What to Wear When You Don’t Know What to Wear – 10 Easy Outfit Formulas Using What’s in Your Closet

February 13, 2019

Ever stand in your closet just staring? I’ve been there, many times. Today I’m here to help with 10 easy outfit formulas using what is in your closet to solve life’s biggest mystery – what to wear when you don’t know what to wear. These all have one thing in common – jeans! Our favorite wardrobe staple. The other thing they have in common is basics we all love: t-shirts, stripes, flannels, great jackets, etc. I hope it is helpful! Pin it or save it wherever you can find it for the next time you have the big closet dilemma. I made this a winter edition, but let me know if this is helpful. I could always do this for other seasons too. The last idea is not one outfit, it is multiple ideas about how to get creative and restyle your outfits too.

What to Wear When You Don’t Know What to Wear – 10 Easy Outfit Formulas Using What’s in Your Closet

what to wear when you don't know what to wear - 10 easy outfit formulas using what is in your closet, blog post with outfit ideas using mix and match basics, what to wear when you have nothing to wear, easy outfit ideas, closet staples

1. Layer a Moto Jacket Over a Basic Tee – Always Looks Cool!

A moto jacket of some kind is always something I reach for when I can’t decide on an outfit yet want or need to look cool and put together. Below I am basically wearing a t-shirt and jeans in both of these looks. Somehow though neither feels this way. It’s the jacket! If you don’t have a leather jacket, I cannot recommend this one by BLANKNYC enough. Mine is several years old and still looks great. My suede one is the same brand.

2. A Striped Shirt with Any Accessory/Layer

Who doesn’t love stripes?! Such a classic and something that I believe everyone owns. Add a good shoe and a fun accessory then head out the door. It can be a statement earring, a scarf, a print mix jacket like aI did with my camo in the second look, or even a vest. Stripes are a great base to anything.

3. A Chambray Shirt & Colored Jeans

Chambray is another wardrobe staple. I think most women have some version of a chambray shirt. I love how chambray pairs with colored denim, particularly black. When I wear a chambray shirt with my black jeans I just feel put together and cool. An easy yet great pairing. My exact long sleeve one is this one from Old Navy, and I love it.

4. Your Favorite Flannel – Alone or Layered

Don’t ask me how many flannels I own, okay. It’s better if we just don’t go there. In the winter, they are the basis for most of my outfits. I love to wear them alone or under a vest or sweater with the collar peeking out. They are festive and so fun! Old NavyΒ makes the best, most affordable ones in my opinion.

5. Any Cardigan Over Any T-Shirt

It seems like all fall and winter long I basically wear different t-shirts under different cardigans with different shoes and create an endless amount of outfits. Seriously, when you think of striped shirts, white, black, and grey along then switch the cardigans, the possibilities are endless!

6. All Black

All black will always be a good idea in my opinion! You can do casual with a t-shirt and jeans or dress it up with a blouse and heels. I’m sharing a couple examples below of ways I have shared recently. Two include jeans: once with a blouse and once with a t-shirt. The other is leather leggings and a tunic. All different and all equally as great! It’s easy to do all black and add fun accessories like my leopard scarf or a different color shoe (brown actually works well!).

7. A Jean Jacket, Black Jeans, and a White T-Shirt – Classic!

8. Thermal Top/T-Shirt and Jeans

Free People thermals have really become a huge staple in my wardrobe. I loved the grey one below so much I bought it in pink, and I never do that! I also love the length and hem of the second one.Β You can see multiple ways to wear it on my Instagram here. They are casual yet so cute which makes them really easy to wear on the regular.

9. Your Favorite Sweater

Basic or with an extra detail, we all love our sweaters in the winter. Mine get so many wears and in so many combinations. In a rut? Just grab your favorite one, add different shoes, different color jeans than what you wore with it last time, and a scarf. I guarantee no one will notice.

10. The Same Outfit You Wore Last Week With Different Accessories/Layers

Scroll back up through these photos and you will see basics with scarves, vests, moto jackets, hats, statement earrings, fun shoes, and more. So often we don’t need anything new. We just need to restyle what we have. I am so guilty of of thinking I need something new when the reality is I could rewear what I have in a different way. I have been trying on my Instagram to show you all one thing styled different ways to help break this mentality just as much for myself as for you all too. Our accessories and layers do so much!!

Some great ideasΒ to stretch our closets are:

  1. Layer a flannel under a sweater
  2. Layer blouse under a dress
  3. Add a flannel over your striped top as an outer layer
  4. Wear a vest over the same thing you wore alone last week (like a striped top or sweatshirt
  5. Add a scarf and hat
  6. Wear a blazer add a belt at the waist
  7. Swap your regular jeans for black and change the shoes

Let’s get creative!! If you have more ideas, leave them in the comments.

