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

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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:

  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 Jacki Martin December 15, 2020 at 3:12 pm

    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.

    • Reply cheap dental January 17, 2024 at 6:15 am

      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.

  • Reply Tejar November 24, 2020 at 6:11 am

    I was searching for this from a long time and finally found it!

  • Reply Jillian Boren October 28, 2020 at 12:08 pm

    I love the black studded booties in the first pic! Do you know where I can buy them?

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  • Reply Heather October 26, 2019 at 5:31 am

    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.

    • Reply Amy Ann October 28, 2019 at 7:45 am

      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!!

  • Reply Black Leather Jacket June 24, 2019 at 11:22 am

    fantastic blog. And wonderful product choice. My brother is looking for a nice Black Leather Jacket.

  • Reply joycew.skidmore February 26, 2019 at 6:07 am

    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.

  • Reply Nailil February 16, 2019 at 1:52 pm

    These looks are perfect. So much inspiration in each look.

    Xx, Nailil
    thirtyminusone.com

  • Reply Merritt Beck February 15, 2019 at 1:58 pm

    Love the way you restyle these staples! So perfect for when you’re in an outfit rut!
    xx, Merritt
    The Style Scribe

  • Reply Robin February 15, 2019 at 1:03 pm

    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

  • Reply Elise Chocholek February 14, 2019 at 9:34 pm

    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

  • Reply Sheryl Segura February 14, 2019 at 5:33 pm

    These are all great outfit ideas. Love how chic they are.

    xx Sheryl | http://www.seguraandco.com

  • Reply Aditi oberoi malhotra February 14, 2019 at 2:24 pm

    I love the moto jacket look! All your pictures are amazing!
    Adi xx | http://www.fancycorrectitude.com

  • Reply Dessy February 14, 2019 at 1:00 pm

    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

  • Reply Ashley February 14, 2019 at 10:06 am

    This is brilliant + so helpful, Amy Ann!

    -Ashley
    Le Stylo Rouge

  • Reply Amber February 13, 2019 at 11:07 pm

    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

  • Reply Gemma Etc. February 13, 2019 at 9:26 pm

    You can’t go wrong with some plaid/tartan in the cooler months xx

    Gemma • Gemma Etc . ❤️

  • Reply Shea February 13, 2019 at 9:12 pm

    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.

  • Reply Laura February 13, 2019 at 8:51 pm

    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!

  • Reply Cheryl Shops February 13, 2019 at 1:53 pm

    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

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