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This week, I’m providing you with a deep dive into my expertise planning my outfits and the way you are able to do it, too.
It’s decision season, and with a brand new yr comes an opportunity to begin recent, notably together with your closet.
Possibly you do a winter cleansing and make house for brand new objects or mournfully see the one merchandise that also has the tags on and also you haven’t worn all yr.
Our closet impacts our lives straight. It may be one in every of our best allies or our largest monetary foe, and addressing it within the new yr will be life-changing.
For this publish, I’ll inform you how planning my weekly outfits for six months helped me lower your expenses, simplify my life, and acquire a better appreciation for my very own private type.
Enthusiastic about making an attempt this your self within the new yr? Learn on for all the small print!
What’s Outfit Planning?
Outfit planning is exactly what it feels like: deciding upfront what you wish to put on on any given day.
We truly do that extra typically than we predict, particularly for particular events. We additionally do it casually. Some individuals lay out their outfits for the subsequent day earlier than going to sleep and select what they’re carrying earlier than occurring a airplane or earlier than an necessary assembly or interview.
It’s a present-yet-dismissed space of our day by day styling.
My Life Earlier than Outfit Planning
I’ve identified for some time that I spend an excessive amount of cash on garments, however it hit a brand new excessive in early 2024.
Over the previous yr, my weight has fluctuated, and it quickly turned obvious that a lot of what was in my closet both didn’t match me or had stopped wanting nearly as good on me because it used to.
Opening my closet to dress within the morning obtained overwhelming and irritating. I had too many garments. So many issues didn’t match, and others weren’t comfy anymore. Actually, I couldn’t even keep in mind a lot of the issues I had.
Purchasing and stitching quickly turned a crutch—an costly one. Each time I couldn’t work out what to put on, I both purchased or made one thing new to clean up my closet, which solely added extra muddle and didn’t repair the issue.
Then, one thing lastly pushed me to vary how I handled my closet.
I left my beforehand 100% distant job for a greater, extra secure one which required me to go to the workplace three days per week. For the primary time in nearly six years, I needed to think about the house and surroundings of an workplace.
I work in tech, so the gown code is nearly non-existent, although clearly, no matter I put on must be office-appropriate. However inside my workplace apparel, I wished to nonetheless gown like me: colourful, put collectively, and a bit eclectic.
Earlier than I began my new job, I made a decision to plan my outfits for that week, simply to take that stress off as I adjusted to my new position. It went so nicely, and I wore extra objects in my closet than I had all yr. I additionally felt extra artistic and impressed by it.
So, I made a decision to plan my weekly outfits for the subsequent six months.
How I Deliberate Outfits: Targets and Tips
I had two objectives with my outfit-planning experiment:
- Make life simpler – I wished to take the stress off getting dressed within the mornings and concentrate on different issues.
- Maximize and reduce – I wished to maximize the usage of the objects in my closet and reduce the cash I spent and the frustration I felt.
Then, I created a few floor guidelines to essentially give this an opportunity and make this work towards my objectives:
- All the time begin with: What are my actions for every day? – Possibly it was an workplace day, or I had an occasion after going to the workplace, and many others. This might be my first consideration.
- Uncared for objects – Every week, I vowed to listing no less than three objects I hadn’t worn shortly and elegance them by the week. I wished to see in the event that they nonetheless match, if I nonetheless appreciated them, and/or in the event that they nonetheless labored for my type.
- Gadgets I wished to put on – Possibly I had a model new factor I wished to put on for the primary time or a particular merchandise I actually wished to concentrate on. I’d make an observation of that when planning for the week.
- Flexibility – I gave myself house to maneuver issues round in case issues got here up through the week, like occasions, climate, comfortability, and many others.
- Take an image of each single outfit – As a result of I knew I wished to put in writing about it for CF, but in addition as a result of I wished to have the ability to reference what labored and what didn’t work for the long run.
How Outfit Planning Modified the Recreation: A Case Research
So, I deliberate my weekly outfits for six months. I went by nearly half a pocket book’s value of annotations and penciled-in concepts. In numbers, we’re speaking about 25 weeks and about 180 outfits, give or take. That’s a LOT to undergo in a single publish.
Fortunately, I had a visit in late November and early December with just one medium suitcase at my disposal. It was 12 days, so I made a decision to make this journey my case research for this weblog publish’s functions. Once more, I’d plan each outfit right down to the equipment.
