Everything You Need To Know About Outfit Formulas!

What if you start seeing each piece inside your closet as an ingredient to a recipe?

Imagine you’re baking a cake. If you already have 2 lbs of flour sitting in your pantry, would you go to the store and buy more? Probably not. You’d use what you already have, right?

The same idea applies to your closet. Instead of constantly feeling like you need more, try “shopping your closet” first. You might discover you already have all the ingredients to create incredible outfits—you just need the right recipe!

That’s where outfit formulas come in 👏🏼

They simplify your life by giving you go-to combinations that work for your personal style and lifestyle. And with a practical mindset focused on quality over quantity, you’ll find it’s easier to love your wardrobe every day.

The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Outfit Formulas! By Ways Of Style

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What’s an Outfit Formula?

Just like you’d combine ingredients to whip up your favorite meal, an outfit formula is simply a combo of wardrobe pieces that come together to create a look you love.

And the best part? Once you find formulas that fit your personal style and lifestyle, you’ll save time, stress less, and always have go-to looks that feels like you (no matter the occasion).

For example, a formula like “basic tee + blazer + jeans + sneakers“ is as timeless as a chocolate chip cookie recipe. It works every time, it’s adaptable, and you can put your own spin on it based on what’s already in your closet.

Having a few trusty outfit formulas can help you:

⏳ Get dressed faster

💃🏻 Feel more confident in your style

🤑 Make the most of what you already own

Nailing outfit formulas can make your closet feel more exciting and less overwhelming!

Deconstructing other people’s outfit formulas:

One of the easiest ways to create your own outfit formulas is by using inspiration from others. Whether you’re scrolling through Pinterest, Instagram, or seeing a look you love on someone in real life, the key is to deconstruct the outfit instead of trying to replicate it exactly. Here’s how it works👇🏼

Step 1: you see a cute outfit and your mind immediately goes to ‘I want everything she’s wearing’
Step 2: you tell yourself that you know better now, and instead re-program your brain to think ‘I’m going to break down what outfit formula she’s using’

Step 3: You figure out the outfit formula and realize ⬇️

Striped Sweater + Wide Leg Jeans + Brown Leather Booties + Belt + Crossbody Bag

🪄 turns into 🪄

Sweater + Jeans + Booties + Accessories

Now this is where the fun comes in! It’s time to customize it.

Go to your closet and pull out similar pieces. Maybe you don’t own a striped sweater, but you have a solid-colored one or a different print. No wide leg jeans? Use any jean or even pants! The goal is to recreate the vibe of the outfit with what you already own.

I’m not saying don’t ever shop (I love shopping), but I’m sharing this to help you shop smarter and with more intention.

Another example: if the outfit you love features white sneakers, but you only own black ones, use the black ones. Or if you see a look with a leather jacket, but you only have a denim jacket, swap it out.

An outfit formula isn’t about specific items; it’s about categories of pieces.

Does your closet pass this test?

With this fun quiz you can evaluate the state of your closet in less than 2 minutes!

After assessing where you’re at, I’ll send you a free email course that will help you purge your closet and find your own personal style! Answer the 7 questions below to get started 👇🏼

My Go-To Outfit Formulas For Every Season!

Remember you can use whatever you have in your closet, so I’m just sharing this to inspire you. I’m keeping the outfit formulas pretty generic on purpose.

🥶 Winter Outfit Formula: Sweater Dress or Skirt + Tights + Booties + Accessories

One of my favorite ways to create cute & warm winter outfits is by focusing on tights + booties.

If you take out your warm tights and booties first, then you’ll find it easier to add the rest of the ‘ingredients’.

In my case I use either a skirt or a dress, and then I add accessories and other layering pieces like a vest or jacket. This is how that looks like in action 👇🏼

🍂 Fall Outfit Formula: Sweater + Jeans + Shoes of your Choice + Layering Piece (if needed) + Accessories + Jewelry

For the fall example I’m focusing on my most used outfit formula! And it all starts with jeans and a sweater.

Sounds simple right!? Well, it is! After you pick those 2, you can basically add any shoes, an extra layering piece of your choice, and accessories depending on the occasion. Pay attention to the next 10 looks… it all started with jeans and a sweater!

The rest depends on the occasion.

🎯 Check out my fall capsule wardrobe here!

🌸 Spring Outfit Formula: Take out ALL your DENIM pieces!

So now we’re getting a little bit more advanced. But that’s ok, because I know you’re starting to get the hang of all of this! There are other ways to create outfit formulas, and that’s with colors, fabrics and textures.

To get started, the first thing you have to do is to decide what your focus will be: in this case denim.

And the easiest way to do this is by taking out all the denim pieces you own and start mix and matching. Then you focus on adding seasonal accessories and shoes. That’s it!

Pro tip: if you’re just getting started, wear seasonal pieces and add your denim jacket on top!

🎯 Check out my spring capsule wardrobe here!

