Always having something to wear is easy when you have a few wardrobe essentials to build your outfits around.  I like to build my wardrobe around neutral tops, denim, different styles of black pants & loads of shoes.  I’ll grab for my black tank top or white tee while I peek at my daily schedule.

Based on the day’s agenda, I’ll build my outfit accordingly.  If it’s strictly a work-from-home day, comfortable pants made from stretchy or breathable fabrics are my go-to. 

If it’s a day full morning of virtual meetings & consultations, I incorporate accessories, create a stylish look for my hair, & make sure to put a little makeup on. 

When I’m running errands, meeting clients, or debriefing with team members, I know to reach for shoes & check the weather.  On these days, I have to ditch my slippers.

Before I found myself living in a semi-virtual world, like I do now…. I still had the same mentality about my wardrobe.  I just wore my slippers less often.  Getting dressed is & never was a worry for me.

Maybe building a great outfit feels easy to me as I get older because I understand more about my personal style now.  It could be from developing a stylish sensibility while reading Elle, Vogue & Marie Claire in high school. 

It could be due to my keen eye & love for matching colors together, which I have from painting in my spare time. 

The older I get & the more I experience, the easier it is to develop my personal style.  I’m the first to admit finding my personal style wasn’t innate though.  I didn’t hop out the womb knowing how to create an impeccable outfit.

Even still today, when I l think about some of my outfit choices from years ago, I shake my head in disbelief.  Luckily for me, knock-off hobo-bags from Canal St. & Western Mass flee-markets, bug-eye sunglasses, & slouchy kitten heel boots represent only a moment in time for me (early to mid 2000s).

Now, I opt-in to Converse, fine jewelry, & a more timeless approach to my outfit choices. If you’re reading this for a quick overview on how to put together a casual outfit, keep scrolling for examples below.  As you grab your inspiration, keep these things in mind:

Know Your Neutrals

What comes to mind when you think of neutral colors?  Black, white, grey, tan/beige, navy?  Well, you’re right & wrong about neutrals.  Right in the sense that, yes, those are actual neutral colors.  You’ve probably tried building a capsule wardrobe around these colors before.

However, I suggest looking at a neutral color palette based on your personality & what you already wear. Maybe for you, pink, polka dots, horizontal stripes, or paisley are neutrals.  Do what works for you! Which brings me to the second thing to keep in mind when building your casual outfits.

Find What Works for You

Your lifestyle needs to dictate how you shop, where you shop & most importantly what you buy. 

Shopping based on your personal style is like going to the grocery store.  You look in your refrigerator & pantry to see what you need & then you make a list. 

Do the same thing when you’re shopping for new clothes.  Peek at what you have in your closet & make your list based off what you need for the season & what you want to wear. 

Lastly, let’s chat about change.

Challenge Yourself by Changing Often

Change isn’t easy, especially when it comes to how you dress.  Yes, what you wear is a representation of your personality & overall aesthetic. Whether you’re dressed up or wearing a casual outfit, it’s ok to change it up.  In fact, I encourage & challenge you to change how you dress & what you buy. 

Add a minimum of one to two pieces to your wardrobe every season that challenges your norm or regular style. For me, that’s usually something bright & bold to breakup my black & white palette.  I may even embrace a few pieces with logos or brand names displayed. I know, shocking! 

What will your style challenge be this season? Think about ways you can bust-up your normal style even with a casual outfit as you scroll through inspiration below.