Three ways to always be dressed for the occasion

Each day one has to pick out a new outfit. When planning to dress well for every occasion, it can be exhausting to figure out what to wear on the morning it’s happening. Instead of making these high-stakes decisions with only minutes to spare, there are quite a few ways to plan wearables ahead of time. 

Dressing for success sounds easy on paper, but lots of things can get between a fashion-forward individual and their million-dollar look. This article will share some tips to get the most out of any wardrobe, look one’s best for every event, and stay on top of fashion. 

1. Schedule outfits

A big step towards always being on top of fashion is being on top of the schedule. Knowing upcoming events, having a change of clothes at the ready when needed, and simply planning ahead are a few ways to stay organised and well-dressed. A meeting scheduler with daily reminders and a pre-planned fashion calendar might be exactly what’s needed. 

If the schedule is under control, it is easy to start planning out clothes alongside it. For those who plan to hit the gym early in the morning, it’s useful to have an extra set of clothes to feel fresh and ready to tackle the day. Evening plans after work, but not enough time to go back home to get ready? This is the moment to bring clothes beforehand, so it’s easy to head straight to the event. Not having to worry about what to wear means less stress while strutting our stuff daily.  

Without prior knoweldge of the fashion expectations of an event, it’s important to do some research! Calling to ask about the dress code is a great start, alongside looking up pictures of said event, asking a past attendee, or simply going with one’s gut. And if all else fails, remember that being a little overdressed isn’t a crime. Either way, planning ahead is an essential part of always being dressed for the occasion.

2. Capsulise that wardrobe

Sometimes, especially when in a rush, finding the right outfit can be a struggle. Matching the right top and bottom, colour clashing and other small issues can hinder making any snap decisions. To ensure there’s always an outfit at the ready, it’s a good idea to consider creating a capsule wardrobe

Dating back to the 1970s, the capsule wardrobe is a tool meant to maximise clothes’ compatibility with one another. One curates a set of clothes that are easily interchangeable, match together well, and look great. If this wardrobe had compatible tops and bottoms, that already adds up to 25 outfit combinations. Taking the time to evaluate what one already has that would work, or investing into a capsule wardrobe, will save time and stress in the long run.

A capsule wardrobe is a solid way to turn a few outfits into many. It’s even possible to create multiple capsule wardrobes for varying occasions, from casual to professional. The process of creating one will also provide a chance to look at all the existing clothes, brainstorm what matches, and ditch what doesn’t. Cleaning out a bit can help with the all too common choice paralysis that comes with a cluttered wardrobe. 

3. Defining style

More often than not, what one wears won’t be defined by a dress code but instead by personal style. If that style is all over the place, this freeform decision can become overwhelming. It might be time to update clothing during the process of defining what one’s style truly is. 

Finding your personal style starts with examining what clothes are already in the cupboard, and then determining how they fit into the desired projected image. If the answer isn’t totally sure, that’s okay! This is the time to look into fashion icons for inspiration, explore social media for ideas, or hit the local charity shop to experiment without breaking the bank. It’s all about discovering preferences, what looks good, and what one really wants. There’s no need to shy away from bold choices, as that’s the only way to find out if it’s true love or hate for a new piece of apparel. 

Once it’s clear what style really clicks, it’s time to start investing into that identity. There’s no need to totally scrap the current wardrobe, as that’s expensive and stressful, instead the way forward is to work to slowly and filter in new clothes while donating or selling old clothes. This allows for a chance to try out new clothes, figure out what no longer works, and gradually become confident in one’s own personal style. Dressing for success isn’t about expensive clothes or high fashion, it’s about dressing as the best version of oneself. 

Your clothes, your way

Dressing for the occasion starts with planning. Putting some effort into what we wear shows, and people are bound to notice. So no matter what one decides to do to up that fashion game, the key is to remember the goal is create confidence and comfort.

So the point really is to dress for more than just success: dress for you. 

The editorial unit