6 Pre-Planned Outfit Ideas That Make My Life a Lot Easier

If you’re anything like me, getting dressed is the most chaotic and anarchic time of the day. I rarely ever plan anything until 20 minutes before having to head out the door, which means I’m always running late (and out of breath) to plans. I recently thought to myself, ‘Why can’t I be someone who plans out all of their outfits?’ Or better yet: ‘Why can’t I be someone with a Steve Jobs-esque uniform? Wouldn’t that make my life a hell of a lot easier?’

Although I don’t think I’ll be sporting a black turtleneck and light-wash jeans any time soon, after examining the nonsensical way I get dressed (turning my closet into a battleground), I decided to challenge myself with one week of outfit planning. That meant laying out outfits on my rug on Sunday, capturing everything on my iPhone to reference throughout the week, and documenting everything I learned along the way.

Did outfit planning really help me in my daily life? The short answer is yes—I found myself waking up excited to dig into my arsenal of homemade, pre-prepped looks. I had something ready for any occasion that popped up last minute because I made sure to have some dressier options alongside the more casual outfits. By being amply prepared, I saved myself at least one big emotional outburst, fueled by a perpetual feeling of dissatisfaction in my own wardrobe.

But the most important part was that I didn’t sacrifice the fun and creative outlet that is getting dressed. I was able to lock in and really concentrate on playing with my clothes, while doing my future self a favor.

Read on to learn the full results of my experiment

Have a Fail-Safe Outfit Recipe

Vivia Li wearing a midi skirt with leather boots

While I find myself romanticizing the idea of a uniform, I just can’t operate with that type of discipline. A lot of my self-expression stems from how I look, so I love having the option to dress according to my moods. However, I do think that having a loose outfit recipe to fall back on is an amazing way to avoid disaster.

You’ll see that the majority of the looks I planned involved three basic ingredients: a midi skirt, boots, and some sort of cute top or jacket. Throughout the years, I’ve realized that this is what makes me feel most comfortable. I like a statement skirt that covers most of my legs (I can always layer leggings underneath) and a pair of leather boots.

A collage of Vivian Li wearing a red top, pink midi skirt, and black leather boots

(Image credit: Vivian Li)

I repeated this formula four times this week, with some flexibility on the footwear (a pair of black Mary Jane flats also came into play). Trust me when I say a go-to outfit recipe will save you from at least a dozen mental breakdowns when you’re already running late with nothing to wear.

Vivian Li in a white leather jacket, blue skirt, and black mary jane flats

(Image credit: Vivian Li)

Songmont

Small Gather Bag Set

You’re Overthinking It!

Vivian Li wearing a V-neck sweater over a long-sleeve T-shirt and jeans

I fall victim to thinking that a plain top can’t possibly be interesting enough, or that a really flattering pair of jeans can’t make a statement. But sometimes, the most basic basics can come together to make a really cool, cohesive outfit.

Take this perfect white long-sleeve from J.Crew that I layer under absolutely everything. It fits really well (and that’s more important than anything else), and I like to wear it under a light V-neck sweater that’s slightly more cropped, like this one from Aritzia, which creates visual contrast. I paired it with a pair of vintage jeans that make me look snatched without fail, and voilà! An outfit I didn’t need to toil over magically became a look that I re-wore twice!

J.Crew

Perfect Rib Long-Sleeve T-Shirt

Aritzia

Bare Cashmere V-neck Sweater

PAIGE

Genevieve High Waist Bootcut Jeans

When in Doubt, Go Monochrome

I’m as far from a traditional minimalist as you can imagine. I love color, pattern, and over-the-top accessorizing. However, I will hand it to my minimalist friends; monochrome can be a fun and easy way to look put-together in a pinch.

When I was planning all of these looks in my bathrobe on a lazy Sunday, I had a eureka moment: Why don’t I ever wear different shades of grey, pink, or blue together? I’m always complaining that fabrics never match between brands or even collections. But maybe that’s the point.

Vivian Li wearing monochrome outfits

(Image credit: Vivian Li)

I wore this dark grey Caspar the Label double-breasted top with my light grey Sandy Liang overlay trousers, and have never felt more chic. I also matched my beloved Prada Bonnie in pink with my cool-toned peony Shop Peche heels.