What is an Outfit Formula and Why should You have one?
What is an Outfit Formula?
An outfit formula. also called an outfit recipe, is a template for how to pull together an outfit. It is a bit like a uniform, but it doesn’t tell you exactly what to where, but gives you a formula for what might go together. If you wear an identical navy suit with a button-up white shirt every day, that’s a uniform. While navy pants and jacket with a white top would be an outfit formula.
All the outfits below have a different look and feel, but they were all created using the same outfit formula:
Earrings
Thigh length topper
Regular length top
Skinny pants
Why have an Outfit Formula?
“For me it’s the easier morning outfit selection”
Having one or more outfit formulae can help you put together stylish outfits that quickly while still enabling creativity in your outfits.
If you have ever looked in your wardrobe and had no idea what to wear, then having a few go-to outfit formulae may be for you. Simply pick an item and an outfit formulae it goes in and work from there.
Having an outfit formula (or two) also helps you convey a consistent style or image to the rest of the world.
If you have ever purchased an item and had no idea what to wear it with when you got home, then an outfit formula may help. If the item forms part of one of your outfit formulae then its more likely to go with the other items in your wardrobe. If it doesn’t, and you can you think of a new outfit formulae that would work for you, then you have just opened up multiple outfits to wear with your new purchase. However, if you can’t think of an outfit formula that would use it, it might end up being an orphan or a one-hit-wonder in your wardrobe.
Once you have one outfit that works for your body shape, understanding the outfit formula behind it can help you create looks more outfits that will work for you - making you BeYouTiful your way.
In the picture below the long topper works better with the pants and the short topper with the skirt. So that I get the right cardigan with the right bottoms in other outfits, I have different types of topper in my outfit formulae for pants and skirts.
Outfit formula can help when packing too. A topper that works pants in one outfit formula might not work with skirts. Packing with outfit formulae in mind can ensure that everything you pack will work with multiple items in your bag.
Things you can consider in your outfit formula
Outfit formula can be as simple or as complex as you like. You don’t have to include every item in your outfit - jeans and T-shirt - is a simple outfit formula. Whereas floral print top, coloured A-line skirt and 3-inch heels in the colour of the flowers, bag and earring to match the background of the floral print would be a more complex formula.
Here are a list of things to think about when coming up with your outfit formula:
Style
Colour
Print style
Where to locate prints and linking pieces
Shoes
Bags
Jewellery
You may also like to think about the occasions that suit your outfit formula. For example, you may have summer and winter formulae, or work and date night formulae.
Outfit formulae To Inspire
Coming up with your own outfit formulae the first time can be hard, so today I have pulled together examples of some of my favourites.
Each of this examples is based on wearing skinny jeans. And for each example, I have tried to show how Outfit Formulae don’t need to be restrictive, but can be used to start an outfit to which you can add the finishing touches - be it adding a necklace, earrings or your different styles of item that still fit the formula.
What’s your favourite outfit formula?
If you have a favourite outfit formula, or try out one of these, I would love to here about it, you can comment be,ow, tag me @basic2beyoutiful on Instagram or email me.
Outfit Formula 1. Skinny Pants + Thigh Length Topper + Ankle boots
Outfit Formula 2. Skinny Pants + Statement Jumper
Outfit Forumula 3. Skinny Pants, Top, Structured Jacket
More Outfit Formulae
For more inspiration, I’ve pulled together some outfit formulae from across Pinterest here.
If this all seems too difficult, I would love to help out. Helping people find their best outfit formulae is one of my favourite parts about being a colour and image consultant.
101 Series
This article is part of a series of articles of introductory articles. If you liked it, you might like to read more about the basics of colour and style.
CREDITS:
Photography from Gina Kingston
