♡ what is a uniform?
when you think uniform, you might think of wearing the same day every day, à la Steve Jobs, or status-related uniforms like a school uniform or nursing scrubs.
to me, a uniform is both so much more and so much less than that. it can be as complicated as you want. here are some examples of uniforms:
a white t-shirt and blue jeans
a loose-fitting top and tight bottoms
knee-high boots
the colour black
a uniform is not prescriptive, unless you want it to be. it’s a foundation for dressing up that can be expanded, built on top of, and remixed. it’s something that you know you feel comfortable and confident in, so that you’re not stuck not knowing what you wear or feeling unsure whether you look good.
perhaps obvious, but worth noting: looking good is not about what people around you think. the most important thing to remember when dressing up is that you feel like yourself and you're expressing what you want to express. confidence looks better than any outfit!
♡ why have a uniform?
you don’t need to necessarily wear your uniform every single day. but having a uniform will make dressing up so much easier. there are countless arguments for having a uniform, but here are the two main ones that i can personally vouch for:
dressing up without stressing out
have you ever spent an hour trying on outfits just to end up sweaty and frustrated? having a foundation you can fall back on when you just don’t know what to wear can do a lot to alleviate this problem.shop better
instead of thinking “will this match all of my outfits?” you can think “does this fit into or match my uniform?” (much, much more to come on the topic of shopping)
a uniform also allows you to exponentially increase the number of outfits you have, while still keeping the number of items in your closet manageable and ideally minimal. in short, a uniform introduces combinatorial outfit-making, because your items exist on a mutually complementary theme.
♡ how do i create a uniform?
like we touched on before, a uniform can encompass elements like colour, shape, fabric, style, and more. if you look at my introductory post, you can pretty clearly see the uniforms that i’ve adopted: a more form-fitting top with wide pants or a long skirt, or a loose top with a shorter skirt. these shapes are nothing novel, but i see them as the core of my overarching personal style.
a note on personal style: developing a sense of style, let alone your own personal style, is a difficult and endless endeavour. i don't think i've fully achieved it at all! a uniform can be a more approachable way to develop your fashion identity.
here is a practical, step-by-step guide on how to start thinking about your uniform:
examine your outfits
look in your closet, play dress up for awhile, or scroll through your camera roll. think about which items and outfits feel the most you.dissect your outfits
what are the core elements of these outfits? do you love the way long skirts make your body look? is emerald green undeniably your colour? do you like tops that end at your thigh, or ones that show a bit of midriff? note these things down.create your very first outfit thesis
at the end of the day, a uniform is as flexible as you want it to be. you can have multiple uniforms that are specific or just one that is very vague, or anywhere in between and beyond.look beyond
think about other accessories and elements that go with your uniform, like shoe silhouettes or outerwear. do you see the design system emerging from the nebula?
wearing a uniform is a huge step toward being more intentional with dressing up. i hope you try it out, and i hope you learn something about your personal style. always remember that a uniform should free you, not constrain you.
♡ what i’ve been loving
♡ parting words
thanks for joining me for the first ‘real’ edition of dress up. i hope the idea of having a uniform resonates with you, no matter how you interpret it. creativity thrives under constraints, and i feel similarly about having uniform. share your uniform with me, or what elements you’re thinking about incorporating into your framework.