Thinking Ahead on the Whole Look

The Master List of Tiny Things that Make up an Outfit 

• Top 
• Top layer 2 (I pop a tank top under my blouses often)
• Bottoms (pants, skirt, leggings, shorts)
• Dress
• Lingerie (lacy bra, control foundations, etc.) 
• Outerwear: Sweater/jacket 
• Jewelry
• Shoes
• Purse
• Hair accessory

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have all your fun and creative oh-so-you outfits all ready to go? How about for the whole week?

I do this now, and let me tell you . . . what an amazing feeling!

You can too. How often do you see something in your closet you haven’t worn in a while and wondered when you would get the opportunity? Or, bought a fun piece you loved in the store but still haven’t taken the time to pair it with other pieces in your closet?

I am here to tell you that now is the time to bring those items you spent a pretty penny on out to play. Time to play dress up!

Like any habit we build for ourselves, it takes a how-to plan and that first step.

Initial Inspiration: Avoiding the Procrastinator in Me

In an earlier post, I relayed the tale of how I built a routine of planning my work outfits for the week ahead of time. I quit the hustle of putting an outfit together last minute, panicking, and then running late for work.

I had to change my strategy.

I love this habit hero! Habit hero meaning . . . a habit I created for myself that has solved problems. One I often think, “wow, what did I do before this?” I’m talking major time-saving capabilities here!

I am so thankful for friends (and very likely Pinterest) who have added to my inspiration to get started.

For me, it feels like I’ve set myself up for the entire week in this department and I don’t have to think about it anymore. What a relief…yet, also a joy.

You can see more on why it delights me so here. 

I don’t feel rushed. And then it occurred to me that I was providing time enough for myself to attend to all the details.

It’s like playing dress up. Remember that?

I can now conduct a little fashion show for myself. I can feel the glee of each beautiful item that I worked to find, purchase, and place strategically in my closet.

Perhaps you’ve never thought of choosing outfits in this way.

Perhaps you dislike choosing outfits, opting for the ordinary and the lowest common denominator.

Consider this: your whole life can change: be more fun, be more inspiring and confidence-building, if you take the time to embrace the privilege of choosing beautiful looks to complement your beautiful self.

Let’s Dig Deeper

Next, I’d like to share a bit more on how deep into this habit I really am- and what a breather it gives! Trust me.

Even when I initially would choose what top and pants to wear, steam and position on my door hanger for the week. . . there were other pieces needed to make my outfits feel complete and “ready to go.”

I would find myself still creating a mess with dresser drawers open, shoes in disarray, wearing the same earrings or none at all. All the while feeling frustrated and guilty that I was not as organized and put together as I aspired to be.

I was tired of spending the time picking up my own daily mini-chaos, whether right then making me run later, or in the evening after the long workday.

I knew the situation was avoidable.

I wanted to just grab the complete and perfect outfit in one fell swoop, put it on, and go. I am talking about each one of those beautiful components that can pair well together to create a stellar look.

I knew I wanted to better utilize all the accessories that sparkled at me when I flew in and out of my closet.

Possibly you, like me, get ready in dim lighting before 7am, perhaps when another is still sleeping. Who wants to think about coordinating an outfit, rattling around through the drawers and the closet?

I certainly don’t make the most inspired decisions that early.
So, I just got over myself and started! I took on my inspired challenge and wow, I really feel like I get my money’s worth now.

Join me and make a fun adventure of Dressing for It, whether it is your week of work outfits, creating fabulous looks for upcoming special occasions or packing for that long-planned vacation.
Not sure where to start?

Check out this website: www.dressingforit.com.
There you’ll find our wonderfully-equipped fashion gals, your personal outfitters, to virtually coach you in feeling and looking fabulous! We love it! And you will too!

Every woman loves having a second opinion, someone who understands the objective, someone who will tell the truth, and who knows how to give a boost of confidence.

Believe me, it feels fantastic to have your outfits “handled”!

Consider us your new online besties to elevate your look each day, no matter the occasion!

Details for an Extra-ordinary You!

As I started to build my elevated routine of incorporating all the essential pieces of an outfit and utilizing the beautiful things that I already have I thanked myself thoroughly.

