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This week, I’m supplying 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 12 months comes an opportunity to start out recent, significantly along with your closet.
Perhaps you do a winter cleansing and make house for brand spanking new gadgets or mournfully see the one merchandise that also has the tags on and also you haven’t worn all 12 months.
Our closet impacts our lives immediately. It may be considered one of our biggest allies or our greatest monetary foe, and addressing it within the new 12 months will be life-changing.
For this submit, I’ll inform you how planning my weekly outfits for six months helped me get monetary savings, simplify my life, and acquire a better appreciation for my very own private model.
Thinking about attempting this your self within the new 12 months? Learn on for all the main points!
What’s Outfit Planning?
Outfit planning is exactly what it feels like: deciding upfront what you need to put on on any given day.
We really do that extra typically than we predict, particularly for particular events. We additionally do it casually. Some folks lay out their outfits for the subsequent day earlier than going to sleep and select what they’re sporting earlier than occurring a aircraft or earlier than an vital 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, nevertheless it hit a brand new excessive in early 2024.
Over the previous 12 months, 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 pretty much as good on me because it used to.
Opening my closet to dress within the morning received 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. At any time when I couldn’t determine 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 alter how I handled my closet.
I left my beforehand 100% distant job for a greater, extra steady one which required me to go to the workplace three days every week. For the primary time in nearly six years, I needed to contemplate the house and surroundings of an workplace.
I work in tech, so the costume code is nearly non-existent, although clearly, no matter I put on needs to be office-appropriate. However inside my workplace apparel, I needed to nonetheless costume 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 gadgets in my closet than I had all 12 months. I additionally felt extra inventive 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 Pointers
I had two objectives with my outfit-planning experiment:
Make life simpler – I needed to take the stress off getting dressed within the mornings and give attention to different issues.
Maximize and reduce – I needed to maximize the usage of the gadgets 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:
At all times begin with: What are my actions for every day? – Perhaps it was an workplace day, or I had an occasion after going to the workplace, and so forth. This could be my first consideration.
Uncared for gadgets – Every week, I vowed to checklist a minimum of three gadgets I hadn’t worn shortly and magnificence them by the week. I needed to see in the event that they nonetheless match, if I nonetheless favored them, and/or in the event that they nonetheless labored for my model.
Gadgets I needed to put on – Perhaps I had a model new factor I needed to put on for the primary time or a selected merchandise I actually needed to give attention to. I’d make a remark of that when planning for the week.
Flexibility – I gave myself house to maneuver issues round in case issues got here up throughout the week, like occasions, climate, comfortability, and so forth.
Take an image of each single outfit – As a result of I knew I needed to jot down about it for CF, but in addition as a result of I needed to have the ability to reference what labored and what didn’t work for the long run.
How Outfit Planning Modified the Sport: 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 submit.
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 submit’s functions. Once more, I’d plan each outfit right down to the equipment.
Principally, I’d apply all the pieces I realized over the previous couple of months.
A Journey’s Price of Outfits
Week #1 (November twenty eighth– December 4th)
For the primary week of the journey, I had six outfits in complete, three of which have been for days I used to be touring.
The primary look, a full-burgundy ensemble (backside and prime 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 verify in on the lodge and didn’t need 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 sporting the outfits I had deliberate was the aid I felt on the finish of a protracted, 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, all the pieces 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: Be taught your Colours
By way of the six months of planning my weekly seems to be, I seen that my favourite colours differed from the colours I *really* wore probably the most.
For instance, my absolute favourite shade is pink, however I put on crimson extra typically and have many extra crimson gadgets in my closet than pink.
I quickly realized I’d put on an merchandise extra typically if it was crimson, blue, or inexperienced.
Primarily based on this, I selected a cohesive, three-to-four-color palette to tackle my journey. I selected main colours (crimson, 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 crimson or blue, and yellow is a pure shade to pair them each with to create put-together, eclectic, cute seems to be.
You possibly can 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 prime, 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 the direction of probably the most.
Lesson: Be taught Your Match
One other factor that turned obvious whereas planning my day by day outfits was exactly what kinds of silhouettes and matches I gravitate towards probably the most.
For bottoms, I want an A-line, barrel, or straight match, largely 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 data narrowed down the gadgets I’d contemplate 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 prime, three button-down shirts, and one spherical neckline prime.
Once more, you’ll be able to see in these 4 seems to be all the weather I do know I really like: menswear, tailoring, comfy tops, loose-fitting pants, and A-line skirts.
