Take a look inside your wardrobe and find one outfit that you currently put together without giving it much thought. It could be an easy top and jeans, a knit and pants, or a shirt and skirt. You know this outfit is worth examining because at the very least, you actually wear it. The next step is to move beyond replacing this outfit with an entirely new look, and instead, turn it into an outfit formula.
An outfit formula is simply a repeatable outfit combination. This does not mean a uniform, nor does it suggest wearing the same outfit everyday; it just means learning the structure of an outfit like a fitted top and wide leg pants, or a sweater and skinny jeans, or a dress and an outer shell. It means that once you have identified the structure, you can change the color, or fabric weight, or shoes, or accessories without changing the overall look of proportions.
Start with a fit and not with the color. Wear the outfit and then stand in front of a full length mirror. Look at the shoulder line and the point of the waist. Notice the hemline and the movement of the fabric. Are you sitting down, standing or walking? Is the top too loose or is the bottom too loose and you need to create a more defined waist or maybe change the shoe or change the size of the accessory? Are you all fitted and perhaps it would be more fun if you were wearing more texture or perhaps a softer layer on top?
Once you have decided on your outfit, take a photo of yourself with your phone front and back. The photos are not there to give you a self judgement; they are there to see the proportions a little more clearly. Is there a way that you see how the pants look better when there’s a little bit more of a tuck in the top? Or is the bottom looking too long for the shoes? Sometimes you cannot tell that in the moment while you are in front of the mirror.
Next, write the formula in a way that makes sense. “A soft knit + straight jeans + low profile shoe + mini bag” or “a shirt tucked into a high-waisted trouser + a belt + a clean white sneaker”. Don’t overthink it and think about creating a fashion rule; just think about how the clothes sit or function for you. Then see if there are one or two other pieces in your wardrobe that could fit the formula. Perhaps a top in a different color with the same neckline or a trouser with a similar drape to it, or maybe another shoe option. This gives the formula more options.
The hardest thing I see with a beginner is trying to do too much. Changing all the pieces from the top to the bottoms and then the shoes, then changing the color palette, then changing all your accessories… it becomes too hard to tell what is making you feel good or what is making you feel uncomfortable. Change one piece first. Change only one shoe or only the top layer or only an accent color. That way you will know what works and can easily understand the formula without feeling the need to go buy a new item that is not connecting in your outfit.
A positive indication for when this formula has worked is that you feel like you can easily create several versions of the same combination. You may have a casual version with jeans, a more structured version with trousers, or a different version with more of a relaxed fit and layers. The formula is in effect if it still feels like you and your choices are not so random. Before you go shopping and buy a new piece that does not connect to any other clothing in your outfit, check to see if your current wardrobe actually needs a missing item to fill the formula gap or if you could practice more with what you already have.