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Why do I resist night-before outfit planning?

unfrumped

Veteran

This is for the psychoanalysts out there. Or fellow YLF'ers on the couch.

a) I do spend time on outfit creation and come up with a lot, and even have some things tagged for what to wear with what. I don't have an organized outfit "photo lineup" , though.
b) I occasionally plan out my outfit the night before, hang the items together, and usually feel great that I did, and getting ready is easier and faster.
c) Overall, I notice that still I tend not to plan the night before or not commit, and then grab stuff and may or may not be happy with it. So, I want less a.m. hassle.
d) Some of my experimenting with new silhouettes or styles, and the "necessary" footwear, creates proportion-criteria that need to be met, so not all items go together. OTOH, I'm making progress in keeping/collecting more versatile items and focusing silhouettes--shoes that go with both skirts and pants, tops that tuck or untuck, sweaters that go with both skirts and pants. So in theory it's easier to grab and go, but not infallible.

So, I need to change, or the lightbulb needs to want to change, or something.
Not sure whether I ought to:
1-work very hard on 30-days of night-before outfit pre-selection, saying that's a good habit I want to make happen;
2- or, embrace my morning getting-dressed ADD and make my wardrobe more fool-proof
3- or, preselect a week at a time and use only one kind of "capsule" (which my inner child might find more restrictive than just committing to the next day, but the selection process would be less often)
4--some combination (often the correct answer on standardized tests!)
5--other; none of the above

I'm actually focused on #2 right now, since it seems good under any circumstances. That's a combination of the ever-true "items you love" and the signature sihouette (s). I'm not committed to total versatility, where every top goes with every bottom and with every shoe because it's proven very difficult to achieve, and I am picky enough to notice when proportions are off. But maybe somehow I've been trying to have too large a menu and need to be more committed to fewer, best "looks".

How about you? Do you change yourself or your wardrobe or both? I'm not talking about negative self-talk but about useful habits; more analogous to the benefits of other organizing skills and habits; or tailoring the environment to your own personality--how to get the right balance?

33 replies

Latest reply was from unfrumped

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

When I had an office job, I planned a whole week of outfits ahead of time. The night before was too iffy - sometimes I would be too busy or just not feel like it. But I could usually find some time somewhere in the weekend to think about what events I had coming up, and any items I wanted to wear for various reasons. Then I'd put five days of whole outfits together in my closet, and each morning pick the one that seemed most appropriate or interesting to me right then. I usually ended up changing up one or two days either a little bit or completely, especially by the end of the week when all I wanted was something suitable and non-fussy, but it helped a lot and encouraged me to wear my dressier and less 'throw it on' items.

What is it that you're stuck with most - planning ahead, or wanting to wear it when it's morning?

Liz

Veteran

I'd start with nailing down the problem you're trying to solve. "Putting together outfits the night before" is a solution. But what is the exact problem?

Examples:
* I am rushed in the mornings and need to streamline my time.
* I feel like I take too much time dithering over outfits in the mornings.
* I am often unhappy with how I look in the outfit I've put together.
* I am not satisfied with how my wardrobe items are working together.

Once you know what problem you're trying to solve, you'll have an easier time with nailing down the solution.

Alassë

Veteran

Very good thoughts, unfrumped. I mostly use #3, with occasional bouts of #1 (not necessarily 30 outfits, but trying on a whole whack at once). I also make sure I follow #2 (except for new silhouettes [back to #1]) - I know x-type tops will go with all y bottoms.

Especially at the turn of the season, I find it helpful to try on all possible fall/spring/whatever outfits. Then I write down all those combos for use in #3, where I pick from them each week (rearranging if I really feel like it or a dud slips through).

rabbit

Veteran

Well right now my outfit selection is determined by two things (besides weather and what I'm going to be doing). I bought many clothes especially at the beginning of the year, and my goal is to try out as many potentially good combinations as I can (for fun and to identify great outfits for the future) and also to lower the CPW of individual items (so I tend to want to wear certain pieces more often, but also to wear ALL of my seasonally appropriate closet).

To make it simpler, I keep a running list of outfits I want to try, either that I identified when bringing a new item home and doing a massive try on, or things that just occur to me throughout the day that incorporate items that I want to wear more.

