24 *Very* Stylish Substack Writers On What They Do When They Have No Idea What Wear
STYLE SOS!!!! Help is at hand...
January is SHOP YOUR WARDROBE month over on ‘The Wardrobe Edit’, a four-week-long content calendar that perfectly aligns with a January ‘no-buy’ or if you want to take a moment to press pause, reconnect with your wardrobe and fall back in love with what you already have. To gain full access to all the posts, you can upgrade to a paid subscription (THANK YOU!) with a limited-time 25% off! Along with all the content I post this month, you’ll unlock over 350+ posts, stacked with styling ideas, tips and formulas…
The great leveller of fashion is that sometimes we wake up and have absolutely no idea what to wear, despite standing in front of a rail of perfectly good, more than satisfactory clothes that we loved yesterday. It happens to everyone, including the most fashionable folk on Substack, which is why I tapped them up for their best advice for exactly those kinds of mornings. What are the pieces, uniforms, methods or accessories that they lean on most in those moments? 24 of the chicest people I know (!!!) are on hand to answer.
I’ll keep this intro short because there are a lot of gems to get through here. Do you know how fun it was to have an inbox absolutely brimming with all of this stuff? THRILLING! Big love to everyone who contributed, and make sure you stay to the end for the easily digestible takeaways you can screengrab for the next time the inevitable hits…
Diana-May, Diana’s Substack
My piece of advice would be to go back to (your) basics. Falling back on clothes and outfit formulas I know and love instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, when I’m in a rush to get ready, takes off such a mental load. Now that it's winter, I focus on my coat and accessories to complete the outfit. I love a long wool coat, and if it’s pretty neutral, I’ll accessorise with winter pieces. This could look like a fringe wool scarf, a striped mohair hooded scarf, a big pair of sunglasses, or a shearling or faux-fur boot. Really, anything with personality. Under my coat, I usually just go for a warm base layer, jeans and a sweater. No need to overcomplicate!
Neelam Ahooja, Neelam Noted
The moment the weather turns cold, I lose the motivation to get dressed with intention, and I naturally reach for comfort instead. What really helps me is focusing on the coat. It’s the most visible part of the outfit and the first thing anyone notices. I’ll put on a soft knit with vintage denim or a wide trouser, and then layer a beautiful coat over it. It looks like I’ve put real thought into the outfit, even though it takes almost no effort. A great coat can even lift my mood, especially when the colour feels rich or comforting. And when all else fails, a good scarf can lift an outfit and my mood in a pinch!
Louisa Hatt, Slob
On uninspired mornings when I’m going to the office, I fall back on my wardrobe staples: a white cotton shirt, black barrel-leg jeans, and glossed loafers. I trust these pieces and always feel great in them. If I don’t wear all three, I stick to two, maybe swapping the shirt for a wool jumper or the loafers for a boot. Repeating what works keeps my outfit grounded and does the heavy lifting when my energy is low.
Rachel Solomon, Hey, Mrs Solomon
I have two tricks for getting ready fast! The first is outfit planning on Sunday nights, which I do live on Substack. I’m not a particularly organised person (AT ALL); I just like getting it done. Basically, it moves all the trial-and-error to a weekend night when I’m less stressed. I pick out five outfits that I can wear on whatever day I want and take photos. Locked and loaded is a good feeling.
My second tip is to have a foundation formula that makes me feel like myself. This comes from you! It changes and goes in cycles, but right now it’s a slip dress and a big tee. With this as the foundation, I could do anything. I can add tights, a cosy sweater, and an overcoat in Boston, or a pair of flip-flops and a tote bag in Miami. This formula is especially great because my weight can fluctuate, and it’s not affected. Sometimes ‘pants’ and ‘cookie platter’ just don’t align properly, and I’m more inclined to let go of pants. (ED NOTE: Same, Rachel, same).
Kelly Williams, Midimalist
I wanted to provide a slightly off-the-beaten-path suggestion for those mornings when we don’t know what to wear; start with your hair. I know, it sounds crazy, but I know others will understand that some days our hair has a mind of its own. Pulling hair back provides structure to a soft knit, balance to oversized pieces or polish to casual looks. Loose hair can contrast tailoring or elevated looks. Sometimes the easiest way to figure out what to wear is to not think about clothes at all (ED NOTE: Mic drop!!!). Here’s me getting dressed the other day. I wanted to wear my hair up, and the structure of the hairdo allowed me to go soft and flowy in my outfit.
