Over the years, my style has become much simpler. I used to think that creating an interesting outfit meant buying more clothes, following trends or constantly adding something new to my wardrobe. Now, I actually think the opposite.
Most of the outfits I wear are built around very simple pieces: a white T-shirt, jeans, a blazer, neutral trousers or a basic top. The difference is usually in how I style them.
I have learnt that you don’t need an entire wardrobe full of statement clothes to have personal style. Sometimes a necklace, scarf, belt or even a pair of glasses can completely change a simple outfit.
This also makes getting dressed much easier. Instead of constantly thinking about what new clothes I need, I try to find different ways of wearing the pieces I already own.
Here are some of the ways I make my simple everyday outfits feel a little more interesting.
1. Add Colour Through Accessories
I wear a lot of black, white and other neutral colours, especially for work. I find them incredibly easy to combine, and they also make getting dressed in the morning much quicker.
However, sometimes a very neutral outfit needs a little something extra.
For this outfit, I wore a simple black shirt with white trousers and black shoes. On its own, the outfit is very basic, so I added a red necklace and a belt.
I love using accessories to introduce colour because it means I don’t necessarily need to buy colourful clothes that might be more difficult to style later. A necklace, belt, scarf or bag can completely change the feeling of an outfit while the clothes themselves stay very simple.
This is probably one of the easiest styling tricks I use in my everyday wardrobe.
2. Combine Timeless Basics
A leather jacket, white cotton T-shirt and jeans is probably one of the simplest combinations you can wear, but I think that is exactly why it works.
Both the leather jacket and white T-shirt in this outfit were bought second-hand on Vinted. I have become a big fan of looking for good-quality basics there because you can often find beautiful materials for much less than you would pay when buying new.
The white T-shirt is nothing particularly exciting on its own, but that is the point. It works with almost everything in my wardrobe. The leather jacket gives the outfit a little more structure and makes the basic T-shirt and jeans combination feel finished.
When I buy clothes now, I increasingly think about how many different outfits I can create with an item rather than whether the piece itself looks exciting on the hanger.
This is also why I always pay attention to fabric and construction when shopping. Read my article: How to Spot Quality Clothes Before You Buy (Even in High-Street Stores) for more tips.
If you enjoy shopping second-hand, you can also read my article How to Shop Vinted Like a Stylist (And Find Hidden Gems) where I share more about how I shop on Vinted.
3. Use a Scarf to Change a Classic Blazer
An oversized blazer is one of my favourite wardrobe pieces and something I wear again and again.
A black blazer will never really go out of style, but wearing the same piece doesn’t mean every outfit has to look identical.
Here, I added a patterned scarf around my neck. It is such a small detail, but I think it completely changes the outfit and makes a classic black blazer feel more personal.
This is something I have started appreciating more as my style has evolved. I don’t necessarily want people to notice every individual item I am wearing. I would rather have an outfit that looks put together as a whole.
Accessories are perfect for this because you can wear the same blazer dozens of times and simply change the scarf, jewellery, shoes or bag.
A good blazer is also one of the pieces I included in my article 10 Timeless Wardrobe Essentials That Never Go Out of Style
4. Make Practical Outfits Interesting Too
I don’t think personal style should disappear when an outfit needs to be practical.
This picture was taken during my trip to Dubai, when we were doing desert and safari activities. I knew I needed something comfortable because the day involved a lot of walking and travelling, so white trainers were the obvious choice.
White trainers are one of those basics I wear constantly because they work with so many different outfits.
But the part that made this outfit feel more interesting to me was the hat. It was practical for being outside, but it also became the main accessory of the outfit.
This is something I try to remember when travelling. You don’t need to pack lots of complicated outfits to feel stylish. Comfortable basics combined with one interesting accessory are often enough.
And, importantly, I could actually enjoy the day without worrying about uncomfortable shoes!
5. Let One Statement Piece Do the Work
I love having a few statement pieces in my wardrobe, but I usually prefer styling them with very simple basics.
This silver skirt is a perfect example.
The colour and satin-like finish already make it stand out, so I paired it with a simple black top and black leather heeled boots. I didn’t feel the need to add much else because the skirt was already doing all the work.
I think this is one of the easiest ways to wear a statement piece without feeling overdressed.
If I am wearing something unusual, colourful or shiny, I normally keep everything around it much simpler. Personally, I think this actually makes the statement piece stand out more.
I also love my classic black leather heeled boots. They instantly make an outfit feel more polished, and because the style is so simple, I can wear them with skirts, dresses and other outfits year after year.
For me, statement dressing doesn’t mean the entire outfit needs to be bold. Sometimes one beautiful piece is enough.
6. Wear Your Clothes in Different Ways
This alpaca wool jumper is one of my favourite examples of using something I already own differently.
I love the texture and warm neutral colour, and it is a statement piece without being particularly loud. On this day, however, it was actually too warm to wear it properly.
Instead of taking it off completely, I wore it over my shoulders.
It is such a simple styling trick, but the jumper almost becomes an accessory. It adds texture and another layer to a very neutral outfit without making it feel complicated.
I think this is also where buying good-quality natural materials makes a difference. Beautiful wool, cashmere or alpaca doesn’t necessarily need lots of additional styling because the texture of the material already adds something to an outfit.
You can read more about the materials I look for when shopping in How to Spot Quality Clothes Before You Buy (Even in High-Street Stores).
More importantly, this reminds me that creating new outfits doesn’t always require buying new clothes.
Sometimes you just need to wear what you already have differently.
Simple Style Doesn’t Have to Be Boring
The older I get, the less interested I am in having a huge wardrobe.
I would much rather have clothes that I genuinely enjoy wearing and find different ways of styling them. A simple white T-shirt can look completely different with a leather jacket. A black blazer changes when you add a scarf. A neutral outfit suddenly feels more interesting with a colourful necklace.
I think accessories are especially useful because they allow your personal style to change without constantly replacing your clothes.
And sometimes the best accessories are things we already need anyway: a belt, glasses, comfortable shoes or a hat when travelling.
For me, this is what building a timeless wardrobe is really about. It isn’t about wearing the same boring outfit every day or avoiding anything fun. It is about having a reliable foundation and then finding small ways to make it feel like you.
The more I simplify my wardrobe, the more creative I actually become with it.
Instead of asking myself what should I buy next?, I am learning to ask a much better question:
How else could I wear what I already have?
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