It really occurred to me that I had been severely neglecting the details that can take an outfit beyond ordinary.

For example, I had a bunch of necklaces . . . but I rarely wore them. I had fun earrings and I only chose to rock them on special occasions. I had pretty tops I bought that no one got to see, and dresses I just dreamed about wearing, but still left in the closet with tags attached.

Then, there were ooh-la-la so many sets of pretty lacy lingerie. It had taken a long time to finally buy such pretty, sexy items for myself, yet I still hardly ever wore them.

What was I waiting for? I wasn’t really waiting for anything, I would simply forget about these beautiful pieces on a daily basis because I was in a rush.

Prior to my self-loving “habit hero”, I fell into the thoughts of needing a special occasion or a special person to wear the special jewelry or even the special lingerie for.

Then it hit me: why not now? Yes!

How about today on this random Tuesday to work, under a blouse plus a pretty pair of earrings to boost my outfit? Yes! How about just for me?

Absolutely!

Top Ten Essential Outfit Components

• Top 
• Top layer 2 (I pop a tank top under my blouses often)
• Bottoms (pants, skirt, leggings, shorts)
• Dress
• Lingerie (lacy bra, control foundations, etc.) 
• Outerwear: Sweater/jacket 
• Jewelry
• Shoes
• Purse
• Hair accessory

First, I choose tops and bottoms or dresses that inspire me for outfits I am creating ahead of time for myself for the week.

Next, bring out the steamer! (I have a little side-hustle at a high-end dress shop and over the years I have grown exponentially in my appreciation for a garment steamer ===== it is a MUST HAVE!)

Ditch the iron and ironing board and simplify your life! Mine is a mini steamer and it’s perfect to keep right under the bathroom sink and pull out once a week. I even travel with it! Check it out, here.

Once chosen and steamed, I pair together all the other pretty components like those accessories I have hanging and organized in drawers that sparkle at me when I open them. I literally put all of the individual pieces together on a single hanger.

I position the chosen shoes underneath the hanging outfit or right outside the closet ready to grab. No last minute wrinkles. No last minute decisions.

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. . . ready for the week!

Sounds fabulous, right?

Check out this outfit hanger. Life changer!

Slash the Boring, Up the Pretty

One of the fun things I discovered was that I realized I had ten bras. 10! They filled the whole drawer. Yet, I was only wearing 2 on a regular basis.

My boring routine was: “my nude bra or my black bra”? I seemed to think saving the fun ones for a special occasion was my only choice.

Now, I have even more and it’s become so motivating to “outfit” myself from head to toe.

I dare you to try it and feel the delight!

Go on. What bra have you been dying to wear? No one even knows. It’s all for you. It’s like that little “inside joke”.

Plot twist! You are now sexier and prouder. Now, walk that office hallway with a big smile, relishing your “inside joke,” and face your day!

More to come on pretty lacy things under our work clothes in a future post.

For now, give yourself permission to say YES to wearing the fun bras (and those pretty panties your brain just conjured) that make you smile . . . even under your oh-so-professional work clothes!

And don’t you worry. I plan to go in to detail about each one of those pretty little essential pieces to an outfit . . . coming soon.

Remember, you’re allowed and capable of stepping out of your comfort zone and soaking up all those statement pieces, simply chic bags, bangles in every color, etc. in your closet. Be as stylish, colorful and bold as you desire for your work week outfits.

Once you get in the routine of pairing pieces together, you’ll be unstoppable with a habit hero!

Put all those little delights together on a hanger or easily accessible to you and Voila! You’re ready!

No more ordinary, no more rushing, no more agonizing!

And here to help is www.dressingforit.com. Check us out. We even have an available consultation virtual session to answer questions for you and talk to you about your closet and outfitting emotions and needs. You are important.

One More Tid Bit Just For You

Remember, in decorating a room or in creating visual art a single focal point is important. Your face is that most important focal point here and with every outfit. Keep that in mind as you assemble your ensembles.

Creating a complete outfit isn’t about following rules or having a closet full of new clothes. It’s about learning how the pieces you already own can work together and let you shine. When your shoes, handbag, jewelry, and clothing all have a purpose, getting dressed feels easier and more enjoyable.

Go get em’ beautiful! Hope this inspired.