My hairdresser, a very handsome young man, wears the same attire every day: a black Hanes t-shirt, black jeans that are cut off just above the knee, black socks and black leather high top boots. Any skin surface that does show is covered with some colorful and pretty magnificent tattoos.
Now, you’d think that he just throws on what he was wearing the day before, but no. This is an extremely well thought-out uniform. He directs the same perfectionist’s critical eye to his attire that he does to each hair on each head of hair he cuts. He orders Hanes t-shirts by the package of three and tries on each one to make sure they’re cut exactly right. As is sometimes the case, one will be slightly off, and back it goes to the factory. Regarding the jeans, he has his artfully cut off and then tailored exactly to fit his body by a not-inexpensive European tailor.
This young man is supremely comfortable in himself and his style and has honed that style to an art. I envy him. I can’t see myself going to the same extreme with my own wardrobe, but I’m more and more leaning in that general direction: find something that works and repeat it.
In Shopping for the Real You I talk about uniforms and why they make our lives less stressful. If you have something that works for you, you don’t have to reinvent yourself every time you get dressed. So here are a few ideas about how to find and work with your own uniform. If you’re just uninterested in the entire concept of uniforms, think about these in the way you might think of a go-to recipe when company is suddenly coming over – simple things you know will turn out well.
1) Pick a few classics that work for your body and wear them repeatedly, changing out a different blouse, jacket or a statement piece of jewelry or accessory.
2) The reverse of that: Find a great piece of jewelry or a scarf or a terrific outerwear coat or jacket and make that the “statement” of your uniform. (And, best worn with more simple classics.)
3) One of my favorite memes: If the shoe fits, buy it in every color. If you find something that works for you in cut and style but you get bored wearing the same thing every day, buy the new item in different colors, if it’s available in different colors. Just make sure they’re YOUR colors.
4) When you put together outfits that work for different kinds of occasions, hang the pieces together in your closet to grab when you need to dress for those occasions.
5) Finally, if you have to wear an actual uniform and it is completely the wrong color or style for you, tart up your make-up a bit, wear sparkly earrings and most of all – your beautiful, warm smile – the very best ‘uniform’ money can’t buy.
Post script: Be sure to take photos of combinations that work for you. It’s hard to trust your memory when a closet full of clothes is staring back at you.
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