I have realised that most of the outfits I feel best in are actually very simple.
I don’t spend a lot of time putting complicated combinations together, and I certainly don’t think you need a huge wardrobe to look well dressed. Usually, it comes down to having a few reliable pieces that work together and knowing which combinations make you feel good.
As I mentioned in my previous article How I make simple outfits look more interesting, my style has become much simpler over the years. I would rather own clothes I genuinely wear than keep buying something new just because it looks exciting on the hanger.
These are seven simple outfit formulas I come back to again and again.
1. T-Shirt + Jeans + Leather Jacket
You really don’t need to be fancy or put an extreme amount of effort into an outfit to look good. A simple cotton T-shirt, a good pair of jeans and a leather jacket just work.
I especially like this combination because every piece can be worn in so many other ways. Add trainers and it feels casual and comfortable, but the leather jacket gives the whole outfit a little more structure.
For me, this is exactly what a good everyday wardrobe should do: make getting dressed easy without making you feel boring.
2. Blazer + Simple Top + Trousers
I have previously mentioned that I have quite a few blazers in my wardrobe, and there is a reason for that. They are incredibly easy to style for almost any occasion.
Combine a blazer with a simple top and trousers, and you are ready to go.
It works for the office, meetings, lunch or even a more casual day depending on the shoes you choose. I also love that a blazer immediately makes very basic pieces look more put together.
A good blazer is one of those pieces I would happily invest in because I know I will wear it again and again. It is also one of the reasons I focus so much on versatile pieces when building a timeless wardrobe.
3. Midi Skirt + Simple Top + Heeled Boots
I love wearing a midi skirt with a simple top and boots, preferably with some heel.
It is such a simple combination, but it always feels classy and feminine to me. The skirt already gives the outfit some movement and interest, so I don’t think the top needs to be complicated.
A pair of leather boots finishes everything nicely, particularly during autumn and winter.
This is also a good example of why I don’t necessarily separate my wardrobe into lots of different “occasion” clothes. With slightly different accessories, the same basic combination can work for the office, dinner or a weekend out.
4. A Monochrome Outfit + Statement Belt
Sometimes I really enjoy wearing monochrome outfits, especially all black.
There is something very easy about dressing in one colour, and black always looks polished. However, I usually like to add one detail so the outfit doesn’t feel too plain.
With this outfit, I added a large belt with a gold buckle. It is quite a small addition, but because the rest of the outfit is black, the gold detail becomes much more noticeable.
This is one of those styling tricks I use when I want an outfit to look interesting without adding lots of different colours or pieces.
5. Simple Outfit + A Good-Quality Coat
During the colder months, your coat becomes one of the most important parts of your outfit because, realistically, it is what people see most of the time.
This is why I think a coat is one of the pieces worth buying in good quality.
I prefer classic shapes and colours that I know I won’t get tired of after one season. Wool is particularly lovely because it looks beautiful, keeps you warm and, if cared for properly, can last for years.
A good coat is a statement piece, but not necessarily in a loud way. You can wear something very simple underneath and let the coat finish the outfit.
Here is my favourite coat that is 100% wool and was worth every cent.
6. Simple Black Dress + Scarf
This outfit is probably one of the braver examples for me because I used a scarf as an accessory in my hair.
And I loved it!
The black dress itself is very simple, which gave me room to do something a little more interesting with the accessories. The scarf made the outfit feel much more personal without needing to buy anything new or particularly trendy.
I think this is something worth remembering with clothes we already own. Sometimes changing how we wear an accessory is enough to make an old outfit feel completely different.
That is also something I talked about in my article on making simple outfits look more interesting — accessories are one of the easiest ways to change basics without constantly buying new clothes
7. White Blouse + Jeans + Trainers
A white blouse is another piece I have mentioned before because it works for almost any occasion.
One of the easiest ways I like to style it is simply with jeans and trainers.
It is comfortable and practical, but the blouse makes the outfit feel slightly more polished than a T-shirt would. And depending on the jeans, shoes and accessories, you can make the same blouse look completely different.
This is exactly the type of clothing I want more of in my wardrobe: pieces that don’t need much thought and that I can wear in lots of different ways.
Read my article 10 Timeless Wardrobe Essentials That Never Go Out of Style for more inspiration.
Simple Outfits Are Usually the Ones I Wear Most
Looking through these outfits, there really isn’t anything particularly complicated about them.
A T-shirt and jeans. A blazer and trousers. A midi skirt and boots. A white blouse and trainers.
But that is exactly why I wear them.
I have become much more interested in finding good-quality pieces and actually wearing them than constantly looking for the next thing to buy. A wardrobe doesn’t need to be huge to give you options. Often, you just need reliable basics, a few good accessories and combinations you know you feel comfortable in.
And perhaps that is the best thing about having your own simple outfit formulas: on the mornings when you have absolutely no idea what to wear, you already know what works.
Visit my Fashion page for more inspiration
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