Jill Chivers of 16 Style Types and I discuss our processes for deciding what to wear and how we dress each day in this video.
Do you have a dressing process for deciding what to wear each day? I’d love to know about it!
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Do You Have a Process for Deciding What to Wear?
I definitely plan ahead, many months, in fact. Because I live in Southern California and travel to Italy once or twice a year, I have to plan my wardrobe out very carefully. Number 1 is weather. I almost always have a “third piece” because I like my arms covered. And I always need comfortable shoes, as no matter where I am, there’s a lot of walking involved. So I generally start with the outer layer, then the shoes, and then everything in-between, weather being considered. If it’s a social event, I like to think how I will look walking into the room, as well as how I appear across a restaurant table. And as you both have mentioned, one way or another, having thought it all out in advance leads to more confidence in the moment.
Gosh – I’ve started building a computer program to assist me in this ;-). Input is temperature and occasion and then it works from there. Not finished yet though, but the manual version works like a charm.
You amaze me with your spreadsheets and computer programs Mette!
Mood, Comfort (Practical) and Weather are the first three thing’s I’m considering when picking out and outfit. 😛
I tends to plan several days or weeks if it’s something that doesn’t happen frequently such as eating out or when traveling abroad. I also like to several different versions of the same outfit so It can work for different temperatures and moods (there are cases where I don’t feel like wearing pants or skirts but the rest of the outfit stays the same).
After knowing my major needs and the occasion, I’ve a visual list of clothes I haven’t wore yet and looks for 1-3 items that are works for my needs. Then build and outfit and different versioans of it. With visual, I’m referring to this:
https://scontent-arn2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/t31.0-8/11850659_445229239019029_2903492526429090508_o.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9A visual collage of clothes I haven’t worn. Over the years I’ve collected picture of everything I own on PowerPoint, adding notes and then uploaded the picure on a private folder on Facebook. So that know what I have or haven’t worn wherever I am. It was very time consuming but it was worth it (and I love playing with Powerpoint anyway), now I have a little more than 30 garments to get through before I have worn everything (next week, at least four of the pieces in the link will worn) and recently worn things I bought 2-3 years ago (the “rule” where people suggest you to toss out clothes after a year definitly dont work for me, hah!). ;}
What I wear is very much a mood and event decision! I think that I first decide whether I want to blend (supermarket, running errands) or feel free to stand out (social events where it is okay, not weddings where the bride is the focus!) At casual events, I am definitely more colourful when I want to mingle with people and try to wear something for a “conversation piece”, something which,until Evolve, I didn’t even realize I was doing!
The camera is down a bit low, so you have to keep looking down. Can you raise it up in future, just a few cm’s?
Yes we didn’t have an ideal setup for the camera – sorry!
I feel the cold too and I am in Gippsland (tad worse than melbourne and much colder) so can you share ideas on how to stay warm & look nice. I have woollen tights and jeans over the top and I hate, hate, hate wearing trackies, but there the only warm things I can find.
Help???
Canberra can be rather chilly as well…. nothing like the wind off the snow topped mountains.
Look for fleecy leggings and pantyhose – they can make a huge difference, and I get more mileage out of them by putting in waist elastic (non-rolling) once they start to loosen up. Wool can make my skin itch, and I’ve found a much cheaper and just as good alternative is bamboo. I bought some bamboo camisoles (black and nude) and they’re lovely on the skin, warm, long in the body and have adjustable straps. Plus they can be worn during summer. Bamboo wicks moisture.
I can’t stand having my neck covered but for some reason, scarves don’t annoy me the way a polo neck does. Even light weight scarves will hold body warmth if they’re in layers. Break out the heavier and larger scarves/shawls, wrap and hold in place with brooches. Some artisans make the traditional pin ring which looks fantastic with knits.
Oops – adding lined leather gloves for outside, and thermal fingerless mittens for inside. Hats can also be good for outside and even a lace skullcap (very flapper, even more hippy) can help inside.
p.s. I hate wearing layers. I can’t do the scarves and necklaces thing. I would more likely wear disguised warmth underneath. Does anyone out there have ideas, and have the same issues?
Go for more high tech fabrics that hold in heat – thermal not cotton tights. Fine merino wool (I wear 3-4 layers of those a day in winter). Uniqlo makes layering tights and long sleeve tops called Heat Tech which are great. Down jackets are warm
Hi Meredith,
I hate the cold too, even though I live in Sydney!
Here is the formula I have been wearing at home pretty much all this winter.
I always have at least 1 layer of wool close to my skin.
