Outfit planning has had something of a resurgence lately. For me, it’s been a crucial part of my Sunday evenings for some years and if I’m honest I thought most people did it. I’m naturally a morning person but I’m always up for finding ways to streamline my morning routine and remove any possible stress so for me outfit planning is an obvious place to start. I love being able to get out of bed and already know what I’m going to be wearing that day. To know that it will be perfect for whatever I have planned that day, that I will be warm (or cool if it’s the summer) and that most importantly I will feel good in it. Having it all picked out from the night before makes the early start that bit easier.

To some the idea of planning your outfit everyday may seem a little unnecessary but it’s been game-changing for me. Plus if you’re someone who loves fashion then it’s a great way to help you dream up new outfit combination whilst really making the most of what you have in your wardrobe. I’ve certainly had far fewer ‘nothing to wear’ moments since I’ve started doing this. So if you’re looking for ways to make your mornings more streamlined or simply want to be a bit more organisation when it comes to your wardrobe then here you go. 

Check your diary: The first thing I always do it have a look at what my week looks like. If I have big meetings or I’m going out to dinner then I’m going to want some outfits that are a bit more formal whereas any days that involve travel are going to require flat shoes and comfy jeans. Knowing what I have coming up always helps me to be a bit more strategic about what I’m going to wear when that week. 

Check the weather: Yes the weather can change it’s mind at the drop of a hat but having a vague idea of what the weather is doing is always helpful. You don’t want to be caught in the rain in an open-toe show or misjudge quite how chilly the late winter mornings still are and spend the day shivering. I find this to be really important at this time of year when we are starting to head into those transitional seasons and it’s hard to remember how to dress for anything other than Arctic conditions. 

Check what’s clean: There’s nothing more annoying than planning out your week of outfits to suddenly realise the blouse you were meant to wear on Thursday morning isn’t clean. I always like to plan ahead with my washes a little bit and think about what will be clean by the ends of the week etc so I should be able to avoid this problem. 

Start with your most important days: This links to knowing what’s in your diary but I don’t tend to plan my outfits Monday - Sunday. Instead I like to pick out the days that I know are going to be more important or that I am away for and start there. That way I know I have the higher priority outfits sorted and can make sure I don’t wear any of the items earlier in the week or at least schedule in a wash before I need them again. I also find this to be really helpful if I’m away for the weekend because then I know I’ve got that sorted and ready to be packed without having a panic on Thursday evening. 

Remember the outfits you love: We all have those outfits that we put on and really love. Whenever I have one of those, or discover a new one, I make a little note of it. Then if I’m feeling uninspired on a Sunday evening I’ve already got a few ideas that I can fall back on and throw into the mix. I also like to have a couple of easy ‘basics’ outfits that I can throw on or each time of the year and look put together. In the summer this is denim, a black blazer, white t shirt and a pair of heeled sandals. In the winter I swap the T shirt for a roll neck and the sandals for a pair of boots. 

Planning your outfits can make your mornings so much more peaceful, no longer having that “argh! what am I going to wear?!” panic every morning and then proceeding to hate my outfit all day is something I truly enjoy. I’ve also found it’s made me more inspired by my wardrobe and how many different combinations I can build around the same items. It’s also helped me to identify what I actually need in my wardrobe much more effectively. I’ve spoken before about how I downsized my wardrobe but regularly planning out my outfits has been a massive part in this. Even if you’re a total skeptic and hate the idea, try it for a week and just see. I’m sure you’re going to be converted.