Sogole Kane, Another Fashion Newsletter
Funnily enough, I grappled with feeling a bit stuck in my wardrobe at the onset of fall a few months ago. Something about transitional weather just throws me for a loop! I was feeling uninspired and confused, so I developed my own little game of ‘fashion roulette’ -- which is exactly as simple as it sounds. You roll a single die four times to create your outfit base, and then build from there. Not only did it shift the burden of choosing what to wear to fate, but it also inspired me to think totally differently about my wardrobe and how I approach building outfits. I still use it to this day on the mornings I wake up feeling stuck or lost... nothing like a quick game to lift the spirits and get the creative juices flowing!
Xue, Xue’s Substack
Lately, I’ve been defaulting to ease and joy, which is a nice way of saying I’ve stopped trying so hard. On uninspired mornings, I reach for the pieces I genuinely love and repeat outfits without apology, commentary, or creative guilt. My current styling trick is removing friction entirely: put on something good, don’t negotiate with myself, and get on with the day. The side effect of all this repetition is clarity. I’ve realized my true go-tos are one-and-done dresses and jumpsuits—usually in a bold color or a crisp, refreshing white—because they do all the work while I do very little. (Yes, the same sneakers and bag keep showing up.)
If you’re feeling stuck, reach for your without-fails: the pieces you can put on without thinking and instantly feel better in. They’re often the most honest expression of your style and the easiest place to start when everything else feels like too much.
Harriet Hadfield, Harry Styles
In the mornings when getting dressed feels hard, and I'm feeling anything but inspired, I start by taking a breath. I try to identify why I'm putting extra pressure on myself to show up a certain way - this alone helps neutralise the situation and creates space for curiosity, which for me is always the unlock to creativity. My next step is to consider what my no-brainer bases are. For example, a black pair of trousers and a button-up. Bases remove the guesswork, and I have these saved as a collection in my Indyx app, so it makes them easy to duplicate. Sometimes, this is enough, but if I feel the need to mix things up slightly, I ask myself what have I not been reaching for that I miss wearing? I then add these pieces into the no brainer base. It feels simultaneously like having a new outfit and something within my comfort zone that I know I feel great in. One of my wardrobe goals is to utilise what I own, and opting for the least-worn item I've forgotten about adds a little spark back without reinventing the wheel.
Lindsay Sword, Fashion Soup
I usually go on gut instinct and my calendar when it comes to getting dressed (this is also how I approach my work). Every once in a blue moon, in times of extreme overwhelm, I will try to plan outfits in my Notes app. But more often than not, I wake up and think, “What do I feel like wearing today?” The “feeling” part is most important. On those mornings when the feeling is still asleep or missing entirely, I try not to overthink it. That is not the day to wear unusual colour combos, a new purchase, or a tricky pair of trousers. Instead, I rely on my go-to silhouette: a sharp shoulder and a wide-leg pant, a hybrid X-H line, if you will. Focusing on the shape I always feel good in, versus specific items, allows me to weather atmospheric conditions and laundry day with ease. This may show up as jeans and a blazer, chinos and a button-up, corduroys and a vest, or my newest addition to the library: track pants and a raglan sweater or sweatshirt. If you can find your hero silhouette, it will be so much simpler to grab-and-go on those uninspired days!
Anika Krueger, NO WARDROBE
I have one rack in my wardrobe that functions as my personal ‘outfit starting point’ when I feel uninspired. It sits right in the middle of my wardrobe and, most importantly, it’s always in sight (at eye level!). On this rack, I keep my core pieces for the current season. In spring and summer, it holds my tops, vests, and dresses. In fall and winter, I use it for third pieces — leather jackets that work under coats, oversized blazers, and similar layers. Whenever I feel stuck or uninspired, this rack is where I begin, because I’m never starting from a ‘blank page’. And when I reach the phase where I suddenly hate everything in my wardrobe (which frequently happens at the beginning of fall, as reported here), this rack becomes the first place I look to figure out what feels off.
I wish I could say I consciously choose outfit formulas at the start of every season, but that’s not really how it works for me. It happens more organically — a few weeks into a season, I’ll notice I’m gravitating toward the same type of outfit over and over again. I usually spot these patterns by looking through my Indyx outfits or mirror selfies, which is why documenting outfits is so helpful. Once I recognise a formula, I use it as a base and switch things up within that structure to create different looks. Adding a styling detail is key for me here — it’s what makes the outfit feel personal and prevents it from looking flat. In summer, it’s often something like a racerback top, wide-leg pants, strappy sandals, plus a styling detail (sunglasses, a structured bag). In winter, it can be an oversized knit, wide-leg pants, slim boots, an oversized coat, plus a styling detail (a sweater over the shoulders, a statement bag, or a scarf or beanie).
