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
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 Navy 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. 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 ideas to stretch our closets are:
- Layer a flannel under a sweater
- Layer blouse under a dress
- Add a flannel over your striped top as an outer layer
- Wear a vest over the same thing you wore alone last week (like a striped top or sweatshirt
- Add a scarf and hat
- Wear a blazer add a belt at the waist
- Swap your regular jeans for black and change the shoes
Let’s get creative!! If you have more ideas, leave them in the comments.
43 Comments
Come you take me shopping? Love this and still as fresh as when you published it. Wondered who made the flared jeans in the striped shirt photo (w the camo jacket). Love those jeans.
Your blog always provides fresh and valuable content. Keep up the good work. This post resonated with me. Your writing has a relatable and authentic feel to it.
I was searching for this from a long time and finally found it!
I love the black studded booties in the first pic! Do you know where I can buy them?
Thank you for sharing this list. We also accept free guest post :
https://www.skinoutfits.com/product/superfly-trevor-jackson-brown-leather-shearling-coat/
WOW!! Love this!! Definitely going to try it!! I would love to see a summer one.. as we don’t wear as many clothes. So some ideas would be great!! Thanks.
I am so glad you like it!! I should do one for summer. I don’t have one right now, but I will for sure keep that in mind next season. Thank you so much for reading!!
fantastic blog. And wonderful product choice. My brother is looking for a nice Black Leather Jacket.
Cool and damn ! Jackets, boots , coats are my favorite especially love Celebrity and Flight Jackets too.. Would you please write something on Jackets collection because jackets are also a part of fashion trends and people mostly wear it now a days on every outfits. Thanks and best regards.
These looks are perfect. So much inspiration in each look.
Xx, Nailil
thirtyminusone.com
Love the way you restyle these staples! So perfect for when you’re in an outfit rut!
xx, Merritt
The Style Scribe
I love that many of the items you shared here are actually staple pieces, to create these looks! I love them all, definitely pinning this post!
-Robin
Runwayteacher.com
This post was made for me! I might need to switch it upon from sweatpants every single day…
Elise By The Piece | http://www.elisebythepiece.com
These are all great outfit ideas. Love how chic they are.
xx Sheryl | http://www.seguraandco.com
I love the moto jacket look! All your pictures are amazing!
Adi xx | http://www.fancycorrectitude.com
I think your style is simply amazing. Honestly you slayed all of those looks! I am loving the black leather jacket though, it is breathtaking.
http://www.SatinOfLux.com | Fashion Blog | by Dessy Markova
This is brilliant + so helpful, Amy Ann!
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
These are all such great outfit ideas and a great reference on days when we can’t think of what to wear! Thank you for sharing!
I hope you are having a great week so far!
Amber
https://www.avecamber.com
https://www.bloglovin.com/avecamber
You can’t go wrong with some plaid/tartan in the cooler months xx
Gemma • Gemma Etc . ❤️
This was such a great post Amy Ann! It is cram-packed with ideas and inspiration, so thank you! I find myself going to many of these formulas, but seeing your looks makes me want to try them in new ways.
You always look so fabulous and out together! Thanks for the reminders and ways to freshen up my everyday looks! I rely on a sweater and jeans way too often!
Thank you for all the great outfit ideas—I totally feel like I’m in a mid-winter style rut right now. Can’t wait to try some of these!
Cheryl Shops | http://www.cherylshops.net