I choose one or two of these and move it to a 'wear this tomorrow' line item, which I update when I log my outfit for the day in excel. So I'm not pulling things out, but I have one or two outfit ideas ready to go in the morning. I might switch around toppers and shoes or something depending on weather, but it makes it pretty easy to roll out quickly.

catgirl

Veteran

I do this too, and I could really use it considering how different my weeks can be. Part of it is the weather. I've been dressing for early fall when we are close to snow in reality. And I'm fickle already!

I'm thinking of setting aside a space in my closet to hang outfit options for a week, and allowing myself to choose within it day by day. So no plan for a specific day, but a week's worth of options. Like giving a child a choice of vegetables....

Joy

Veteran

Even though I'm mostly at home, I still like to lay out an outfit the night before after listening to the weather forecast on the evening news and consulting my calendar. I couldn't do 30 days or even a week ahead. I may even gather 2 outfits depending on how I feel in the morning. This helps me get to 6:45 am Mass on time and jump starts my day. It also really helps to try on possible outfits at the beginning of a season and write down or take a photo of some that I like.

unfrumped

Veteran

Laura, yes, by the time it's the night before, energy is low. So longer advance planning and doing it at a higher energy point is good.

Liz, exactly so--most of those, mostly 1 and 2 with 3 and 4 getting less. So I know I have outfits that work well, but I don't always just do it. So I've really been thinking it's too many options as much or more as not good enough. So I've really been factoring that into decisions about tossing and about buying new items. Or if not going truly minimal, to select a 4- 6-week capsule (s) for the approximate weather season.

Gigi

Veteran

Interesting analysis! I myself don't like to preplan my outfits because I am a mood dresser, and what I think I want to wear the night before is not usually the same thing I want to wear the next morning. Is this part of your issue?

I guess if I were in your shoes, I would create several FFBO outfits in different styles. Maybe start by thinking of the outfits that you have really liked in the past, and make a log (it can just be on paper, without pictures). I have a styling log that has four columns: Top, Bottom, Shoes, Other (Other is for belts and jewelry and the like).

Or, if you're a glutton for punishment, you could make the styling log include almost everything in your wardrobe. I like Alassë's idea of doing a styling log seasonally. Like her, I try on a given item and then write down everything that goes with it (in the columns given above). It is a lot of work, but it has been very helpful to me when getting ready in a hurry—I just look at my closet and decide on *one* item that I want to wear that day, and then I look at the log and see everything I can pair it with.

JAileen

Veteran

When I worked I washed and ironed everything during the weekend and so had everything available to me, unless something was at the cleaners. I didn't plan everything out, but had an idea in my head of what went with what, what was my favorite outfit, and whether I had anything special coming up and if I would want to save my favorite outfit for that special day.

Susie

Veteran

What has been working well for me is to put together 10, 15 or 20 outfits (depending on the number of work weeks I am planning) and make a list of those. Then in the morning I choose one of those, depending on weather, what my day looks like and just how I am feeling that day. I leave choosing shoes and bag for the morning when I get dressed because they are fairly easy to decide on.

Prior to doing this, I would think of 1 piece to wear, then something else, then flit on to another thing until I wasted so much time that I finally just grabbed something.. Too often I ended up with a 'meh' outfit or chose the same pieces more frequently than I liked.

Now I look forward to getting dressed in the morning!

Meli

(website)

I just recently started night-before for myself. I do my daughters (almost 2 and her father gets her ready & drops her off since I leave before they are up) and then I do my own. So much simpler!!!! I never planned in advance because I'm too fickle but night before is just recent enough to not feel the need to do it over.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Being at home, I have more flexibility with time, most mornings, and it's a good thing, because I tend to be a mood dresser.

For me, weather is pretty much the determiner -- that, and the nature of the day's activities.

My work-at-home days are pretty much all variations of my "uniform," which varies by season but is otherwise pretty constant. In fall/ winter/ early spring that means: Denim (or stretchy pants/ leggings) with knit pullover (possibly layered over a shirt) or cardigan layered over a shirt. (In summer this becomes shorts and woven top or linen tee and belt.)