These are more random, but they always work for me. First, I consciously give myself permission to be basic and a little boring, and I go back to the simplest outfits I can think of. Whenever I feel uninspired, it’s usually because I’m overstimulated in some way, and returning to very familiar, ‘boring’ pieces helps reset that. After wearing those basic outfits for a few days, inspiration tends to come back naturally. It takes the pressure off trying to look especially stylish and kind of reconnects me with my true personal style. The pictures show both tricks I use: Repeating an outfit formula with a styling detail and being boring for a few days in a row. The second random thing I do, especially when getting dressed feels very difficult, is put on a perfume I really like. Somehow, that small step makes me feel more put together right away and reminds me to put in a bit of effort from the start.
Jennifer Cook, Mom Friend
There are three styling formulas I live by most days, but especially when I am feeling a tad uninspired (which always occurs right around this time of year - after a few months of cold, winter, sweater weather, I find myself itching for something new, despite my dislike of summer). First, add a third piece. Maybe a belt, or a sweater over the shoulders, or a neck scarf. Anything counts. Second, go back to basics. I always have a go-to ‘uniform’ (or two) that I return to on blah days. A well-fitting pair of jeans, a shoe that’s not a sneaker, and either a favourite button-up or tee + blazer. And finally, if all else fails, put on a baseball cap. There’s something about it that adds a little something extra to any outfit - it’s not formal, but it is cool, and is a slight upgrade when you’re feeling like your style is a little stale.
Emily Grady Dodge, Point of View
On the days when nothing feels right, I try to do everything I can to feel good before I even get dressed, and then I revert to an ‘old faithful’ outfit (right now, that’s my favourite sweatshirt and jeans). I’ll paint my nails, put on my expensive perfume, slather on some gradual tanning lotion, and put on my favourite ear cuff that makes me feel invincible. Voila!
Fanny Adams, Always Overdressed
Over the past few years, I’ve developed an outfit formula for those days when I just can’t. I call it my Emotional Support Outfit; it’s different for everyone, and we should all have one. The outfit consists of those few pieces we can put on and feel put together with minimal effort. For me, it’s a T-shirt plus a sweater or a button-up, paired with jeans, loafers or flats, and this time of year, a good coat. Then - and this is really important - I finish with my everyday jewellery and a little bit of makeup. It takes some trial and error to find those pieces that help you feel put together when it feels like your life is falling apart, but I promise, it’s worth the effort.
Natalia Quintero Ochoa, How To Wear It
If I’m feeling uninspired by my wardrobe, I’ll look through a folder on my phone that’s brimming with images of outfits I liked on other people. Usually, one or two looks stand out (depending on weather, mood, etc.), and from there I’ll recreate with pieces in my wardrobe. Most of the looks are easy and minimal, but seeing them on someone else makes them fun and interesting, even if I’ve worn a version of that outfit a hundred times. I’m such a visual person, so a stack of sweaters next to jeans in my closet doesn’t make me feel the way a screenshot of someone wearing blue jeans and a perfect cashmere sweater does. Often, this exercise gets me out of my head and does the trick.
Emma Rose Thatcher, Over Dress
Having a go-to outfit formula has saved me countless times when I’m short on time but still want to look and feel like myself. It took a while to land on mine, but I always come back to the same base - vintage or worn-in jeans, a simple tee or knit, and an interesting coat or jacket. Footwear shifts with the season, but right now it’s a boot or a loafer. It’s not about reinventing the wheel; whenever I push too far outside my comfort zone, I usually wish I’d kept things simpler. That’s where the details come in. A statement earring or necklace (Julietta* is a current favourite), a sock with a loafer, a red lip, or a vintage clutch. Small tweaks that add personality and make the same base outfit feel considered rather than repetitive. As I’ve gotten older, fabric and quality matter far more than newness. I’d rather own less but better, and this approach naturally lends itself to outfit repeating, which saves me from overthinking an outfit.
