How I Plan My Outfits for the Week (Without Overthinking It)
One of the questions I get all the time is: “How do you plan your outfits for the week?”And honestly it’s a mix of planning and just going with what feels good. I like to have a general idea of what I’ll wear so I’m not scrambling in the mornings, but I also leave room to switch things up if I’m not in the mood for what I planned.
Here’s how I typically plan my outfits for the week, especially in the Summer when my schedule is more flexible.
1. I Look at My Calendar
This is the first thing I check. I want my outfit to be realistic and practical for my day. If I will be with my kids all day, I prefer outfits that I can move in easily (so I won’t be choosing short skirts or heels!). Other things I think about – get togethers with friends, appointments, pool/beach, work (I work some days over the Summer), if I’m filming content, going out to dinner, or date night when we get one! Knowing what I’ve got going on helps narrow things down right away.
2. I Check the Weather
I live in Northern NY, so the weather can be a little all over the place. I’ll look at the weekly forecast and just note the days that might be rainy, humid, super hot, or a little cooler in the mornings. It helps me avoid outfit regrets because there’s nothing worse than wearing jeans on a day when it ends up being 95° and humid.
3. I Shop My Closet
Once I know what my week looks like and what the weather’s doing, I look through my closet and pick out a few pieces I’ve been wanting to wear. Sometimes it’s a new purchase I haven’t worn yet, and other times it’s an old favorite I’ve been neglecting. This is where I mix in staples, fun colors, or that one dress I always forget I love.
No matter what I plan, I always ask myself, Will I be comfortable in this? Because if something’s cute but annoying to wear all day? It’s a no. I try to plan outfits I’ll feel confident and comfortable in.
4. I pick out & set aside my outfits for the week
Once I’ve considered the first three factors, I use them to actually put together what I’m going to wear.
Usually on Sunday evenings I will put outfits together and set them aside in my closet. I’ll admit that I am much better about doing this during the school year but I am trying to do it more in Summer, too. One thing I love about Summer is that I have no dress code so I can wear my casual outfits any time I want to! Also, once my clothes are set out, it makes it super easy to just grab and go in the morning. Some weeks I wear exactly what I planned. Other weeks I swap pieces out depending on how I’m feeling. Either way, having a base helps.
My notes app
Once my clothes are picked out, I also jot them down in my notes app so I remember what I had planned for each day. I have a running list of my teacher outfits I kept all year! As you can see it’s nothing fancy, but helps me remember what I’ve worn and what I have planned for that week.
In addition I have a note for outfits I want to wear- and I love looking at that when I need some ideas! Between these lists, when I’m stuck or not feeling inspired, I can just scroll through and pull from them. It makes planning so much easier and reminds me of outfit pairings I already know work.
Planning my weekly outfits saves me so much time and decision fatigue. And it makes me actually wear more of what’s already in my closet (instead of falling into the leggings and a tee rut every day).
One last thing I try to remind myself each week: Don’t save the “good stuff” for later. If you’re always saving your good clothes, you’ll never get to wear them! You don’t need a special occasion to wear something you love.