Anyway...the colours vary but the outfit is the same, so there's not much to worry about. I confess to getting bored of this from time to time, but there's not a lot I can do about it and I certainly can't complain that I waste a lot of time dithering. I just pick the sweater that feels "happiest" to me that day, and call myself dressed.

It's different when I'm going to be out in the world seeing other people, so I understand your issue. You want to present yourself a certain way when others are part of the equation.

Mostly for me this still means a variation on my uniform -- i.e. I add a jacket, or change up the footwear or throw on a scarf. No big decision.

But sometimes I will change the silhouette. For that, I often rely on Angie's ensembles.

When I know I have a bunch of engagements or outside the house days coming up, I usually do a bit of pre-planning. Like this week I'll be attending our local Writers' Festival and going to a number of social events including lunches, two birthday parties, etc. I'm going to set aside some time tomorrow to plan outfits and try on.

Also, when I'm going to travel, I definitely plan my travel capsule in advance. For longer trips I try to make it mix and match and layer-able. For shorter trips I might simply do it by outfit. I did this just a few days ago for a four day trip. One outfit for travelling (it was a cooler day). One outfit for giving a presentation on the next day (warmer weather). Still another outfit for the following day, a VERY warm day spent taking my mother on errands. And back to the travel outfit for my return (again, it was a cooler day). This is like a version of what Susie does for her regular work days. Plan by outfit. I took a look at the forecast and just went ahead with it. I also brought along a few extra tops, just in case -- but mostly I knew how I'd be doing things.

Anyway, this is awfully long winded, but I guess I want to say that while I think it's perfectly okay to be a mood dresser (I basically am one) -- I also think that if you're unhappy with your outfits or uncomfortable, committing to a bit of preplanning with some built in flexibility is a good idea. So, for instance, you might decide on the SILHOUETTE the night before -- and vary the top or topper or footwear in the morning depending on weather.

Diana

Veteran

I generally don't preplan outfits because I'm a mood dresser like gigi mentions above, and I have the luxury of a flexible schedule. Still, I do lay out my outfit for important things (say, an interview) or when I have to get out the door really early, before coffee and all that, as in that case I'm liable to grab mismatched socks or something in my sleep-deprived daze.

Quietgirl

Veteran

I don't change myself as much as my priorities change.( I know I am a procrastinator. I often end up putting off things until morning that I could do the night before.)

I have began to prioritize looking great (last 3 years or so) I started taking a day to work my closet....change the season (like for fall), purge and lay out outfits and photograph them. I kept a little photo book in the closet that I would flip through so I don't have to reinvent the wheel each time I get dressed.

I still do that in a simplified way through my Stylebook App. When Angie posts on her blog, I grab my Ipad and add her capsule with my own clothing. http://youlookfab.com/2014/09/.....al-dressy/

I often put more items in the LOOK than I will actually wear. It allows me to change it up a bit, but still recall what is in my closet that works with the outfit.

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Aida

Veteran

Unfrumped, is it possible that you've got some mood dresser in you? As Diana mentioned, sometimes I'm just not in the mood to wear what I'd laid out the night before. In fact it's nearly always. I've pretty much accepted that to feel my best I have to have the right outfit that day, which means that I have to come up with it that day. For bigger events I will pre-plan (and often several outfits, in the case that I'm not in the right mood for it when the day comes), and I also keep a little list of FFBO as well as some other outfit ideas on days that I either have no time or no energy to be creative.

It may be worth doing a mix of those action items you listed, if anything just to figure out which method is really the one that makes you feel best. Plan 2-3 weeks worth of outfits and start wearing them (pick from the list, as Susie mentioned). Or spend 2-3 weeks where you pick an outfit the night before and wear it the next day, regardless of mood; see how it makes you feel, or how it affects your outfit decisions. I'm not sure capsule is the way to go for you, I get the impression that your wardrobe isn't maximal or that you have trouble with occasion dressing. An alternative to this would be to come up with some personal favorite formulas or silhouettes, and use that as your reference when getting dressed in the morning.