> 1 wool blend singlet (long length stops any skin gapping at rear of mid/low risejeans)
>over this 1 longsleeve wool thermal (plus longsleeve tightfitting cotton skivvy if needed)
>over this 1 longsleeve light-medium weight viscose jumper (about the thickness we might wear in an airconditioned office – can be worn into spring and autumn)
> over this, sleeveless knitted vest (long and trendy, or short, depends on next garment)
> over this a trendy long cardigan (that doesn’t do up), chunky is good. To keep it out of the way while at home, I belt it, and maybe roll up the sleeves a bit. My other option is a wool casual blazer or other comfy coats that reach mid-thigh. I can swap the cardies for a proper coat when going out, if needed. I even have my son’s woollen duffel coat (yes, trendy) which has been a godsend in windy weather, as it will fit over all of the above, due to its very wide sleeves.
> I avoid chunky JUMPERS as I feel shapeless in them, but I do have 1 thickish wool jumper which I wear going bush- its highish standup neck means no scarf needed. Look for one with a built-in style component – zip/button detail, pattern, texture (e.g. flecked yarn) or a cheerful colour. 2 examples of jumpers with detail below:
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/New-2014-Women-s-Winter-Autumn-Sweaters-Turtlenecks-With-Buttons-Rabbits-Hair-Printed-Knitted-Jumpers-Thick/1085209_2041789608.html
http://www.woolovers.com.au/lambswool/womens-mens/norwegian-button-neck-jumper.aspx
> oh yes, pantihose under jeans. No question. NB all my winter jeans are skinny, my bootlegs are in hibernation for spring as they are TOO COLD for winter.
Ok that is the core outfit, here comes the style bit.
> Knee high flat boots –warmer than ankle boots – my 2 pr have been getting a workout, worn with woolly knee high socks and often legwarmers over that, peeking out at the top- stylish!
> my core jumpers do not cover my neck as I don’t think turtle necks suit me, so I do scarves; but you could look for looser cowl/roll neck style jumpers for a bit of stylish neck warmth. I have neckwarmers too, which make boring jumpers look interesting, and unlike scarves, also stay out of the way. Browse “wool neckwarmer” for ideas e.g. http://www.stylehive.com/bookmark/aodfree-shipping-black-woolen-neckwarmer-with-leaf-by-sesiber-1337933
> for going out, the woolly beret (looks smarter than a beanie, still cosy, I have 6 :)) and gloves – always!
Jewellery: in winter, many styles can catch on woollens- so see if you’ve got the following:
>Rings must be flat, to fit gloves over.
>Watches must have smooth non-rubbery bands for ease of taking coats off, and bracelets must be small and close fitting (no bangles) again so as not to jam on coatsleeves. Mostly, they will just peek out from under the sleeve when you are using your hands.
>Earrings can be knocked out and lost by high collars and ear-covering woolly hats – avoid dangly styles, just wear smaller close styles.
> have you got any brooches lying about? winter is THE high time for brooches – they look amazing on coats and chunky cardigans- especially casual styles made of wood etc.
I had to buy quite a bit of clothing this winter because I simply didn’t have the right gear to cope. What jumpers I had were too short, and so were the cardigans and the underskivvies — my lower half was freezing. The main expenditure was LONG jumpers and LONG cardigans and a thigh-length padded coat – thankfully, all in fashion and flattering on everyone in the right proportions. The sales are on, so perfect timing if you are missing anything you need :). Hope these ideas help…
I only plan way ahead for special events (like a family wedding,or a semi-formal dinner). If it’s one of the rare mornings when I have to get going early I’ll plan my outfit the night before and have it ready — usually that means I have to dress up a bit e.g. preaching at early service. Otherwise I go with the whim of the moment. The weather comes first, next comes whether I’m going out anywhere, but even if I’m home all day I dress properly and put on a little makeup. Then colour, and that might be something like “I’ve worn pink the last 2 days, I feel like blue or green today. Proper shoes are the one thing I don’t bother with unless I’m going out
I juggle several thoughts – weather, what I’m doing that day (and do I have to leave the house – I work mostly from home), what I feel like wearing and waaaay up there, what my body is up for. This is something that a lot of people don’t get – when you have a chronic illness, it changes what you can do and wear. If I’m having a tired day, I’ll just put on what I wore the previous day (shocking but true) – I just have to save all my energy for the non-negotiables of the day. If I’m having a sore day (there are variations, but for me, a common one is not being able to raise my arms), I’ll do leggings and something over the top (a loose dress, shirt or tunic, then one of my much loved cardigans.
On a good day, I’ll think about what I want to wear – either starting with one piece or going for a certain look, then build on that. These are the days I can wear heels and makeup, enjoy picking out a scarf, jewellery and deciding if I need to swap out my handbag.
I think about color combinations that I’d like to put together and similar to the video, I work at an office, so often times it’s what doesn’t need to be ironed too. Often time when I put too much thought into the “perfect outfit” for the next day nine times out of ten it doesn’t translate well. The hustle and bustle of the morning routine seems to churn out some of the best outfits. I think the lack of thought is why. I will say that picking out my jewelry slows me down. Perhaps i don’t do well with too much choice.