One Outfit Formula, Styled Different Ways

The outfit formula I wear on repeat — and the small shifts that make it work every time

I’m very proud to say that my clothes work very hard.

I wear most of my wardrobe regularly, and when something starts getting ignored, I either find a way to wear it again — styling it in a way that feels right for me now — or I let it go.

Because I don’t believe in having more clothes. If anything, I think the more you have, the easier it is to feel overwhelmed — especially if you are already a bit unsure about your style.

What I do believe in is editing your wardrobe regularly so it keeps reflecting who you are as you move through life.

And making the most of what you already own — reworking it through styling, small shifts, and personality to create outfits that actually make you feel good. And one of the easiest ways I’ve found to make that work is through outfit formulas.

Not in a “uniform” way — more in a “I don’t have the energy to reinvent the wheel today” kind of way. Those formulas that just make sense, they fit your style, work with your body, and make getting dressed feel easier.

So I’m going to show you one I rely on all the time — especially at this time of year.

And if you need help figuring out your own outfit formulas, it’s something we can work through together in a styling session.

You Already Have the Outfits. You Just Haven’t Noticed Them Yet

The Outfit Formula

I’ve always been more of a skirts-and-dresses person than a trousers person. Part of it is preference, but part of it is also fit.

Before wide-leg trousers (and finding pairs that actually work for me), I really struggled wearing trousers and jeans. I am curvy with a small waist so a lot of trousers gap at the waist but feel tight around the hips and thighs, not exactly ideal when you just want to sit, move, or bend down without thinking about it.

Midi skirts, on the other hand, have always felt easy. Especially A-line shapes or anything with an elastic waist — they adjust to my body, move with me, and don’t require constant fixing throughout the day.

So naturally, they’ve become a big part of my wardrobe. One of my go-to outfit formulas, especially as the weather gets warmer, is:

Midi skirt + top and/or oversized layer

It’s simple, comfortable, and works for so many different situations. You get the ease and movement of the skirt, but still enough structure from the top and layer to make it feel balanced.

It’s always the same base — I just adjust a few things depending on the day, where I’m going, and how I want to feel.

So I’m going to show you how I use the 3Ps — proportion, palette, and personality — to get the most out of this formula and make it feel different every time.

Proportion

This is usually the first thing I adjust — and it often depends on how I feel that day.

With this formula (midi skirt + top + oversized layer), proportion is what makes the outfit feel balanced rather than overwhelming.

If you read my 3Ps post, this is exactly what I mean by proportion — how the shapes of each piece interact with each other.

This is all about contrast — a slimmer skirt with an oversized shirt to balance the silhouette, and chunkier sandals adding just enough weight at the bottom to ground the whole look.

Here’s how I usually approach it:

• Balance volume with something more defined
  If I’m wearing a fuller skirt (A-line, pleated, anything with movement), I’ll usually go for a slimmer or more fitted top. It creates a clearer silhouette and stops the outfit from feeling too heavy.

• Layering is where I add contrast
  I almost always add a slightly oversized layer over a slimmer base. That contrast between fitted and relaxed is what makes the outfit feel more like me.

• If I skip the fitted top and just go oversized, I adjust it slightly
  I love wearing an oversized shirt or t-shirt with a skirt, it balances out the feminine feel and makes the whole outfit a bit more relaxed.

  I’ll often steal one of my husband’s shirts (I find men’s shirts more fun, and often better made) and my favourite is a Hawaiian one paired with a pretty skirt.

  Then I usually adjust it depending on how I want it to feel:

  • tuck it in slightly to define the waist and keep some shape

  • leave a few buttons undone at the bottom to create that subtle triangle shape and bring the focus back to the waist

  • push up the sleeves so it doesn’t feel too heavy

• Create an “anchor” somewhere
  This is something I talked about in the 3Ps — every outfit needs a point that grounds it. With this formula, that could be:

  • a belt to define the waist

  • a shirt or knit tie at the waist

  • a more structured layer over it.

  • shoes can also completely shift the balance of the outfit - If there’s a lot going on — volume, colour, texture — I’ll usually go for something sleeker to ground it, like a simple sandal or a more minimal shoe.

    And if the outfit feels a bit too simple or safe, I’ll do the opposite — something more interesting, a bit heavier, or with more personality to add that contrast.