Principally, I’d apply every part I realized over the previous couple of months.
A Journey’s Price of Outfits
Week #1 (November 28th– December 4th)
For the primary week of the journey, I had six outfits in whole, three of which have been for days I used to be touring.
The primary look, a full-burgundy ensemble (backside and high left), is each my first- and second-day outfit since I misplaced half a day whereas flying due to the time distinction. I arrived so early that I couldn’t test in on the resort and didn’t wish to open my full suitcase. However I had deliberate for this, so I had a change of blouse, make-up, deodorant, toothbrush, equipment, and a hairbrush in a backpack.
The very first thing I seen after carrying the outfits I had deliberate was the reduction I felt on the finish of an extended, tiring, however enjoyable day. I didn’t have to consider what to put on the subsequent day or get up earlier to create a glance. Each night time I simply learn my paper with my outfits, took out what I wanted for the subsequent day, every part else went again into the suitcase, and simply relaxed afterwards.
There was not a day through which it wasn’t extra environment friendly to only have it already deliberate out.
Lesson: Study your Colours
By the six months of planning my weekly seems, I seen that my favourite colours differed from the colours I *truly* wore probably the most.
For instance, my absolute favourite shade is pink, however I put on pink extra typically and have many extra pink objects in my closet than pink.
I quickly realized I’d put on an merchandise extra typically if it was pink, blue, or inexperienced.
Primarily based on this, I selected a cohesive, three-to-four-color palette to tackle my journey. I selected main colours (pink, blue, and yellow) with black and white as neutrals.
I selected these three colours as a result of I knew I used to be most comfy in both pink or blue, and yellow is a pure shade to pair them each with to create put-together, eclectic, cute seems.
You’ll be able to see this completely within the tops I selected for these three outfits. They’re virtually the identical look: a pair of loose-fitting pants, a snug, colourful high, and equipment. However I knew they’d work, and I’d be comfy it doesn’t matter what as a result of I knew these have been the colours I gravitate in direction of probably the most.
Lesson: Study Your Match
One other factor that turned obvious whereas planning my day by day outfits was exactly what sorts of silhouettes and suits I gravitate towards probably the most.
For bottoms, I choose an A-line, barrel, or straight match, principally in lengthy skirts, denims, or tailor-made trousers. For tops, I take advantage of extra something outsized, menswear-inspired, beneath the waist, or with a excessive, spherical neck.
This information narrowed down the objects I’d think about whereas planning my journey outfits. I ended up selecting two A-line lengthy skirts, two pairs of straight-fit trousers, and a pair of barrel denims. For tops, I took two turtlenecks, one mock neck high, three button-down shirts, and one spherical neckline high.
Once more, you possibly can see in these 4 seems all the weather I do know I like: menswear, tailoring, comfy tops, loose-fitting pants, and A-line skirts.
Week #2 (December 5th– November 9th)
The next week wasn’t a full 7-day week, however I’m nonetheless counting it. Two out of 5 seems have been for touring, and the final outfit was as soon as once more the full-on burgundy ensemble from the primary two days.
This second week, I seen how a lot quicker I might pinpoint precisely what wasn’t working in an outfit and find out how to enhance it.
This week, I noticed how clear my type had turn out to be. I purchased just a few issues whereas on my journey, and seeing how a lot much less I purchased was eye-opening. I knew not solely what would work nicely with what I had however precisely what was lacking from my closet and what these new objects can be changing.
It was a tremendous feeling simply to know the way these items blended with every part I had again residence based mostly on what I took. Goodbye, purchaser’s regret!
Lesson: Study to Pivot
Whereas my deliberate outfits often labored out, I allowed myself to vary my thoughts if my actions modified or one thing didn’t go in accordance with plan.
The seems I deliberate for each week have been a wholesome mixture of informal and put-together. So, for instance, I’d be capable of change the informal Wednesday outfit for the put-together Saturday outfit as wanted.
More often than not, adjustments occurred as a result of an occasion or assembly got here up that required a extra put-together outfit. However typically, it was as a result of an merchandise merely didn’t work out. Possibly the denims I selected wouldn’t go previous my thighs that day, or the skirt and high didn’t truly go collectively like I had envisioned.
In the course of the journey, there have been three situations through which I needed to pivot to make the outfits work for me. One was quite simple: I didn’t plan on carrying the burgundy tie with the all-denim outfit, and I made a decision it could look higher with that one than the opposite outfit I had deliberate for.
