OUTFITS and making a mess out of my closet, but through much trial and error, i have brought it down to a simple science. i am applying a ‘formula’ to my method. here’s how i decide on a cute, wear-all-day, [i hope] stylish outfit:

1. pick the big one: skirt/dress/pants that makes me feel the most confident
2. add the “other” big piece – if it’s a skirt i chose, add the top. if i pulled out a dress, figure out if i need a jacket to go over it
3. accessorize. this is where it’s like adding the puzzle pieces to pull it together. figure out the last few pieces that will really pull your outfit together – shoes, belt, jewelry. pick one piece that would be unexpected, yet cool. that might be a pop of color, or mixing prints [hint: when mixing prints, leopard/stripe/camo can be used together. just pick two, though]
4. top it off: what outerwear do i need for the WHOLE day? not just getting to work, but am i walking somewhere outdoors to lunch? do i need to go straight to a game after work? what jacket/shoes/umbrella/hat/scarf do i need?
5. quick check: how much/little will i be walking? will my shoes [and feet!] hold up all day?

sounds simple, and with practice it is! to re-iterate, here’s what ya do: figure out what you need from your outfit and find the base of it [dress/pants/skirt]. next, find the next biggest piece [top/jacket/vest, and accessorize, adding one moment of ‘surprise and delight.’ voila! you have a formula for outfit success. [i got the idea for this post from my outfit today … totally did not like anything i had previously picked out, so i went to the ‘ol formula method. skirt, shirt, red shoes. boom, done, out the door!]

see? fashion really is a science.