If it wasn't too clear, my answer to your question of "Do you change yourself or your wardrobe or both?" is that I change the wardrobe. Clothes can be tweaked to fit my needs, I'm here to stay

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I'm a mood dresser, for sure. On the mornings that I'm madly grasping for something that I feel good wearing, though, I wish I were more of a planner. So I'm reading these responses with interest. One thing that occurs to me is that I often must build my outfit from the shoes up. I decide on my shoes, based on the weather and what I'm going to be doing. Then the rest of the outfit follows. I think that's part of why I have been agonizing over just the right oxfords. I want them to be no-brainer comfort shoes but also a style I really yearn to wear.

Staysfit

Veteran

Wow Unfrumped, this is a great post, and I'm learning a lot by everyone's responses! I don't have any sound advice for you but I am picking up useful information that I think I can put to use for myself. Maybe it's helpful to know you are not alone with your struggle? I have never really thought about this so thoroughly before, and I have to admit that I have morning ADD! I have dressed by picking one item and then figuring out what else may work with it and then changing it if I don't like it, and sometime starting over again, etc. I always thought it was my sleepiness or what I call morning fog. I have rarely planned ahead, and I really should because I am frequently running late, especially the days I go to my Pilates instructor at 7am before work, and have to pack my work clothes in a bag and head out the door. (I just can't get my act together to do that the night before!).

I love the idea of some pre-planned outfits. I have a limited number of silhouettes so it shouldn't be hard to figure out what goes with what and perhaps keep track of this in some form that I can easily refer to in my closet. I have both a weather issue, and a mood issue meaning whether or not I feel like wearing a particular item on a given day. Both are very unpredictable, so I have to wait until the morning to know, but if I have a range of prepared options, I could choose from the proper category. I can imagine creating a clothing menu based on a temperature gradient. There would be outfits to go with each 10 degree increment. Then I would list proper footwear and coats depending on the precipitation outside, rain, snow, dry, etc. The upfront work may take some effort, but it sounds like it would save some time in the mornings.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Agreeing with Aida. When I worked FFOs were essential for "those" mornings. It's like cooking imo it doesn't matter how much great food we have in the fridge (or clothes in the wardrobe) unless we know how to put them together we'll end up stressed.

Aziraphale

Veteran

OK, well, first off, I have this problem too. At six in the morning, I will resort to the most comfortable things in my closet, and often the "safest" silhouette. This results in me wearing the same jeans and shoes over and over again.

The ONLY way that I've found around this -- so that sometimes skirts get love too! As well as more involved pants outfits -- is to plan the night before and lay the clothes out. For me, there is no other way. If I merely have a vague plan the night before, I will still get up the next morning (in the dark) and pull on boyfriend jeans, a tee shirt and Converse. (Not that there's anything wrong with that combination; it's just that I would wear it as an unvarying uniform if I didn't make an effort not to). If I lay out a combination that I'm not sure about, I'll try it on quickly to make sure.

I do strive for a certain amount of simplification with my wardrobe, though. For me, having more than one silhouette that I employ is complication enough. (I'm picky about proportions too). So I make things easier by severely limiting the colours in my wardrobe. Most of my tops are grey, black or white. I have lots of denim, as well as some navy, burgundy and army green, and little bright red. And that's pretty much it. I have a number of bottoms with "personality", but the tops tend to be simple. This approach wouldn't work for everyone, because most people love colour a lot more than I do, but for me it was very successful. It revolutionized my wardrobe and made the "happiness factor" of each daily outfit go way up.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I'm with you. Unless there is something I am dying to wear, I am terrible about planning an outfit the night before. Of course, I have the luxury of rarely needing to be anywhere early in the morning, so my morning routine is rather relaxed. I'm just too much of an emotional dresser -- usually when I plan something out beforehand, I end up not being in the mood to wear that outfit when it's finally time to get dressed!

I like your idea of working on approach #2. Perhaps a capsule of FFBOs would help?

Sarah A

Veteran

I have tried to plan ahead before but join the mood dressing camp of often not wanting to wear what was planned it the next day. As Janet and Caro have mentioned too FFBO's have helped immensely. I try to have a list of 10 of these on the shelf for the approximate seasonal weather in my closet. In the morning if nothing is feeling inspired, I pick one that seems best from the list for the day.

