5 Outfits Every Woman Needs

Happy day, reader dear!

Don’t worry. I haven’t lost my mind. Okay, lost my mind could certainly be up for discussion (Especially in 2020!), but I haven’t lost my style mind. You know… The one that gets annoyed (Read frustrated. And sometimes flat out angry.) at the Must-Have lists that are a default for many bloggers.

The lists are monotonous… The LBD. The crisp white button front shirt, The skinny jean. The black pump. The diamond stud earrings. The silk scarf. And. The. Lists. Go. On. Often with affiliate links. (Hmm.) You know me, I struggle with these lists. They are impersonal! They don’t take into account any of the things that make you YOU. Your personality for starters! Your lifestyle. Your values. Your body shape. They do provide for your budget, since you can often find most Must-Haves at various price points, from high end to thrift. Thank goodness for small favors!

How is 5 Outfits different than a Must-Have list? 5 Outfits approaches what to have in your wardrobe from a you-centered perspective. You and your needs. It’s not about the clothes. It’s all about you. As it should be! So what are the five I think every woman should have? In my experience, besides work clothes (for whatever your work may be, from brain surgeon to toddler mom, to retiree), every woman needs an outfit that makes her feel:

Kick @$# and Take Names

This outfit (or outfits) say that you are not to be trifled with. You are in charge of your life. This outfit communicates confident authority; that doesn’t have to mean power-broker or aggressive. You define your own KA&TN outfit. Mine is usually jeans and a jacket. This could be your everyday outfit if ‘tude is what you need daily!

When I was teaching, my KA&TN outfit was a dress and boots. You might find yours has to do with shoes… It’s not uncommon. Do you have a pair of shoes that make you swagger? What do you usually wear with those? That might be the start of your KA&TN outfit!

Beautiful

Because you are! Yup. Not met a woman yet who is not. I find beauty in harmony. Dressing in harmony with both your personality and your physical nature is a balancing act, but one that puts your unique beauty front and center. Front and center doesn’t mean showing off or being flashy. It means that what you wear lets you shine. It’s subtle. It’s the difference between remembering the outfit and remembering the woman.

As a color consultant, I’ll admit I’m biased. I would suggest your Beautiful outfit starts with a top or dress in a color that makes you glow. Or your eyes sparkle! Because glowing skin and shining eyes looks healthy and happy. Healthy and happy is the biological basis of beauty. (No, beauty is not always in the eye of the beholder.) Read Survival of the Prettiest: The Science of Beauty by Nancy Etcoff. It is fascinating! (Link provided for your convenience. I get nothing from the Big A.)

Sexy

Sexy is different for every woman. Don’t let culture define sexy for you. That leaves you chasing an ever changing target. Sexy has many forms. Rubens voluptuous nudes, flat-chested flappers, Victorian restraint, Kardashian lack thereof…

Your Sexy might mean soft cashmere, or a bold animal print. It could be a touch of lace, or a satiny camisole. It might mean no underwear at all! It could mean high heels or bare feet. (I’ll suggest shoes. You might want to take your Sexy out on a date…) Sexy can be subtle and mysterious, or flat out provocative. You do you. Please don’t ignore this part of you. (If finding your Sexy makes you uncomfortable, that deserves some exploration.)

Playful or Fun

Because all work and no play makes Jill a dull girl… I know this from personal experience. When I was teaching and working on my Master’s degree, there was little to no fun in my world. It was work and school. 24. 7. 365. If you had told me to put on an outfit that felt playful, I would have looked at you as if you had two heads. It took time to find that woman again.

Personally, I think every single day needs a touch of fun or playful! Your playful and fun might be colorful, or bikerish. It might involve cowboy boots. Or a hunting vest. Or a tank top and sparkly jewelry. It could be a print or pattern that feels playful or fun to you. Polka-dots? Novelty prints? If you wear a uniform or have a restrictive dress code, you might opt for silly underwear. Yes, I know one (or maybe more) of those women!

Nurtured and Cozy

Most women have a TON of these clothes, often far more than they need. I think 2020 has been the year of comfort clothes! But comfort doesn’t mean boring or cast-offs that are no longer fit to be worn in public. Please! Have at least one Nurtured and Cozy outfit that can go out into the world. Let’s think more than comfy, ladies. We’re talking about an outfit that makes you feel pampered.

If you have these 5 outfits, you should be covered. Literally. Your lifestyle will determine which category (or categories) you need more of. You might need a dressy and casual version of some. If the pieces you choose fall within a color grouping that coordinates, even better! You are on your way to a VERY versatile wardrobe.

So how about you? Do you have outfits for each of the above? If not, I’d suggest you get into your wardrobe for a little Closet Play. You might just find the pieces for them hiding in plain sight. Let me know which you have! AND which you struggle to put together? Which outfits can you make more of? Is that in alignment with your daily lived experience? Do tell! I love to hear from you…

Stylishly yours,

Thank you to Nancy at Nancy’s Fashion Style for hosting her fabulous Friday Link Up Party! XO