Styling notes - this works because the proportions are balanced — a fitted top against the volume of the skirt, a cropped jacket to keep things from feeling too heavy, and minimal flip flops to ground it all. Outfit - Massimo Dutti jacket / &Other Stories knit top / Arket midi skirt / Mango beaded bag / Chan Luu belt / Mango beaded necklace / A-emery flip flops

Palette

This is where the formula really starts to shift. Because even if the structure stays the same, the colours can completely change how the outfit feels.

For me, there’s always a natural change with the seasons. In autumn and winter, I tend to stay in a more muted palette — a lot of black, camel, brown, white — with the occasional pop of colour. But as soon as the weather gets warmer, I start reaching for more colour and lighter combinations.

And that alone makes this same outfit formula feel completely different.

If you’ve read my post on Tibi’s Colour Math, this is exactly how I think about it. Not in a strict way, but as a guide to make colour feel easier and more intentional.

• I keep a base of classics
  Whites, denim, soft neutrals — these are my starting point and what makes the outfit feel grounded.

• I add softer “in-between” shades
  Things like muted greens, dusty tones, or warmer neutrals that sit somewhere between colours — these help everything blend and feel more layered.

• Then I bring in colour where I want energy
  This could be through the skirt, the top, or even just the accessories. One brighter or more playful colour is usually enough to shift the whole outfit.

Volume on top and bottom, so the tuck keeps everything balanced, flip flops to keep it light, and lobster earrings because I was having a bad day and needed something fun — the blue and pink add just enough contrast to keep it feeling fresh and playful.

With this formula in particular, I find that colour is often what defines the mood. The same midi skirt and oversized layer can feel completely different depending on whether I go for:

• all neutrals → more minimal and understated

• soft tonal colours → more relaxed and effortless

• a brighter contrast → more playful and expressive

It’s not about overcomplicating it — just being a bit more intentional with how the colours interact with each other.

Styling Notes - this works because the palette is balanced, the brown anchors the look, the red and printed shirt bring energy, and the mix of earthy tones and textures connects everything so it feels connected rather than random. Outfit - Desigual printed shirt / &Other Stories knit top / Massimo Dutti brown skirt / Mango necklace / Massimo Dutti sandals / Dragon Diffusion bag / Saint Laurent sunglasses

Personality

This is the part that makes the outfit feel like mine. Because the formula is quite simple — midi skirt, top, oversized layer — it can easily lean a bit neutral or predictable if I leave it as it is.

The details are what make it feel like me — Hawaiian shirts are always a go-to, as are shell earrings, and the black cat-eye sunglasses tie back to the shoes and waist, pulling everything together..

So this is where I bring in those small details that shift it and make it feel more personal:

• Jewellery is usually where I start
  I go through phases, but this season I’m really into more colourful pieces again — beads, shells, statement earrings, anything that feels a bit more playful. It instantly changes the mood of the outfit, even if everything else is quite simple.

• Accessories are often what change the outfit entirely.
  A straw or woven bag, something slightly embellished, or even just the right pair of sunglasses can completely shift the feel of this formula — the same base can feel minimal or more expressive depending on those details.

• Small styling details
  This is something I always come back to. Slightly rolled sleeves, a loose tuck, leaving a few buttons open, pushing things around a bit so it doesn’t feel too “done”. It’s subtle, but it makes a big difference.

• Repeating what feels like me
  There are always a few things I come back to — certain earrings, slightly messy hair, mixing something a bit “fancier” with something more casual.

  Those patterns are what makes it mine — and why the same outfit would never look the same on someone else.
  

  Personality isn’t about adding more — it’s about adding the right thing.

Styling Notes - This works because the personality is carrying the outfit, the playful print, colourful jewellery, bold orange bag and gold sandals add just enough contrast and character to turn a simple base into something expressive. Outfit - Tombolo shirt / Mango top / Toteme skirt / Mango beaded necklace / Mango hair clips / Dragon Diffusion bag / Loeffler Randall sandal

So what do you think — would you try this outfit formula and make it your own?

Because it’s actually quite hard to come up with interesting outfits every single day. Working with something you already know works, and shifting it slightly depending on your mood, the weather, or how much effort you feel like putting in, just makes everything easier.

And once you have a few of these, everything changes.

You stop overthinking it. You stop feeling like you need more.

You just get dressed — and it works!

Love,

Noelia x