How I Get Dressed When I Have Nowhere To Be
On the outfit inspiration you didn’t know you had
Inspiration can come from countless places, and when it strikes, you’ve got to take full advantage. As someone who works from home, I have fewer places I’m dressing for throughout the week. I’ve found that my morning routine really primes my mind for creativity and sets the tone for the day.
The thing is, your clothes are begging to be worn.
There’s the moment we’ve all experienced, when you open your closet and feel like you have nothing new or exciting to wear, even though it’s practically overflowing. My key way to curb this moment is the “one item rule”: pick one single piece I love, haven’t worn in a while, is a color that makes me happy, or that is just really flattering, and go from there. This small step is where you break out of outfit paralysis and move into the brighter phase of styling yourself.
My one item is typically a top, to me it’s the flower of the look, while the pants are the stem. I don’t know what shoes and bags would be considered in this analogy, but to me, they’re like adding even more flowers. I say this because my typical pants options are white, black, or denim. I’m a serious denim lover, so sometimes the right pair will drive my outfit together.
I recently added a new pair of jeans to my closet, and have been wanting to wear them every single day. They’re huge, they’re baggy, and they’re a new source of inspiration. How can I style this and bring a feminine touch to the ruggedness? How can I pair this with something baggy without looking like I’m dressed in my husband’s clothes? A vintage Gucci belt I found in NYC has been my go-to for these pants because, for one, they’re realistically too big on me, and for two, it’s an insanely gorgeous accessory. When it was still a bit chilly out, I paired it with a long-sleeve cashmere shirt tucked in or a sleeveless turtleneck, both of which are my staples for fall/spring. Now that it’s gotten a bit warmer, I’ve been styling them with a lot of tank tops, crisp white tees, button-ups with loads of jewelry, and fun shoes.
Versatile pieces like this drive my wardrobe. I can pair practically everything with one another to create countless variations with my city-sized closet. Also, accessories are everything when stretching a few items further — this is my travel secret for maximizing a carry-on-sized wardrobe on the go. This mindset applies to shopping too — buy what genuinely excites you, not just what seems practical.
The way I get dressed when I have nowhere to be is really my philosophy for how I get dressed all the time. What am I excited to wear? What inspires me? What is speaking to me? And sometimes, what is both comfortable and cute?
Admittedly, I do start by staring into the clothing abyss and trying to find the answers to all of these questions, but the “one item rule” helps me get there a bit quicker. Choosing your outfit for the day is just as important as brushing your teeth and making your bed — not for hygiene reasons, but because you’re winning a little bit more and more as your routine goes on. One of my many musts is to prep myself for the day with a look that inspires or simply makes me feel happy.
I’ve noticed this small habit has created a much larger ripple effect in my life. Being fully ready for whatever the day may bring truly means that, at any moment, I can throw on shoes, be out the door, and en route to whatever exciting thing is in store. Wear the new top on a random Tuesday, wear the new heels to your lunch date with a friend, break out the new handbag or jewelry for a bop around town after work. Don’t wait for the perfect plans to come to you; just be ready, mentally and aesthetically.
Find your Bachét.