The opposite occasion was a bit more difficult to resolve. Because it was a visit the place I’d spend loads of time outdoors the resort, I took a backpack as a substitute of a handbag. By day two of the journey, I noticed that my backpack was uncomfortable, and I didn’t like the way it affected my outfit usually. On day three, I purchased an off-white crossbody bag to make use of through the day and left the backpack for touring days solely.
Lastly, it obtained too chilly, much more than I had deliberate for (I wore thermals and tights beneath on the coldest days). So, I lastly caved in and acquired and wore gloves for the final two days. They weren’t a stylistic alternative however a sensible one that actually made my day extra comfy.
Lesson: Study Your Fashion
Lastly, the previous six months helped me to essentially nail down my private type.
For the previous 4 years, I’ve been drawn to maximalism, however when making use of it totally to my seems, it didn’t really feel utterly proper. I’ve been bouncing round making an attempt to make maximalist, eclectic, girly, preppy, cozy kinds work collectively.
By planning my seems, I might lastly pinpoint what I appreciated about every of these kinds, what labored for *me*, and what issues I appreciated in concept however didn’t actually like in follow.
Since I might solely put on what I had in my suitcase for 2 weeks, I had to make sure that no matter I took and wore can be *me*. I simply wished to be as comfy and joyful as attainable with out having an ill-fitting pair of pants or a too-tight sweater at the back of my thoughts.
I can say confidently that each single look I wore throughout this journey was my private type distilled to perfection.
All of it represented how I gown, however extra importantly, how I need to decorate daily. The outfits mixed layering, enjoyable patterns, menswear-inspired objects, outsized coats and sweaters, colourful garments, and cozy components.
Last Ideas
Usually, outfit planning is one thing that we are able to all profit from. It’s going to offer you a extra full image of your closet and elegance. Plus, it is going to lower down in your stress and people “I’ve nothing to put on” moments.
The very first thing I seen from this experiment is that my spending regularly decreased. I finished earlier than hitting the ‘Purchase Now’ button, checked out my deliberate outfits, then checked out my closet and checked if I had another in it.
I feel I’ve managed to chop my procuring in half. Child steps.
On the finish of my six-month experiment, I lastly made a serious closet declutter. It was simple since I already knew what I used to be not carrying, what was simply not my measurement anymore, and what didn’t match with my type. I took out about two-thirds of my closet.
Nonetheless, I’ve loads of garments, and I feel I’ll hold enhancing what I’ve by the next months. Now, I can *truly* see what I’ve, and I’m certain every part is no less than the appropriate measurement. Probably the most thrilling factor was seeing uncared for objects shock me and return to the worn rotation.
Going ahead, I’ll hold planning my weekly seems with nearly the identical pointers as a result of it has modified my routine for the higher.
These previous six months have been life-changing for me, not solely due to the outfit planning or the brand new job. I’ve needed to make some main way of life changes, and it resulted in loads of stress, nervousness, and concern.
I had already been planning my outfits for 4 months when my life circumstances modified, so I simply saved outfit planning as part of my new routine. It wasn’t till now that I noticed how a lot it helped me set up when every part appeared extra unsure. Within the remaining months of this experiment, I used to be planning my outfits and annotating medical doctors’ appointments proper beside what equipment or pants I used to be going to put on.
In a bizarre manner, outfit planning additionally grounded me. It helped me ease my thoughts for no less than half an hour per week. Now, I’m adjusted to my new routine, and I’m so significantly better, bodily and mentally.
Whenever you make the time to take a seat down upfront and take into consideration what you’re going to put on, you additionally run by what you’ve got and what objects you like with a clearer head. Because you don’t have the clock ticking, you possibly can take your time to make any variety of outfit mixtures till you discover the appropriate one. It provides you house for errors or changes with out feeling the frustration of “I would like to depart in 10 minutes”.
I’d suggest outfit planning when you’re feeling annoyed or overwhelmed together with your closet when you dress, when you’re anxious you’re spending an excessive amount of on garments and nonetheless can not appear to seek out one thing to put on, or in case you have an necessary week forward of you. It’s going to make it easier to focus higher and see what it’s about your closet that’s or isn’t working.
I hope it adjustments your life prefer it did mine!
What Do You Assume?
Would you attempt planning your outfits? Do you do it now? Do you’ve got any styling questions? Tell us within the feedback beneath!
