Do you suffer from Closet Full of Nothing disorder? If so, how to plan an outfit in 4 easy steps is the pill for you.
CFON disorder affects women all over the world today. At one point or another, or perhaps chronically for most of us, we’ve all experienced its wrath. It deteriorates our inner fashionista over time and can lead to more impulse purchases, less money in our wallets, and a broken spirit of what was once our love for fashion. CFON disorder nearly took over my life. I was perpetually late and looked a mess because I lacked a clear vision. I was eager for a solution.
Being a long-time sufferer motivated me to finally take charge and develop a cure that has virtually turned my life around and made dressing up fun again. Using my tips will turn your CFON disorder into something manageable. You will soon find yourself saying, “I’m ready to conquer the world again! One outfit at a time and actually ON time.”
Step #1:
Comfort is key. Whether you’re a planner for the next day or a person who takes the day on in the AM without a full plan, look at weather. This will cut your outfit coordination time down drastically. If it’s hot, you can count out anything made of wool, cashmere, long sleeved, etcetera and vice versa for the chilly months. Then think about the day ahead and what you’ll be doing for the day. Taking the kids to the park? Wear shorts or pants. Doing some activity that will include a lot of walking? Skip the heels (unless you’re a super badass, then more power to you!)
Step #2 (in two parts):
- Pick your focal piece. Is it going to be a bright pair of shoes, a piece of jewelry, a print or brightly colored top? Bright shoes can be the focal point of an outfit if the rest of the outfit is muted or made up of neutral colors. If your clothing items are basic, like a t-shirt and jeans, pair it with a statement necklace or an assortment of layered necklace to jazz it up. Print tops are ideal when wearing simple accessories.
- When I’m picking my focal piece, I drag myself out of my comfort zone and wear something I haven’t worn in a while. It reminds me that my closet has more to offer than I realize and makes me feel like I’m not wearing the same clothes over and over. That only leads to the downward spiral of spending money on clothes you just don’t need. Say hello to Broke City!
All in all, the focal piece of your outfit should be what takes the outfit up a notch and makes you stand out. It brings you from #basic to #stylish.
Step #3
Don’t forget to accessorize. Change up your purse to coordinate with your outfit, or if you’re planning of an outfit did not include jewelry, pick some out. Always remember a very wise style tip coined by Coco Chanel: “Before leaving the house, a lady should look in the mirror and remove one accessory.” Over accessorizing can cheapen your outfit. By removing one accessory before leaving the house, you ensure you are not overdoing it. It keeps your outfit chic and saves it from becoming tacky.
Step #4
Coordinate your makeup and hair with your outfit. If your outfit is full of warm colors, complement that color scheme by doing a soft, warm eye. When it comes to the popular trend of monochromatic outfits (sometimes a girl just likes wearing black, okay?) add some color back into your look by either doing a pop of color on your lips or add some sparkle to the eyes with a dense, pigmented, shimmery eyeshadow. Jewelry can be a great focal piece of an outfit, but if you’re wearing beautifully bold statement earrings then put your hair up in a cute messy bun to show them off.
Now you’re ready to be on time while looking like you put in the time. If you have any style tips of your own, let me know in the comments!
I’ve suffered with chronic CFON disorder for years. Thank you, Sofia, for some really great ideas!