I am a notoriously indecisive gal. I also have to make many decisions every day and sometimes endure decision fatigue. One decision I like to not have to make in the morning is what to wear. I love having fun outfits to wear that suit myself and my day to come, but oftentimes I am not up early enough to make this happen. By planning outfits ahead I don’t have to sacrifice my style or my sleep.
Outfit prepping is just like meal prepping, but instead of boiled chicken in plastic containers or ombre salads in mason jars, it is outfits or photos of outfits set aside for you to wear for the week, month, or season. It is finding what works for you when you have the brain space and time to do so rather than waiting until 5 minutes before you need to leave.
We all have picked out an outfit early for a special occasion or a job interview, but I believe there are so many benefits to doing this for yourself on a daily basis. Here are some of my tips to help you get started:
Start with one thing
I like to do this whenever I purchase something new. I try it on and then try to make at least 3 looks with it. Depending on what the item is, I will style it for work, play, and dressy. This not only helps me to ensure that it works with other items in my closet and it won’t sit there with the tags on it for months, but it gives me 3 outfits that I know work for me. I take a picture of these outfits and refer back to them when I’m in a rut or don’t want to select items for the day.
Check in seasonally or monthly
Whenever there is a shift of weather or season, take an hour or two to pull out items that haven’t been worn in a while and try them on or lay them out as a few outfits that will fit with the upcoming temperatures. I like to do this whenever I rotate my summer and winter clothes or on a laundry day when I already have a bunch of clothes out.
Physically set the outfits aside
I have a coat rack in my room where I store my favorite jackets, but I also create a little “outfit queue” for myself. I might hang full outfits on there or pieces I haven’t worn recently but want to. You can also do this with a hook on the back of your closet door or devote one spot in your closet to hang outfits that are ready to wear. I will even put accessories or jewelry with them sometimes, so that it is all ready to go.
Challenge yourself with less worn items
Sometimes we don’t wear items that we love simply because we don’t know what to wear them with. For these, I encourage you to put the item on and physically try it on with different pieces. This way you can see how the proportions work on your body and what works and doesn’t with other pieces. Once you wear this item more, you will be able to plan outfits just by laying it out, but until you’re comfortable with the piece, put it on your body to plan.
Try out accessories
When I am putting an outfit on, sometimes I spend the longest time deciding which shoes and jewelry I want to wear. I like to try on options when planning and pick several that might work. This allows my outfits to be flexible for the variations of the day, like the weather or if I am okay to spend my whole day in heels that day.
Use this time to see what gaps or extras you have
If you find yourself wishing that you had an item multiple times to pair with things, write it down. If the next time you plan an outfit plan, you still are thinking of that item, it might be a good time to purchase it.
This process can also help you to identify items in your closet that aren’t working for you anymore. Maybe they don’t fit with your other items, or your lifestyle, or your body anymore and that space might be more useful for items that suit you better. If you are on the fence about an item, try pairing it with some new pieces and if after a bit, you still aren’t reaching for it, that could be a sign to pass it along.
Create some uniforms for yourself
If I find something I like, I often buy more in other colors (I’m looking right at your Hill House Nap Dress). Because of this, I know some ways I have worn that item that work for me. For example, a winter staple for me for work and casual is an Ellie Nap Dress with a tissue turtleneck underneath. I have figured out what weather days this works for and found that it is comfortable and appropriate for me whether I am in the classroom or out running errands. Instead of wearing the same dress over again, I have other colors to switch it up. This multiplies my outfit options, but takes the decision making out of what I’m wearing.
Document your outfits
Take pictures of what you prep and how you wear it! I once heard it said that your brain is for creating new ideas, not storing them. Don’t make yourself do the work again, after you picked something out, snap a picture of it. A mirror selfie is perfect or even laying it out on your bed is just fine. You’re compiling a digital catalog for yourself, so it doesn’t need to be fancy. You can then make an album or “favorite” the photos in your phone for quick access. Also, take pictures of how you actually wore it as well as things that might have changed and it can help you see what really worked for you.
If this sounds overwhelming to try on your own at first, consider signing up for a styling session with me. I walk through these steps with you and then share a digital style book with you at the end as a reference book of 30-40 outfits of your own clothes for you to try out. Head over to the “Styling” section of my website for more information.
Reach out with any questions or to let me know how outfit prepping worked for you!
Excellent post!