Lifestyle-Based Outfit Planning (Part 1)
Should I Change My Lifestyle to Match My Style?
Recently, I felt a bit lost in my wardrobe - it has become rather boring and plain. I decided that it was time to analyze it more carefully, inspired by the idea of planning your wardrobe based on how you actually live your life. Anna from The Wardrobe Edit is a master of this approach. I loved her color-coded calendar, in which she masterfully allocates and organizes her style throughout her day - a method she explains in detail below.
I decided to do the same and roughly calculate the time I spend dressing for different occasions. Here’s what I came up with:
WFH – Comfortable & Casual: 70%. Working from home, school runs to an outdoor (very muddy!) school, and getting groceries.
Business Meetings – Business Casual: 10%. Tech-related meetings, business events, and business travel.
Meeting Friends & Family – Elevated Casual: 15%. Lunches, spending time with extended family, visiting friends, and running errands in more formal environments.
Dinner / Theater / Events – Refined: 3%. Concerts, theater, evening events, and more festive dinners.
Parties – Refined & Festive: 2%. Dancing-friendly, festive, sparkly outfits.
Based on this, I should immediately start thinking about upgrading my WFH wardrobe since that’s where I spend most of my time. However, my mind drifted to more exciting areas. I even came up with the brilliant idea of trying every combination in my wardrobe. A few hours in, I realized that it would be a significant achievement if I managed to try just a few categories and pieces—the wardrobe is quite extensive. Hence, here’s my try-on journey.
Dinner / Theater / Events – Refined (3%)
This is my favorite category to dress for - my ideal wardrobe would be filled with outfits perfect for the theater. However, in truth, I only attend the theater or similar events once every few months at best, so many of these outfits are still waiting for their moment.
(Note: most pieces are old and already sold out). Top row: Tibi yellow skirt, Cos ruffled ivory top, Zara red shoes (second hand), Tibi fitted blazer, Tibi full skirt, By far grey patent boots, Flattered brown bag, Cos green draped top, Aeyde green sandals.
Middle row: Mango sequined burgundy skirt, Tibi pink sweater, The Curated taupe sweater (old), Tibi brown dress, Tibi brown patent boots, Mango orange bag (old), Max Mara blue dress, Robi Agnes blue sweater (old), Lie Studio necklace.
Bottom row: Max Mara blue dress, By far grey patent boots, old sweater with an old brooch, Reserved silver bag, Mango sequined burgundy skirt, Cos green draped top, Uniqlo dark green dress, Tibi bag.
It’s unbelievable how drawn I was to dresses and skirts in this edit - I felt these outfits are far superior to my usual jeans or pants. Here are the outfit formulas that summarize this edit:
Statement Skirt or Dress + Knitwear on Top + Slim Shoes. Adding a blazer or a more formal top in these cases can feel too much, while a knitwear piece lends an effortless ease to the outfit.
Drapey/Ruffly Top + Column Skirt + Slim Shoes. The drape of these tops makes even a simple long skirt look more interesting.
Full Skirt + Fitted Blazer + Slim Shoes. The full skirt is a less versatile option for my body, but it pairs surprisingly well with a structured piece like a fitted blazer.
Knit with a Brooch + Dress + Shoes + Bag. One challenge of this formula is covering the top of an open dress during winter. Using a brooch to effortlessly transform a knit into a top is a great solution.
One or Two Bright Colored Elements + Non-Black Neutrals (Ring 3) I love mixing colors, but at least one or two of the elements should be more muted, falling within the ring 3 or neutral categories. And I’m still avoiding black.
Neutrals Only. When opting for an all-neutral look, it’s a mix of different neutral colors - again, no black.
How happy am I with my wardrobe in this category? I’d give it a 9/10. While there’s always room for improvement, overall, I see plenty of options that I can wear.
Meeting Friends & Family (15%)
This is a category I feel very comfortable dressing for. I usually opt for jeans or a dress/skirt that I can tone down with more casual, less refined elements. Here are some casual outfits I’ve put together.
(Most items old and sold out.) Top row: Arket skirt, Tibi pink sweater, Aeyde white shoes, APC acid wash jeans, Gray Matters boots, Tibi green top, Reserved silver bag, Uniqlo green satin dress, Tibi greenish shirt, By far grey patent boots.
Middle row: Uniqlo green satin dress, Tibi blue bag, By Far grey patent boots, The Curated black turtleneck, Marc O’Polo wide leg jeans, H&M belt, Cos navy top, Max Mara blue dress, husband’s sweater, Cos blue shirt, The Curated taupe bag.
Bottom row: Max Mara blue dress, Cos blue shirt, By Far grey patent boots, The Curated taupe bag, husband’s brown sweatshirt, Flattered cognac bag, Arket orange tee, Los Angeles Apparel jellies.
Considering the more casual nature of these occasions, almost every outfit includes a dress-down element. Here are the outfit formulas I identified:
Dress + Casual Top (Tank, Sweatshirt, or Oversized Button-Up) + Slim Shoes + Relaxed Bag. My dresses are extremely versatile because they can be dressed down with various items, unlocking many new combinations.
Semi-Interesting Jeans + Semi-Interesting Top + Accessories. I’ve noticed that the jeans and tops in these combinations are neither basic nor statement-making. For example, they might be wide but not excessively so, or acid-washed but not overdone. It seems that my style leans toward this subdued balance rather than overly bold combinations.
Casual Shirt, Jacket, or Cardigan + Long Dress + Slim Shoes + Relaxed Bag. Dressing down a dress with a casual cardigan or jacket is another winning combination.
Relaxed Knit + Skirt + Boots. This is an easy, effective formula for a laid-back look.
How happy am I with my wardrobe in this category? I'd say 7/10. In reality, I tend to rely on jeans and a top for these occasions, and I’d like to elevate those pieces from semi-interesting to something more compelling. I also feel there's a gap in my wardrobe when it comes to casual dresses that are simple to wear yet combine both casual and refined elements.
That was fairly easy! Now I'm left with the more challenging lifestyle categories, and I'll share how I'm tackling them next.
Dalia, I love your “refined” category and I would totally wear it for work - from home or office- if I were you. In some cases, I might need to add a blazer for additional warm layer or a cardigan to dress an outfit down, but otherwise I’d just wear them as they are. Shoes including. 😇 if you love the clothes, just wear them! …sometimes work is a big theatre, you know 😏