While I am excited to share this *Outfit Formula* – I hesitate about the topic and notice I feel a little defensive when I write about it. I’ve mentioned before that I grew up in California – a place where one doesn’t go to the grocery store without make-up – and that living in the Northeast is quite the opposite. In some ways the Northeastern way is freeing, in other ways, I sometimes wonder how people can leave the house the way they do!
But in addition to the California influence, I am in a profession where plain-jane is a little more the standard. Sometimes I have felt self-conscious just for being “me” (more when I was in an academic environment than in my current corporate environment). Basically, I am aware that there are people out there who feel that if someone is too “put-together,” too “coiffed,” too “focused on how she looks,” that said someone maybe shouldn’t be taken seriously… said someone might not have much to offer…
Of course I know this is BS – there are plenty of really well coiffed folk AND plenty of really “dressed-down” folk who have *very little* to offer, and the opposite is true too. In regular main-stream day-day I know that I am more confident and ready for life when I am put together, and I think this is true for the majority of people …
In any case, about this Outfit Formula … so yes, where I grew up influenced my “enjoyment” of clothes… and I think wearing a uniform from pre-school to 8th grade had an impact as well. I got my 1st job waiting tables (age 14) so that I could buy clothes… (Mom has a similar story about lipstick…). Clothes/fashion/style is a form of Joy for me. I am sometimes REALLY bad at it… and for several years, I didn’t even try because I felt my lack of $$$ was too limiting.
The “lack of funds for shopping” issue actually got to the point where I dreaded shopping because it just represented bad choices – frivolous and unnecessary when I had loads of student debt to pay. I would try on a bunch of clothes, get kinda sick by the financial implications, and leave the store /mall empty-handed.
But times have changed!! And in the last few months, I seem to have worked out a *process* for myself (perhaps what YOU already do?!) – and it’s made shopping super fun again. I want to share!
Steps that have reinvigorated my clothes’ shopping ethic:
Step 1 – Establish a Budget
For me and my husband, the “clothing budget” was part of establishing our household budget a couple of years ago. I had never had a clothing budget before… I’d just kinda spree from time to time, and never had a plan. There are formulas for how much of your income is reasonable to spend on clothing, but you could start by looking back to about how much you spent in the last 12 months and divide it up that way…
{Side Point: I recommend budgets for everything – it has totally changed my (our) life (in uber freeing ways) – it’s the total opposite of suffering!!}
We pay out our “spending” budgets twice a month (sorta coinciding with my payday). Mine is not huge. Sometimes I let my money accumulate, and sometimes I spend it all right away – what’s been great is knowing how to plan and what’s reasonable to spend (<- and this is different for everyone!).
///My husband is amazed at what I am able to buy with my funds. Overall, I am pretty conservative and generally don’t spend a ton of money on individual items, especially when I am only likely to wear them for a season or two///
Step 2 – Collect OUTFIT Inspiration
Stacy London talks about thinking in terms of the “outfit” (when shopping) instead of individual pieces. I used to wander around a store looking for mannequin inspiration, or deciding a top was “cute” in and of itself – now, I approach the store with intention! How do I do that? Before I head out, I look online, in catalogs, and in magazines – and I look for NORMAL people – people who do what I do (for work, play, whatever) and maybe even mirror my body type. (It’s amazing how many fashion blogs are out there!) AND, you’re not only looking for how things fit, but also for what colors, patterns, textures, and shines go together – so even if on a skinny-mini, I don’t automatically rule out an overall look!
I follow a few fashion blogs, here, here, and here. When I see outfits I like, I collect them on a Pinterest page, or on EverNote (both of which I can access from my SmartPhone).
Step 3 – Shop Your Closet
You can refer to the inspiration outfits you found online, in catalogs, and in magazines – see what pieces you already have and you might be amazed at what you would have never put together! You might find that all you need is one neutral cardigan (or whatever) to pull 3 outfits together!
Make a note of these key items (again, use the SmartPhone – you never know when you’ll have a shopping opportunity!); and now you are on your way to shopping with intention!
Sometimes I look in my closet for items that I like but feel I’ve either never “successfully” put into an outfit, or I really like, but want to see in a new way. I use the Internet for this too – I will search on that item – ex, “green button down blouse” – and see what Google Images, Pinterest, or Polyvore offers!