Aubergine

Veteran

I don't actively plan out outfits ahead of time. Too disorganized and I've usually got at least a little bit of time to spend doing it on the fly. But I have a few things I do to help jump-start things in my own scattered way.

First, I'll sometimes try on a few potential outfit combinations when I have a little extra time or when I've just gotten something new.

Second, I'll sometimes mull outfit possibilities for the next few days in the back of my mind when I'm doing things that don't need my full attention. I generally take into account the weather, what I've got planned, and whether there's anything I particularly want to wear.

Third, if I've got no ideas coming to me for what to wear, I'll give myself a starting point. Nothing necessarily super-creative, but something like "What about that one top you bought a few weeks ago?" or "Wear a pair of warm-weather shoes while you still can -- bonus points if they're a fun color" or "You know, you have all those scarves and you haven't worn one in a while."

If I'm really running late, I'll just wear the first thing that catches my eye and put it with things I know have worked before or something completely no-brainer. Gotta say, having a bunch of print dresses that go with black cardigans and shoes can really come in handy here.

bj1111

Veteran

start with the shoes. the outfits just tend to flow once i've decided this one thing.

Von

Veteran

I, for one have never ever been in the mood to wear anything I laid out the night before. I don't know why, but I change my mind every single time. This is also a reason why I can't pack for X number of days and bring exactly X number of outfits. I always bring 3-4 extra alternative items...just in case, you know, because saying I'm going to wear the white top on Saturday seems so....final! I NEED to go through that morning routine of scrutinizing my outfits before being ok with how it all looks and how I feel about it in context to the day.

I am ok with thinking of 2-3 possible outfits the night before, just so in the morning I COULD have a quick to grab outfit in case none of the 'spur of the moment' choices come together.

But, this is all coming from someone who runs the brink of late every morning. And as I sit here tonight...I'm still not motivated to pick an outfit. I've picked a scarf, my jacket and possible shoes...but no clothes LOL!

Debbie

Veteran

I started a new job a couple of weeks ago and I have been photographing the outfit I wear each day so that when I am in a hurry I can just grab and go. I am still feeling my way. I try to lay my outfit out every night but I rarely succeed or change my mind.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Von, I'm exactly the same way about packing!

shiny

Veteran

I'm the worst person to ask since I have been (mostly) WFH for over 10 years now. But I totally get it, and it's why I overanalyze and overthink what I pack for business trips. I try everything on before I pack-- and then throw in a few extra options to accommodate for moods, as I really am a mood dresser. I can easily predict -- "feeling poofy in the waistband due to travel" and "overly tired because travel disrupted my sleep routine" and (somewhat) "omg I packed too formal/too casual for this" as well as "my feet have blisters." It's the other more subtle moods that are less easy to predict.

Aside from travel, my M.O. is to have a couple of options, not just one. If I'm driving into the office that day, I have "tried and true" and "experiment" and something in between laid out. Then I start with the experiment first but if it doesn't feel right, may swap, and if clocks a ticking, I dress in the tried and true and leave the house.

Socially is about the same too, though I am much more apt to roll and leave the house with the experiment, or something in between. That said in transitional seasons like right now, I'm more apt to delay my hubby because I'm swapping and tweaking and totally miscalculated how long I needed to get dressed. That is mostly transitional seasons only. The rest of the time, it usually takes me less time to get dressed than my hubby-- because I already have it figured out what will work. A go-to list.

Beth Ann

Veteran

I so get this! I'm definitely a mood dresser -- and ADD (literally). I've found my pictures of outfits are helpful when I feel "stuck" Identifying some FFBO's for those moments when I'm rushed or not inspired makes a difference. Sometimes I right a descriptor of a few outfits on a sticky note in my closet just to prompt me quickly. This week, I'm playing with a "theme" for my Tues/Wed/Sun dress up days. This week it's "black skirts." Tomorrow, I know the weather, and know that I'm wearing my new black faux leather skirt (looks better than it sound). I have 2 options for toppers/shoes that I know will work, but, if (and that's a big if) I have time, I might try it with a few more items in my closet, since it's a new item.

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Quietgirl

Veteran

Great idea, Beth Ann! I only have one black skirt but I think that trending an item is very creative.

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