The No. 1 Outfit Formula I Rely on to Get Dressed Fast

For many, early mornings before work, school, or a day of obligations can be hectic. And if you’re like me, outfit planning turns into a stressful scramble to quickly grab something (anything!) that’s clean and ideal for the day ahead.

When I started working, I found myself feeling frenzied and rushing to get out the door almost every day before work, so I started gravitating toward the same trusty outfit that made me feel confident: a white top, black or dark pants, and comfortable white shoes with some simple jewelry. It was a look that I didn’t have to put a lot of time or thought into planning or styling, and it felt like my sense of style—classic and elevated.

It proved to be a combination that I could translate into all areas of my life. Little did I know, I was actually adopting a smart hack: uniform dressing.

The practice of wearing generally the same thing (or a recipe) day to day is known as uniform dressing. It’s a timesaving, stress-relieving, and savvy strategy for planning outfits and building a wardrobe.

Besides making it easy to reach for something you know you’ll look and feel good in, it makes it possible to mix and match everything in your closet, it makes it simpler to pack for travel, and it can save you money since you’ll no longer be purchasing a lot of clothes outside of your trusty uniform that may just sit in your closet.

There’s no correct way to create your uniform, but I recommend finding one that can be dressed up or down. And, no matter which way you style it, it should make you feel like your best self. I also made sure that my outfit formula serves as a great foundation for fun accessories, a colorful jacket, or another statement piece that I might want to mix into my rotation.

If you want to copy my go-to look, here are 12 pieces I own and love for creating outfits for weekend fun (outfit one), work (outfit two), date nights (outfit three), and casual days (outfit four):

With these outfits, I always accessorize with some gold jewelry, a roomy handbag, and a jacket or a sweater if the weather calls for it. Layers and add-ons, like the ones below, are the perfect way to showcase your personal style and tie the whole look together.