Outfit Formulas: Finding the Perfect Equations to Build Your Style!

I don’t know about my readers, but there’s nothing that gets me going like putting the perfect outfit together before leaving the comfort of my home. Even on a rainy day, if I’ve taken the time to piece together a cute outfit, I seem to go about the rest of my day with a spring in my step.

I stumbled into college with barely an idea of how I wanted my sense of style to evolve and walked out with a pretty concrete sense of my “aesthetic” or whatever you want to call it. It took years of experimentation, working with what I had, and pulling inspiration from others before I collected enough apparel to know which colors looked natural on me and what shapes suited my body type.

Although fashion, like writing, is oftentimes subjective to the individual, I will admit there is something mathematical about styling. When I close my eyes and imagine myself getting ready in the morning, there’s always one article of clothing I typically start with.

That’s the first variable of your equation: what you reach for first. How you build around that variable is key.

I typically start with a basic. Here’s my first piece of advice for you: there must be at least one basic in your outfit. Typically, this prevents your garb from looking too busy. You might be asking: what even is a basic? What qualifies an article of clothing as a basic?

Now, I’m no fashion expert, but I do pride myself on knowing my sense of style and how I like to dress.

A basic is a “plain” article of clothing that typically has no pattern, graphic, or detail on it. This could be a plain white T-shirt (anything with a small logo counts as a basic in my eyes), a pair of blue jeans/shorts, a pair of black/tan slacks, or plain white sneakers.

Basics are your foundation. Usually I pair a basic with something that stands out a little more. If I have a plain tank-top, I’m going to pair it with a lace/mesh cover-up or maybe a striped button-up, depending on how casual I want to look. If I go for the throw-over, I might wear strappy shoes or nice sandals, but if I go for the button-up, I’d style it with street shoes.

Do you see the formula yet?

The first thing I recommend for people looking to style themselves on a budget is to stock up with inexpensive basics. Go to thrift stores, vintage shops, or your closest second-hand store and find t-shirts, tank-tops, and other basic shirts in colors you like to see on yourself. Don’t waste money on colors you know won’t suit you; you won’t wear them, trust me!

Buy a couple pairs of jeans, linen pants, slacks, shorts, etc. Make sure you’re stocked on basics; you’ll be wearing these often in different combinations. This way, when you inevitably buy the cool graphic t-shirts you like or the fun ruffly skirts, you’ll have plenty of basics to pair them with.

Now, accessories are key to spicing up outfits. If I’ve paired two basics together: a plain tank top and a pair of jean shorts, I MUST add an accent belt or a nice hat to the mix. I enjoy variation in my belts, as it’s just as good to own a plain, basic belt as it is to collect fun ones.

Button-ups can be spiced up with a bolo-tie or even a ribbon tied under the collar with the two top buttons closed. You can also tie button-ups around your waistline/hips to create a different look. Skirts can be spiced up with chained, beaded, or braided belts, especially if you’re going for a “boho” look. Leather belts typically bring a more edgy feel to one’s look, especially if they’re studded or have intricate designs on them.

Oddly enough, I collected a handful of jackets from different thrift stores while I was in high school that I never wore until I got to college and learned how to style them. I always tell people my best wardrobe is my winter wardrobe because of my vintage jackets.

I highly recommend hoarding blazers, jean jackets, leather jackets, corduroy jackets, literally ANY. JACKET. YOU. CAN. FIND!

I love wearing a casual jeans + print t-shirt outfit and pairing it with an oversized blazer to add a little “academic” feel to my fit. I typically match warmer outfits with my red/brown toned jackets, and the grey/blue toned jackets with my cooler outfits. When in doubt? Wear the black jacket; it typically goes with everything. Just make sure it looks good in the mirror first!

Another piece of advice I live by is to own a staple purse that goes with anything. I’ve owned what I say to my friends is my “banana bag” since sophomore year of college. It’s a medium-sized, beige bag that is slightly “banana” shaped. It goes with all my outfits, it’s durable, it’s super cute, and it’s the purse everyone knows me for. I’ve happily deemed it my “staple” since I wear it with everything.

I’ve learned in my years of fashion finding that jewelry is everything and you don’t have to spend a fortune to get it. I learned the best way to obtain jewelry sets is to up-cycle them. I found my favorite necklace + bracelet set by going to a vintage thrift mall, buying a three-chain jewel necklace, and then using a pair of pliers to make three pieces of jewelry out of one purchase.

I typically pair gold jewelry with warmer outfits and silver with cooler outfits. Though sometimes I go rogue and mix metals. I like to keep things interesting.

I’ve also used jewelry as a “statement piece” in an outfit. If I feel my outfit is a little on the plain side, I’ll wear a pair of fun earrings to draw people’s attention to my boisterous personality.

Although I can’t describe every formula in my fashion diary in great detail, I can provide a cheat sheet to some of my favorite outfits:

Casual Warm:

• Basic Tank top + (Colorful or Patterned) Button-up + Jean Shorts + White Socks + Tennis Shoes

• Basic T-shirt + Basic Short + Accent belt + Optional Vest + White Socks + Tennis Shoes

Semi-Casual Warm:

• Basic Tank top + Patterned Skirt + Tennis shoes + Gold/Silver Belt

Formal Warm:

• Patterned Dress + Basic Shoe + Basic Belt

• Patterned Dress + Strappy Shoe + Basic Gold/Silver Jewelry

• Basic Dress + Accent Accessory + Colorful Shoe

Casual Cool:

• Basic Tank Top + Patterned Cardigan + Long Jeans + Plain belt + Tennis Shoes + Accent jewelry

• Patterned Sweater + Basic Jeans

Semi-Casual Cool:

• Basic Sweater + Patterned Skirt + Tights + Boots

• Patterned Sweater + Basic Pants + Boots + Statement Accessory

• Basic T-shirt + Blazer/Accent Jacket + Basic Pant + Basic Shoe

Formal Cool:

• Basic dress + Statement Belt + Basic Jacket/Cardigan + Knee/Ankle Boots

Spice it up:

• Wrist watches

• Fun sunglasses

• Funky earrings

• Ribbons & bows

• Thin Scarves

• Pins & Claw Clips

• Hats! (Berets, Caps, etc)

• Variety of jewelry combos

• Belts galore! (leather & chain)

• Jackets, jackets, jackets!

Fashion is all about self-expression, and it’s helped me grow into the confident person I am today. It’s all about experimentation, trying different aesthetics, and being true to what makes you feel good in your own skin. Listen to your body, listen to the signals going off in your brain when you think you’ve found a good combo, and don’t be afraid to try new things.

We follow these formulas loosely, because nothing matters more than what you like. There’s nothing wrong with throwing out the equations and putting on something you're comfortable with. There’s nothing wrong with going out of your comfort zone with a bolder look.

Fashion isn’t for any viewer or spectator, and it’s not supposed to be a way in which you’re perceived. Take fashion’s hand and your brain tells you what looks good on you. Anyone else’s opinion will never matter.

Stay styling and have fun playing math games with these formulas!