I am going to share a secret with you…a fashion secret that many of the most successful people in the world utilize when getting dressed in the morning: they stick to a “personal uniform.” Keep scrolling to the end to see a list of who’s-who…
What is a “personal uniform”?
It’s an outfit combination that makes you feel both comfortable AND confident that you wear on repeat in different variations. It is a clothing ensemble that represents your personal unique style.
What is *my* personal uniform?
As you can see from the video/photos, my personal uniform is generally: sweater/cardigan + layering t-shirt + comfy pants/jeans. I wear this on repeat because it is comfortable, makes me feel confident, and makes getting dressed in the morning easier.
Why would I want to develop a personal uniform?
Sticking to a personal uniform makes getting dressed in the morning easier, reduces decision-making fatigue, saves money, saves closet space…and simplifies your style.
I am barely 5’1 with a 26” inseam and generally wear size 2P. All items fit TTS (true to size) unless otherwise stated.
– Valarie
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BEFORE YOU BEGIN…Start HERE:
Before you start trying to define your personal uniform, start by resetting your closet. Watch this how-to YouTube video:
How to Develop Your Personal Uniform for Winter
1. Start with Your Existing Closet
For the next week, get dressed as usual. Take a mirror selfie of the outfit you choose each morning.
2. Evaluate the Selfies After One Week
At the end of the week, identify the outfit types that you tend to wear on repeat.
3. Pre-Assemble Your Uniform Outfits
After you have decided what type of outfit you wear over and over, use hangers, hooks, and clips to pre-assemble or pre-stage similar outfits. Create 5-6 variations to wear over the next week.
4. Do a Test Run.
Wear these pre-ensembles outfits for the next week. Take a mirror selfie of the outfit each morning.
5. Re-evaluate After Week 2
After Week Two, review those mirror selfies and ask yourself the following questions:
- How did you feel wearing those outfits?
- Did it make getting dressed easier?
- Did it save you time in the morning?
- Did it free up your mind and time to get other tasks accomplished in the morning?
What If You Don’t Like Your Current Personal Uniform?
So now that you have defined your current personal uniform, what do you do if you don’t like what you see? Here are some steps to help you find a different personal uniform:
- Watch this video on personal uniform outfit formulas to give you some ideas.
- Screenshot photos of outfits that you do like and create a folder on your phone to save those screenshots. OR create a Pinterest board to save the photos of outfits you like.
- Then start with Step 2 above. Evaluate those photos that you saved in your phone or on Pinterest. See if there is a pattern or specific outfit formula that you see over and over. Move to Step 3 and pre-essemble those outfits for a week of wear. Do the Step 4 test run for a week and take a mirror selfie each morning. Then proceed to Step 5, reviewing those mirror selfies and answering the questions listed. Keep repeating until you find something makes you look good, feel good, and suits YOUR lifestyle!
Final Thoughts…
Comment below and let me know your thoughts on this. If you tried to develop a personal uniform, let me know how it worked for you! If you have a personal uniform already, let me hear about it!
Successful People Who Utilize a Personal Uniform:
- Katherine Hepburn once said, “I wear my sort of clothes to save me the trouble of deciding which clothes to wear.”
- Former President Barack Obama said, “You’ll see I wear only gray or blue suits. I’m trying to pare down decisions. I don’t want to make decisions about what I’m eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make.”
- Facebook founder and META CEO Mark Zuckerberg is almost always seen wearing a dark gray t-shirt, dark wash jeans, and sneakers or loafers.
- When billionaire Elon Musk isn’t wearing high-end suits, he is generally seen wearing a graphic t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers.
- Apple founder Steve Jobs was almost always seen wearing his staple black turtleneck, Levi 501 jeans, and white sneakers.
- Albert Einstein was said to have purchased multiple versions of the same gray suit to eliminate the decision of what to wear in the morning.
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So helpful have put together comfortable stylish outfits because of your website, I look forward to see what you come up with, great fun👍🏻
This makes me so happy to read – I am glad I am helping!
I would love to see a picture of how you pre-assembled your outfits for the week.
Love this idea. Thank you!
There is an entire blog post about pre-staging outfits! Its linked under “Similar Posts” but here it is again: https://midlifeposhcloset.com/2023/10/25/getting-dressed-made-easy-the-power-of-pre-staging-outfits/
You are so helpful and inspiring. Thank you!😊
YAAAY! Thank you!
So helpful! I live in the cold Northeast. Would love to see more outfits with boots. Thanks!!
I live in Northern Michigan for part of the year but headed to our main home near Key West this week. Probably no boots post from Key West!
I want to do this but it’s not working. I am the same age, height and size as you and I love your style!I would wear all of your clothes if I could. I have a similar uniform formula: comfy pants, tee, cardigan. I am more busty and I’m not finding the right shape. Clothes are too boxy or too revealing. Petites are impossible to find. Tops are too long or short. I’m sure you know what I mean! The usual style tips are not enough for me. Do you have any tips? I can make my own simple alterations, but can’t make a regular size piece “petite”. Thanks
Yes. Find @camellajade on IG or TT. She is really good with fashion conundrums like yours!