It’s how many of us start out our day—standing half-asleep and befuddled in front of a closet crammed full of clothes, wondering why can’t you pick out just one thing to wear. Selecting an outfit for any given occasion, special or mundane, can be a daunting task. After all, you want your look to stand out, but not in a bad way.
Choosing the perfect ensemble really doesn’t need to be as hard as it seems at seven in the morning. So I’ve compiled a convenient little list of what to wear for any number of situations you may encounter, just for you. You can thank me later.
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Class:* To an outsider, this seems like the easiest category. After all, you wear what you like. It’s just a way of expressing yourself to your classmates. But anyone who has encountered the aforementioned scenario knows this is far from the truth.
So what do you wear when you want to look cute? The old standby is jeans and a t-shirt. Fitted, tight jeans are the ideal, since baggy jeans are, to be frank, not very flattering.
If you want to experiment with shirts, try layering. Layering is the best thing to happen in the world of fashion for people who love to be creative. Mix a lace, see-through tee with a bright cami underneath. Wear a striped tank with a contrasting cardigan. The ideas are limitless.
And for those of us who like being comfy, there are options that won’t compromise style. Leggings are big for that reason (just make sure they are not opaque—no one wants to see that!).
Also, with the warm weather you can find opportunities to wear super comfortable cheer shorts. Soffe is a good brand to look at, with many different colors to pick from.
Hoodies can be an okay investment and they are perfect for chillier days, especially when paired with leggings. Hoodless sweatshirts are trendy right now as well—think eighties.
A Date: Dates can be terrifying to plan for, especially the outfit. What should you wear to make your potential love interest notice you?
The scientific answer is red. Psychological research has actually been done to prove men are subconsciously more attracted to women wearing red. If you really want to catch your date’s eye, put on a cute red dress. Just make sure it isn’t too slinky—you have to make sure you look as classy as you look hot.
If you and this person have been seeing each other for a while, keep their taste in mind when picking something out.
Something sweet and girly, like a lacy or flowery dress, will look fresh and adorable on a picnic or to the movies. If the date involves more physical activity, you can’t go wrong with the jeans and t-shirt look mentioned above.
A Concert/Show: To really have an idea of what to wear to an occasion like this, you need to know the genre. You wouldn’t wear the same thing to see the Detroit Symphony Orchestra that you wore to see Mac Miller, would you? For a very sophisticated event, try a black skirt with a lace top and a black blazer. Some heels will really take the outfit to the next level.
If the musicians you happen to see are performing at a more casual setting, there are two directions you can take your outfit. Wear something with silver or gold accents and tight, dark jeans to a rap or metal show.
For indie or folk acts, think vintage dresses and a more earthy selection of colors. Use your own personal judgment here, since chances are you know the band you’re going to see better than I do.
To Sleep: It sounds absolutely silly, but I have a certain formula for picking out PJs. If it’s warm, I’ll wear shorts, and if it’s chilly, I’ll break out the sweatpants. One constant I wear is a T-shirt from something I did in the past—a souvenir shirt from a vacation spot, a band tee from a show I went to, special shirts from student organizations I’m part of, or one of those free shirts you get from going to volunteer or school events.
Try wearing old clothes from past experiences, even if they spend most of their time buried at the bottom of your dresser. Perhaps seeing them right before you go to sleep will drag up a bunch of neat memories. Either way, they will be sure to inspire some sweet dreams.