😎 Summer Outfit Formula: Dress (or top & bottom set) + Any Shoes + Accessories of your Choice + Dainty Jewelry

And last but not least, we have summer! This one in my opinion, it’s the easiest season to get dressed for because you need so little!

So because I haven’t included many looks with dresses, let’s keep it simple for summer, shall we?

You can do 2 things: pair your summer dresses with white sneakers, espadrilles or sandals, or ‘fake’ your own dresses by wearing a top & bottom set or dressing head to toe in the same color.

Accessorize at the end with whatever you like :)

🎯 Check out my summer capsule wardrobe here!

👉🏻 I can’t emphasize this enough: To create outfit formulas quickly and effortlessly, your closet needs to be filled with high-quality pieces that fit you well and make you feel amazing.

And no, “high-quality” doesn’t always mean expensive! Building a wardrobe like this takes time, but the best time to get started? ALWAYS TODAY! (take this free QUIZ and I’ll help you with that!)

Summary: 5 Easy Tips to Create Your Own Outfit Formulas:

1️⃣ Start with What You Have: Look at your closet with fresh eyes! Before shopping, try experimenting with the pieces you already own—you might be surprised by the combinations you can create.

2️⃣ Stick to What Works: Pay attention to the outfits you already love wearing and break them down into “formulas.” For example, if you love wearing blouses with jeans and ankle boots, write that down and repeat it with slight variations.

3️⃣ Keep It Flexible: An outfit formula doesn’t have to be exact! If you see a formula with a “white button-down shirt,” feel free to swap it for any button-down in your closet. The key is to adapt the outfit formula to your wardrobe and personal style.

4️⃣ Focus on Versatility: Neutral colors and pieces you can dress up or down will make your outfit formulas even more versatile. Pro tip: Add in one or two prints for variety!

5️⃣ Write Them Down: Yes, really! Jot down a few formulas that already work for you. Seeing them in writing makes it easier to replicate them without overthinking. It also doesn’t hurt to take mirror selfies of the outfits you truly like. This will help you recreate the same outfit formula for future looks!

Brands That Make It Easy On You! (some brands just LOVE outfit formulas!)

When you’re focusing on creating outfit formulas and making the most of your wardrobe, where you shop really matters. Investing in quality over quantity not only makes your life easier but also helps you build a closet full of versatile, timeless pieces you’ll love for years to come.

⭐️ And the best part? You don’t need a huge closet to be able to do this. In fact, the smaller your closet is, the easier it is to get dressed!

I recommend that you take my closet QUIZ here, I’ll teach you how to purge your closet (for free) and then you can start thinking about crafting your perfect wardrobe.

Here’s where you can shop high quality, sustainable pieces that not only will last you forever, but they’ll never go out of style ⬇️

Quince: Known for its affordable luxury staples, Quince focuses on high-quality fabrics like silk, cashmere, and organic cotton. Their pieces are timeless and work beautifully in a capsule wardrobe.
Everlane: A leader in sustainable fashion, Everlane offers clean, minimalistic designs that are perfect for creating outfit formulas. Their items are well-made, versatile, and ethically produced.

ABLE: This brand is all about ethical practices and creating beautiful wardrobe staples. From chic blouses to durable denim, ABLE makes pieces designed to last and elevate your closet.
Eileen Fisher: A pioneer in sustainable fashion, Eileen Fisher creates clothing that blends comfort, style, and timelessness. Their pieces are perfect for creating a sophisticated, effortless look.
Marine Layer: Loved for its ultra-soft fabrics and easygoing style, Marine Layer creates versatile, high-quality pieces that are perfect for layering and crafting unique outfit formulas.

Outfit Formulas & Capsule Wardrobes:

Outfit formulas and capsule wardrobes go hand in hand. A capsule wardrobe is essentially the pantry stocked with ingredients you love, while outfit formulas are the recipes you create with them.

With fewer, high-quality pieces, you’ll find it’s easier to create endless combinations and feel more confident in what you’re wearing.

Ready to see how this works in real life?

I’ve put together a guide called “30 Pieces, 100 Outfits” to show you exactly how to maximize your wardrobe. It’s packed with real life examples and tips to help you simplify your closet and get dressed with ease.

👉🏻 This capsule wardrobe guide is part of my ‘Styling Bundle’ – it’s $17 for 17 guides!

Have questions? Ask in the comments. I’m always happy to help! ♥️

Thanks for reading,

XO,

Aimara

PS: Take the FREE closet score quiz here! It will help you assess the state of your closet and I’ll let you know what to do next! (it’s all free)

About The Author:

Hi, my name is Aimara and I am the voice behind Ways of Style. I was born and raised in Venezuela until the age of 27 when I moved to Chicago, and 2 years later I met my best friend and husband. We now travel full time and live out of a carry-on bag, so believe me, I know a thing or two about how to maximize every single piece I own.

I love creating new looks, and looking cute while I’m traveling. And in this blog, I try to share all my outfits, even if I don’t have the best photos ;) My goal is to help you maximize every piece you have in your closet and to encourage you to live with less things.

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