If you struggle with styling outfits or never know what to buy when shopping, listen up! A personal style uniform may be the secret sauce you’ve been missing. Here are the benefits to creating your very own style formula that makes you feel beautiful and confident.
Photos: J. Briggs Photography
What is a Personal Style Uniform?
As a personal stylist, I like to make getting dressed (and feeling ah-mazing!) as easy as possible for myself and my style clients. Insert the personal style uniform.
A personal style uniform is simply a formula you can use to build outfits. Just like 1 + 2 always = 3, the goal here is to find a combination of pieces that when paired together, create outfits you love. A style uniform may consist of specific colors you feel your best in or it can be more about the actual style of the pieces. Your style uniform will be unique to you.
The first time I recognized this style concept was while watching “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” on Netflix. In it, tidying expert and bestselling author Marie Kondo helps people create happier lives through tidying their homes. And while I took a lot from the documentary on tidying my house, one of the big things I noticed was the consistency of Marie’s outfits.
In many of the scenes, Marie is seen wearing a white sweater or top with a skirt. The reason she likely always wears the same combination is because it, “brings her joy,” (as she would say) compared to other outfit combinations. It also simplifies the getting ready process.
I think the reason Marie Kondo’s style uniform resonated with me is because it made me recognize my own style uniform. Turns out, her and I have a very similar formula we use when creating outfits, which I realized after taking a look at some of my favorite blog photos over the last few years.
But hang on, because this doesn’t mean one size fits all with a style uniform. (We’ll get into the benefits of developing your own in a minute.) And it also doesn’t mean I ONLY ever wear a white shirt paired with a skirt. What it does mean, though, is that when I want to look and feel my absolute best for a photoshoot or job interview, for example, this combination does the trick.
Also, keep in mind that this concept may not be for everyone. If you love trying new outfits and shopping for anything and everything, friend, YOU DO YOU. But for who don’t know how to shop intentionally, feel stuck when creating outfits and/or never like any outfit you put on, a style uniform can help. Here’s why…
The Benefits of a Personal Style Uniform
1. It simplifies shopping. As a stylist, I always recommend my clients keep an intentional shopping wishlist. Think of how you grocery shop – there are staples you always know to be looking for and they always go on your list so you don’t forget them or get distracted by other things. The same rules apply to shopping and trust me, this will help you avoid feeling overwhelmed when in a store full of options. If collared shirts are part of your style uniform, you can weed out other options.
2. It also makes creating outfits easier. A personal style uniform will help you stop reinventing the wheel each morning when getting dressed. If you know you feel your best when you’re wearing a pair of wide-leg trousers and a striped blouse, WEAR THAT. And pssst… For those of you wondering if people will notice that you repeat the same formula, just remember, no one is thinking about what you’re wearing as much as you.
3. You’ll always love your outfits. Ding, ding, ding! Here’s the most important benefit to having a style uniform. Once you figure out what formula you feel most beautiful wearing, creating several outfits that make you feel that way becomes a breeze. Can you even imagine having a closet filled with pieces that you love and none that you don’t? That’s the power of developing a personal style uniform and then shopping for pieces that fit the formula.
Want More?
Make sure to follow along on Instagram and check out my daily looks for more everyday style inspiration.