Step 4 – Procuring the Items
So, you have a list of items – now how best do you collect? I decide which pieces I want to spend more on. I’m increasingly convinced that if the overall look of the outfit is good, the price point for each item becomes less significant. In the last year I have learned that better pants are necessary for me. I wore crappy work pants from TJX and Marshalls for years; they were often too long and just didn’t hang very well. It might take some time to get which pieces need to be better quality than others. I have gotten many a top from Forever21 that work as a layering pieces under jackets or sweaters.
So, where am I shopping? – well, not at Nordstrom… I love Nordstrom, but if I shopped there, it would mean far fewer pieces…
In the last year, I have gotten better (than Marshall’s) pants from Banana, and a few from White House, AND even had them altered. The fit is better and the weight of the material is better. I am spending a bit more $$ than I did on the TJX/Marshalls pants, BUT I am learning all sorts of tricks about not paying full price AND not having to wait for end of season to do so!
Get on some mailing lists, peeps! You probably all knew this WAY before I did, but being on the Banana mailing list gets you a 40% off (one item) coupon just about every week! I now have their credit card too (which gets paid from the clothing budget), and the rewards program is excellent. There is never a reason to pay full price at Banana, or Old Navy…. or Ann Taylor, and Ann Taylor LOFT!
As mentioned above, I can often find tops at Forever21 for pretty low money. They are usually worn under something and I am totally ok if I only wear for one season!! I have been finding items at Target and Kohl’s too – but never the entire outfit! I’m surprised at what can be found, and how much more creatively I approach clothes hunting. Oh, and I found a pair of NYDJ at Burlington Coat Factory** for 35 bucks! (They normally retail for ~$110.)
///**Burlington Coat Factory used to equal anxiety attack for me. Approaching such a store with a list makes the place bearable! Digging for “white skinny jeans” is MUCH better than assessing every item on a rack – OMG///
Step 5 – Accessorize
This is one I have REALLY struggled with – I just never got how accessories can pull and outfit together. The kitchen renovation brought this to light for me (I seem to be naturally better at knowing what a room is missing than what an outfit is missing). There was a point with the kitchen where the cabinets and walls were freshly painted, we had new counters, and the floor was installed. And the room looked dull – extremely matte. It NEEDED the shiny hardware. We had already decided on chrome and I am so glad we did. Once the hardware went up, things REALLY started to come together. Then when the backsplash went in – even better. Both added shine, but in different ways that complemented.
However, I totally flub the jewelry sometimes – and accessorizing often takes me the most time when getting dressed. I use the web for this part too. I’ve had a green sheer-ish top in my closet for a couple years – I had never worn it on it’s own until last year, when I saw it paired in a very cute way with jeans… but I didn’t know what type of necklace. Every photo I saw with a similar top had long (almost belly button-length) necklaces. Lo and behold I had just the right thing in my scant collection – a long necklace with an orange “pendant” from Forever21 – probably less than $6 – and it was perfect!
Step 5+ – WeekDay Planning
I go into the office 3 days per week. One is “jeans” Friday (which is generally easy), so I have two days to plan. In the last few weeks, I’ve had a little formula: Pants Tuesday; Skirt Wednesday (I’m sure my formula will change when I get bored). For Pants Tuesday I think of a sweater I want to wear, and have been building the outfit from there. For Skirt Wednesday, I’ve been choosing the skirt, and building from it. (I could not have done this 12 months ago, since I didn’t have more than about 2 skirts to work with… I have slowly been building various parts of the wardrobe.)
I enjoy this stuff. I got into it as a teenager, then had some (MANY) years of semi-apathy, and now decided it really does “feed” parts of me. Some days the Daily Grind is more grinding, and feeling “put-together” can be my silver lining. Other times, when I’m in the midst of something that is making my brain hurt (probably some work task that has become tedious because I’ve been focused on it for too long) a 5 minute break to brainstorm an outfit can kinda change my attitude…(and it makes getting ready the next day so much easier when it’s pre-planned).
What creative ways do you approach “what to wear”? This is an area that used to present a PITA kinda morning, and now is fun and represents a creative outlet. What are your creative outlets?!
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Linda,
I really enjoyed reading your article. I don’t think much about planning what I wear now that I am retired and do not have anything specific scheduled to do. I seem to have gotten into the habit of wearing jeans and anything that I pick from my closet for a top. Although I have a lot of jewelry, I hardly wear any of it these days. I guess I should start thinking about planning better. Thank you so much for giving me something to think about.
Sherron
Oh! Thanks for your reply, Sherron. I bet you have some great jewelry. I say, do it if you think it’s fun! I’m amazed at how the little bracelets I’ve been picking up make me happy… Have fun! – Linda