Do You Know Why Your Favorite Outfits Are Your Favorite Outfits?

Garment Dye Crop Tank (Los Angeles Apparel) Vindy Linen Rib Skirt (Amour Vert)

This is definitely one of my most loved looks this summer. Ask me why.

Most of us have a favorite outfit that we continue to reach for time and time again. We stand in front of our closet, consider our many options and after we’ve given it a lot of thought…we grab old faithful. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, “What would it be like if I had an entire wardrobe made up of favorite outfits?” Using intentional shopping habits and a bit of critical thinking, I think it’s possible. I believe that uncovering the reasons why old faithful is your best-loved outfit can help you create a more satisfying wardrobe.

One of my favorite outfits this summer was pairing my cotton cropped tank with my cotton/linen stretchy rib skirt and then throwing on my Birkenstock sandals. There’s a few reasons why this outfit works well for me. The most obvious is comfort. I tend to gravitate towards fabrics that are soft to the touch and silhouettes that are non-constricting. I prefer my clothing to be lightweight and breathable to more easily cope with the summer heat and humidity. Both my tank and skirt check these boxes. My Birks are supportive enough to wear all day even when there’s a lot of walking involved.

Another important consideration for me when building an outfit is color. There are a few colors that I’ve decided I look and feel best in and cream is one of them. It complements my skin tone and hair color and makes me feel light, bright and summery. In my smaller wardrobe it is pretty critical that my closet be made up of items with colors that harmonize together. I’ve made an effort to be very selective with color when choosing to add a new item to my wardrobe. This selectiveness ensures more versatility within my closet. Wearing a monochromatic outfit such as this one is an excellent way to enhance your look. I use the term monochromatic to describe an outfit composed of pieces that are all the same color or different hues of the same color. There’s a reason why so many fashion influencers recommend monochromatic outfits in an effort to look chic; [whispers*] there’s actual science behind it. If you’re not familiar with much color theory, I suggest reading about it. Not only do I find it fascinating, but some information can really help one to understand why some colors clash and others harmonize within the context of our wardrobe.

The structure/cut of these pieces emphasize the parts of my body I like the most. I love the square lines of this tank top which contrasts the softer, curvier lines of the skirt. This tank is made of a slightly thicker cotton so instead of draping, or following the curves of my body, the fabric has some structure to it. A square neckline provides a little bit of nuance that sets it apart from other more traditional necklines and I appreciate that I can show little peeks of my summer skin at the neck and at my midriff, but tastefully so. This skirt sits perfectly at the smallest part of my waist to accentuate that part of me. I prefer this look of a high waisted bottom combined with a cropped length top to balance the proportions of my longer torso and shorter legs.

I think it’s worth noting that in a small wardrobe it’s important to pay attention to how individual pieces fit into the large scale puzzle that is your overall style narrative. My tank and skirt combo perfectly illustrate my personal style. I truly appreciate a laid back silhouette, but prefer to mix up my look by adding a contrasting piece. In this outfit my relaxed fitting cropped tank is the epitome of laid back summer style, but by adding a slightly formal skirt I feel like my outfit exudes the perfect balance of casual + formal. This balance makes it easy for me to transition from running errands to grabbing dinner at a restaurant. I love both pieces individually as much as I love them when worn together. Since I have adopted this mantra of buying intentionally I have collected pieces that bring me joy to wear over and over again. I own less items, but have a special appreciation for each. In my past life as a shopaholic I owned so many items that it was impossible to appreciate what I had. If I had items that accurately portrayed my style they were lost to the Heap of No Intention, buried under infinite colors, styles, trends and general mess. Thankfully, those days are gone.

Here’s the part where I challenge you to do something. Put on one of your favorite outfits and ask yourself how it makes you feel. Does it make you feel confident, strong, happy, attractive? Then ask yourself why those items in particular make you feel this way. Try to identify details you like such as color, fabric, structure/cut, casual or professional/formal, relaxed or fitted. Your preferences may look different from mine and that’s ok. By honing in on the details of your favorite looks you will find it easier to replicate similar outfits and/or add pieces to your wardrobe that have some or many of these attributes in common.

Until I began this intentional journey I didn’t pay much attention to why wearing certain pieces/outfits made me feel more confident or more like myself. Once I started to ask myself why I was drawn to specific pieces in my closet or when shopping at a store— I realized that I could build a wardrobe full of items that make me feel like my best self. I realized that I could feel great about what I was wearing most days, at every occasion: at work, on the couch or out on the trail. This realization was empowering. I could take ownership of my closet and use my knowledge and creativity to create a wardrobe that inspires and encourages a positive mental health. How we dress affects how we feel about ourselves and the world around us. When we feel like our best selves we are better able to think and live in the present moment. In the present moment we find our happiness.

Thanks for reading.

Chance of Showers