Friends, life gets super busy. Whether you’re married, single, child free, or a member of a huge family, your schedule fills up FAST. It’s just the pace of the world right now. But, when you can get a foothold in the chaos and prepare for each day, you can achieve that idyllic feeling of peace and control!
Lots of people budget, meal prep, and write out detailed calendars. But, another great way of preparing for what’s to come is planning a week’s worth of outfits all at once. Getting your clothes together at the beginning of the week has a ton of benefits, and it’s really easy to do. Let me tell you all about my process:
How to Plan Your Outfits for the Week
Pick your planning day.
I usually plan all my outfits on Sunday, however, not everyone has the same schedule as me! Choose a day where you’ll have ample time to prepare your outfits for the next seven days. If you do meal prepping and other weekly planning, get your outfits together on the same day. It’s an easy way to remember to get it done while you’re still working on making it a habit!
Check the forecast.
Next, it’s time to check the weather for the week! Especially in this transitional season, it’s important to look at the forecast before you plan your outfits. Some days are super cold in the morning and blazing hot in the afternoon. And, at some point here in Chicago, the temperature will just drop for the season. It’s always super unexpected and usually catches us all off guard!
When you decide what to wear based on the weather, not only will you be fashionable, but you’ll also be comfortable! Layers are the name of the game this time of year, so you can pile on those warm clothes in the cool mornings and strip them down for the hot afternoons.
Visualize your day ahead.
Next, before assembling your outfits, you need to visualize what your days will be like. Is it a long work day? Is it a half day at work followed by an office party? A shopping day with friends? An anniversary trip? A casual day of cleaning? Something in between?
Once you know what you’ll be doing, you can better plan for the most stylish and functional outfit possible. This is one of the beauties of outfit planning! No rushing around to put something together, only to kick yourself later for wearing tall heels for Saturday morning errands. When you visualize your day, your outfit works for your lifestyle and fashion sense!
Start with basics.
If you’re just too overwhelmed by all the clothes in your closet, start with basics. This could be basic t-shirts, your go-to trousers, or neutral sweaters. You can read more about must-have wardrobe basics here.
When you start with these tonal basics, it’s really easy to layer on colors, textures, and accessories that fit the occasion. Basics are the perfect canvas for a really memorable ensemble! Start there and build up.
Consider building a capsule collection.
Speaking of basics, if you want to make your outfit creation even easier, consider making a capsule collection! This is essentially a curated wardrobe of 12 – 30 pieces that all go together. You can infinitely mix-and-match in a matter of minutes to assemble the perfect outfit for whatever the day brings. For an example of a fall wardrobe capsule, check out this post!
Use an organizer.
Next up, if you’re wardrobe planning, you need somewhere to put all those curated outfits. You can delegate a drawer in your dream closet or simply get some hanging garment storage shelves. I like the sweater ones, because they’re tall enough for my selected shoes and handbags too!
Think through make-up, hair, shoes, and accessories too.
Speaking of shoes and handbags, it’s time to think about other aspects of your outfit beyond the clothes! It’s great to assemble the outfit, but if your goal is saving time in the morning, you don’t want to be wasting time modeling different accessories and shoes to find the perfect fit. Consider all aspects of your look for the week!
And, don’t forget those costume changes!
Okay, maybe a “costume change” is a dramatic way of describing it. What I am talking about are those days where you go from a casual day of housework to a formal evening at a big event. Plan for both! What will you wear in the morning? And, what will you wear in the evening?
Prepare for whatever the day brings, even if that means curating 2-3 outfits for weekends or busy weekdays! After all, you don’t want to be late to supper with the in-laws, because after work you were scrambling to figure out what to wear. Like I said, plan ahead for EVERYTHING.
Benefits of Wardrobe Planning
More Time to Get it Right
One of the main benefits of wardrobe planning is the extra time you get from preparing ahead of time! Instead of having 1-2 hours in the morning to do ALL of your morning routine, you can take your time on a weekend or free weekday evening getting the perfect looks together. No rush and no stress!
This means your outfits will be more polished and more appropriate for your busy day. If you haven’t felt joy in putting your outfits together lately, this is a great way to fall back in love with fashion.
Style Experimentation
If your clothes don’t feel on-trend or fashion-forward, planning ahead is a great way to start experimenting with different styles! You have more time to spend on Pinterest and fashion blogs (like mine) to assemble unique looks.
Maybe your normally tonal outfits will now pop with color. Or, maybe your cottage core vibe will have a new edgy twist. When you prepare your looks, you have the opportunity to make your outfits sing!
Save money.
Do you ever clean out your closet and find all sorts of things you forgot you had? Well, when you plan out your outfits, you can reach all the way in the back of that wardrobe to find those long-forgotten pieces you can make new again!
Moreover, preparing your outfits will prevent you from buying duplicate clothing items when you totally forgot you already have something similar. So, really, planning your outfits will save you money and keep your wardrobe fresh.
Less Morning Stress
You can save time deciding on what to wear in the morning when you plan your outfits ahead of time. Just grab the stack and put it on, then you’re halfway ready for the day! You can have a zen morning grabbing a good breakfast, doing yoga, and meditating on the day ahead. How great does a stress-free morning like this sound?
Expect the Unexpected
You never know what’s going to happen in the morning. Maybe you oversleep. Maybe your car won’t start. Or, maybe you spill your coffee and need to brew a whole new pot. If you plan your outfits weekly, you’ll have extra time to deal with life’s curveballs. Planning your outfits saves you time, and that’s reason enough to go for it!
Productivity Boost
Planning anything gives you a productivity boost on both sides. Spending a day like Sunday preparing everything for the week gives you a little high as you check off all these boxes on your to-do list. It’s so exciting and motivating!
Additionally, on the days you benefit from your planning, you’ll get a productivity boost! Maybe, since you didn’t have to rush so much, you’re simply more productive because you’re in a better headspace at the start of the day Or, maybe you’re more productive because you’ll spend less time dressing and more time investing in yourself—whether you workout, read a book, or just start work early!
Planning a weekly wardrobe is a great way to save time and amplify your style!
So, what do you think? Will you start planning out your outfits for the week? It might be an excuse to do a whole closet remodel, too. And, let me tell you, there’s nothing that’ll make your home feel more luxurious and make you feel more pampered than a well-designed closet!
Anyway, I hope this helped you conceptualize how and why to plan your weekly looks. It’ll save you time and allow you to take some big leaps with your fashion sense! Give it a try for a month and tell me how it changed your mornings! And, don’t forget to check back weekly for more posts about all things style and design!