Reva Luft, Trouping
When I’m feeling uninspired with my wardrobe, I go back to references, and the very last thing I do is shop. I actually reserve shopping for when I’m feeling most inspired, not least. That’s a common mistake I see with clients: they assume a lack of inspiration can be solved with new clothes. It usually can’t. New ideas work far better, so I browse Pinterest and my phone's screenshot folder (tip: iPhones automatically create an album just for screenshots). I try to shift away from thinking about what’s exciting and focus instead on what already works. I review the images and choose six to focus on, then put them into a new album. Using too many references gets overwhelming. I like to keep it digestible. It helps me zero in on what’s actually getting me excited. And it's easier to identify a pattern or theme in those images. And that's usually the click that helps bring me right back to what I love, but in a way that feels fresh again. What’s funny is that these images often spark outfits I might’ve worn anyway. But the act of being intentional—of doing it on purpose—is what makes me feel creatively inspired.
And my biggest tip for those mornings or dinners when getting ready feels really hard:
Wear what you wore yesterday and change one thing. To me there’s nothing more stylish than wearing what you love over and over again. But you need do it with pride.
Go tonal with one pop of contrast.
That’s how I get dressed most of the time.
Angie Uh, The Found Journal
I just wear the same thing I wore yesterday and will swap out 1-2 things. It's usually just switching into a different pair of bottoms or shoes, or adding an accessory, and it instantly feels new. It can be something easy like swapping from a jean to a trouser, or a sneaker into something more feminine like a ballet flat. I find this helps with decision fatigue while still letting me feel creative! Or I lean on a statement piece. It sounds a bit counterintuitive, but I’ll choose an interesting belt or shoe, a statement jean, or a really elevated coat, then pair back to my everyday comfort pieces (T-shirt, sweatshirt, jeans, etc.). The one statement piece does all the heavy lifting and helps me feel instantly creative and elevated, even if everything else feels more basic.
Kelly Klein, Kelly Klein
When getting dressed feels hard, I start with a sweater or sweatshirt as an anchor. Underneath, I choose between a white tee or a button-down. If it’s a tee, I add a necklace for hardware or a pop of colour. If it’s a button-down, I let the collar show for texture. Once the bottoms are on, the outfit clicks when you reveal a small sliver of your waist; even an inch is enough. That can be with a small front tuck, or lifting the hem with a clip or brooch. Avoid full tucks. Bringing the eye up to the narrow part of the waist keeps proportions balanced and makes even simple outfits feel pulled together.
Ardas Chandra, The Radiant Self
When I feel uninspired, it’s usually because I’m torn between wanting something easy and practical and wanting something a bit more creative and interesting. I’m always aiming for that sweet spot: chill and chic. On those days, my go-to trick is so simple — I put something grey on top. A heather grey t-shirt, a long-sleeve, or a crewneck sweatshirt always does the trick. Grey has a quiet visual intelligence to it. It’s never loud, yet it often becomes the glue of an outfit, bringing ease and balance. Think about it: it works with silver and gold, with any denim wash, with black tailored trousers, with white or cream, with animal prints, and with bright, bold colours. To me, it’s a true year-round colour. In my styling sessions, I always ask clients to grab a grey tee or crewneck sweatshirt (even if it’s borrowed from their partner’s closet). It’s a small magic trick for creating an outfit that feels undone yet polished.
Asta, Fit Happens
On days when getting dressed feels hard, I always start with one hero piece, i.e., something I genuinely love and feel excited to wear. It could be a Beyoncé T-shirt, a weird skirt, a great jacket. That one piece does the emotional heavy lifting for me. From there, I build the outfit one decision at a time. Let me illustrate with this video: First, I decide whether I want the hero to really stand alone, or if I want to match its energy. In this case, I leaned into the vibe and paired the tee with a sequin skirt. That immediately made the outfit feel fun, but since I was getting dressed for work (with a fairly casual dress code), I knew I needed to calibrate it. So I added brown socks to tone things down. They’re matte, which creates a nice contrast against the sequins, while the brown keeps everything grounded and cohesive. Then I chose white shoes to match the overall energy of the outfit, still elevated, but not party-hard. Finally, I added a blazer to pull it back into ‘work’ territory and make the whole thing feel intentional rather than festive. That’s really the process: start with one piece you love, then respond to the outfit as it takes shape. If it feels too fun, add something serious. If it feels too serious, add play. You tweak until the vibe clicks. It might sound like a lot for a blah day, but it works because you’re never solving the whole outfit at once, just the next decision. There’s no pressure to nail a perfect result. You focus on the process, stay unattached, and somehow you always land somewhere satisfying.