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43 Comments

  • Reply Maureen February 13, 2019 at 12:06 pm

    These are all such cute outfits and yes to denim! I feel like it’s what I reach for whenever I am stumped with what to wear and that happens way too much! I actually really love your chambray and olive denim combo. I don’t know what it was but I am digging this look A LOT!

    Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com

  • Reply Kelsey Bang February 13, 2019 at 11:34 am

    great ideas Amy! I am a big fan of stripes!
    kelseybang.com
    4allthingsdisney.com

  • Reply Jessica A Jannenga February 13, 2019 at 10:20 am

    Amy, really you can wear anything and look great. I love that all black outfit with the embroidered top. I have a moto obsession and love wearing it with jeans as you do feel put together and stylish. Great looks!
    jess xx
    http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com

  • Reply Rach February 13, 2019 at 8:59 am

    These tips are exactly what I needed to wear! Lately, I’ve been feeling so uninspired and I love your style!

    http://www.rdsobsessions.com

  • Reply Amy Johnson February 13, 2019 at 8:17 am

    Girl you look amazing in everything! I’ve tried many of these outfits and never look this good. I recently tried the olive jeans with Chambray top.

  • Reply jodie filogomo February 13, 2019 at 8:08 am

    It’s funny because I’m the opposite kind of girl. I’ll look in my closet and think I have TOO much to wear and too little time…haha!!
    Love them all because I just love your style Amy
    XOXO
    Jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

  • Reply Gentry February 13, 2019 at 8:03 am

    Chambray is my Go-TO! Literally my answer to any closet question πŸ™‚ Love these tips Amy!

  • Reply Elise February 13, 2019 at 7:35 am

    I am forever standing in front of my closet trying to find something to wear. These are all such great ideas! Love all of these looks.

    xx, Elise
    http://www.sparkleandslippers.blogspot.com

  • Reply Chrissy February 13, 2019 at 7:29 am

    You’re adorable. I LOVE every one of these looks! Come help me shop. lol. I guess that’s what these posts are for, huh? I’m struggling in Florida like never before…all you want to wear is shorts and I’m not big on shorts. Ok, full disclosure, I’ve put on a few pounds and nothing feels good. Time to get to work!

  • Reply Mary The Pouting Pensioner February 13, 2019 at 7:21 am

    Love your suggestions here. Two are singing in my heart right now. Favourite sweater, for I saw a pompom jumper in a sale rail this morning and now you’ve sold it to me. A nd I am totally on what you wore last week, but different!
    Hugs, Mary.
    thepoutingpensioner.blogspot.com

  • Reply Kate February 13, 2019 at 6:55 am

    You have the BEST jacket collection, and now I’m reminded how much I need a camo jacket <3
    Green Fashionista

  • Reply Jill February 13, 2019 at 6:38 am

    This is such a helpful post! Love all of these outfit formulas!

    Jill – Doused in Pink

  • Reply Kelly R February 13, 2019 at 6:30 am

    This is SUCH a great post! I feel like so many of these “formulas” are ones that I gravitate towards!!

    Rosy Outlook

  • Reply Katherine February 13, 2019 at 6:19 am

    Awesome post girl! All of these outfits are so cute. I love how you’ve made them into formulas!

    Katherine | http://www.oneswainkycouple.com

  • Reply Andrea Nine February 13, 2019 at 5:34 am

    Isn’t it funny, I stand in my closet so often and say what to wear, yet have oodles of clothes. this is so very helpful and you look smashing in them all!

  • Reply Julia February 13, 2019 at 5:13 am

    This is such a useful post! I love all these outfit formulas and all your outfits!
    It’s so helpful to have some ideas to make the most of our closets and I would love to see a similar post for other seasons too!
    Julia x
    https://www.thevelvetrunway.com

  • Reply Meagan Brandon February 13, 2019 at 3:37 am

    Great outfit ideas! I’ve been on a shopping freeze for a few months so I’ve been reaching for my closet basics a lot. It’s amazing how many outfits you can make with them.

    Meagan
    http://www.meagansmoda.com

  • Reply Madeline February 13, 2019 at 3:10 am

    Love these ideas. Sometimes you need a refresher on what combos you can achieve with what you already have. Those leopard boots are sooo cute. πŸ™‚

    Madeline | CappuccinoandFashion.com

  • Reply candice February 13, 2019 at 2:53 am

    These are such cute outfits

    Candice | NatalyaAmour.com

  • Reply Mica February 13, 2019 at 2:39 am

    Great tips! I’m always sticking to basic outfit formulas and just tweaking them slightly each time I wear them, makes getting dressed much simpler!

    Thank you for the link up!

    Hope that your week is off to a good start πŸ™‚

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