Week #2 (December fifth– November ninth)
The next week wasn’t a full 7-day week, however I’m nonetheless counting it. Two out of 5 seems to be 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 sooner I might pinpoint precisely what wasn’t working in an outfit and learn how to enhance it.
This week, I noticed how clear my model had turn into. I purchased a couple of 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 gadgets could be changing.
It was an incredible feeling simply to know the way these items blended with all the pieces I had again house primarily based on what I took. Goodbye, purchaser’s regret!
Lesson: Be taught to Pivot
Whereas my deliberate outfits often labored out, I allowed myself to alter my thoughts if my actions modified or one thing didn’t go in accordance with plan.
The seems to be I deliberate for each week have been a wholesome mixture of informal and put-together. So, for instance, I’d be capable to 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 generally, it was as a result of an merchandise merely didn’t work out. Perhaps the denims I selected wouldn’t go previous my thighs that day, or the skirt and prime didn’t really go collectively like I had envisioned.
Throughout 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 sporting 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 unravel. Because it was a visit the place I’d spend quite a lot of time exterior the lodge, 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 typically. On day three, I purchased an off-white crossbody bag to make use of throughout the day and left the backpack for touring days solely.
Lastly, it received 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 purchased and wore gloves for the final two days. They weren’t a stylistic selection however a sensible one that actually made my day extra comfy.
Lesson: Be taught Your Model
Lastly, the previous six months helped me to essentially nail down my private model.
For the previous 4 years, I’ve been drawn to maximalism, however when making use of it totally to my seems to be, it didn’t really feel fully proper. I’ve been bouncing round attempting to make maximalist, eclectic, girly, preppy, comfortable types work collectively.
By planning my seems to be, I might lastly pinpoint what I favored about every of these types, what labored for *me*, and what issues I favored 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 could be *me*. I simply needed to be as comfy and blissful as attainable with out having an ill-fitting pair of pants or a too-tight sweater behind my thoughts.
I can say confidently that each single look I wore throughout this journey was my private model distilled to perfection.
All of it represented how I costume, however extra importantly, how I need to decorate daily. The outfits mixed layering, enjoyable patterns, menswear-inspired gadgets, outsized coats and sweaters, colourful garments, and cozy components.
Remaining Ideas
On the whole, outfit planning is one thing that we are able to all profit from. It will provide you with a extra full image of your closet and magnificence. Plus, it would 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 an alternate in it.
I feel I’ve managed to chop my purchasing in half. Child steps.
On the finish of my six-month experiment, I lastly made a significant closet declutter. It was straightforward since I already knew what I used to be not sporting, what was simply not my dimension anymore, and what didn’t match with my model. I took out about two-thirds of my closet.
Nonetheless, I’ve quite a lot of garments, and I feel I’ll hold modifying what I’ve by the next months. Now, I can *really* see what I’ve, and I’m certain all the pieces is a minimum of the proper dimension. Probably the most thrilling factor was seeing uncared for gadgets shock me and return to the worn rotation.
Going ahead, I’ll hold planning my weekly seems to be 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 quite a lot of stress, anxiousness, and worry.
I had already been planning my outfits for 4 months when my life circumstances modified, so I simply stored outfit planning as part of my new routine. It wasn’t till now that I noticed how a lot it helped me manage when all the pieces appeared extra unsure. Within the last months of this experiment, I used to be planning my outfits and annotating docs’ appointments proper beside what equipment or pants I used to be going to put on.
In a bizarre approach, outfit planning additionally grounded me. It helped me ease my thoughts for a minimum of half an hour every week. Now, I’m adjusted to my new routine, and I’m so significantly better, bodily and mentally.
If 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 gotten and what gadgets you favor with a clearer head. Because you don’t have the clock ticking, you’ll be able to take your time to make any variety of outfit mixtures till you discover the proper one. It offers you house for errors or changes with out feeling the frustration of “I would like to depart in 10 minutes”.
I’d advocate outfit planning if you happen to’re feeling pissed off or overwhelmed along with your closet when you dress, if you happen to’re nervous you’re spending an excessive amount of on garments and nonetheless can not appear to search out one thing to put on, or you probably have an vital week forward of you. It’s going to provide help 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 Suppose?
Would you attempt planning your outfits? Do you do it now? Do you’ve gotten any styling questions? Tell us within the feedback beneath!
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