Jordyn Sharfe, The Hardware Store
If my pants are uncomfortable, unforgiving, or not suited to the day’s activities, I am grumpy the second I walk out the door. So my styling trick is to start from the bottom. When I’m stuck, I rely on my favourite pair of pants at that moment to give me a mental morning boost. I’ll wear the same pair day after day for a few weeks at a time, until another pair in my closet lights me up. Most recently, it’s been a pair of chinos from Lemaire that I scored on sale.
Emily Urbano, The Look Buffet
January is always hard for me in the wardrobe department — post-Christmas clothes feel a little tighter after a well-deserved period of indulgence (no regrets), and even my most reliable outfit formulas — jeans, a jumper and a tailored coat — start to feel overworked by this point in winter. Because this wardrobe slump is so predictable (it happens every year), I plan for it. I spend an hour or so scrolling through my camera roll, revisiting outfits I loved wearing in years gone by. I recreate them or use them as a starting point, tweaking just one thing, then save the looks in a dedicated album (or in Indyx) so I’ve got instant inspiration on those tougher mornings.
Tina Boetto, Semi-Sustainable
Every time I see a great outfit, I save it to a longstanding ‘outfit inspo’ folder for when I'm having a ‘closet full of nothing to wear’ moment. It’s come in handy so many times, from a book club event to scarf styling during a cold snap in San Francisco. I'd been feeling completely over my wardrobe, and this iconic image of Lisa Przystup inspired me to reopen my tights drawer and finally invest in a red colourway. It totally refreshed some of my favourite outfit repeats. My folder never lets me down!
Irene Kim, In Moda Veritas
There are many days I’ll put on — without shame — the exact same thing I wore the day before. Often, the relief of having something on my body frees up just enough brain capacity to experiment. I take what I call the Base Outfit Approach: maybe switching out one blazer for another, or tying a scarf around my waist, or opting for a midi skirt instead of jeans. The end result is a different outfit and, sometimes, entirely different vibe. I do the same thing with photos on my phone: revisiting outfits that I’ve worn before, felt great in, and match the mood I’m in that morning. Sometimes I leave just like that; other times I try the Base Outfit Approach and end up coming up with something new!
Does anyone else feel pumped to get ready tomorrow?! Here are the biggest takeaways incase you fancy yourself a screengrab (or two!) to refer back to:
Let go of the pressure and go with the flow. Although having a plan and an ‘Emotional Support Outfit’ like Fanny is a great backup to have.
Identify the silhouettes you are drawn to most, as Lindsay suggested, and remix outfits within that.
Collect inspo pics as and when you find them, and make sure they are easy to reference. Personally, I use the ‘Collections’ feature on Indyx.
Speaking of Indyx, it can also help with outfit forward-planning or do a physical reset for the week ahead, like Rachel.
Akin to Kelly’s tip, I like to make sure that two out of three of the following list are tended to - hair, makeup or my outfit. It can pull the focus away, literally, from what you’re wearing and stop me from feeling like a complete turd.
A good starting point? Your universal, ‘goes with everything’ grey tee, sweater or knit, just like Ardas said.
Or wear where you wore yesterday and change just one or two things - or nothing at all! It worked! That’s what this spray is for*.
Accessories can make the biggest difference; funky shades, a fuzzy hood, I was thinking these could be fun for jazzing up a simple black coat. Small additions, big impact.
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Winter Outfits, Reading Recs, My Visionboard Template & My Christmas Break Camera Roll
January is SHOP YOUR WARDROBE month over on ‘The Wardrobe Edit’, a four-week-long content calendar that perfectly aligns with a January ‘no-buy’ or if you want to take a moment to press pause, reconnect with your wardrobe and fall back in love with what you already have. To gain full access to all the posts, you can upgrade to a paid subscription (THANK YOU!) with a limited-time 25% off! Along with all the content I post this month, you’ll unlock over 350+ posts, stacked with styling ideas, tips and formulas…
My Favourite Things of 2025
When I sat down to write my December favourites (as I do each month!), I had a moment of realisation that a yearly best-of would be FAR more fun. This might even be one of the fastest posts I’ve ever put together. These are all things I’m using, wearing, or doing daily, and if not, at least weekly.
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Wow this is amazing. What a great resource for when I’m feeling stuck. This is a print out for sure. Thank you for including me, I feel very honored. ❤️
Such a great list!! We should all have this pasted in our closet doors to reference each morning! Thanks for having me Anna ❤️❤️❤️