Amy's Elevated Casual Uniform

It’s 4:00 pm and I’ve stopped by Whole Foods to pick something up for dinner yet again and I bump into a friend. “Oh did you just work out?” she asks me. I sheepishly respond that no, I worked out at 9 this morning, but somehow never made it out of my workout clothes. And I know this is you too, because I’ve also bumped into YOU at Whole Foods and you’re also still in your leggings. Granted athleisure has become a whole new wardrobe category, but the reality is that we tend to feel better about ourselves when we make the effort to put on something a little nicer.

There are even studies that show that people tend to be more productive when they dress for the part they’re playing that day, whether it’s to be a productive mom, going to work or even if you’re just meeting a friend for coffee. Clothing can be empowering. But I hear time and time again, and definitely agree, that finding comfortable but put together casual clothes are the hardest outfits to put together and because of that, there’s less of an incentive to change out of those soft, forgiving sweatpants.

So, I have come up with some general rules that have lead to the formation of my elevated casual uniform:

Jeans that have some stretch.

If they have too much stretch I start off feeling like a sausage, but end up with baggy knees after all of the driving to afternoon activities. Less stretch tends to keep its shape better, yet loosen up as you wear them.

Flat or low heel shoes.

Comfort is important as is being able to move around during a busy day. There are so many cool options, from flat ankle boots, to dressed up sneakers and chunky loafers.

Layers on top.

The temperatures seems to fluctuate so much between the outside, the car and different buildings, so I like to have either a tee-shirt, knit shell or button down with a blazer or a cardigan so that my outfit looks complete whether I have the outer layer on or off.

Add an accessory.

Earrings or necklaces can change the vibe of your outfit in an instant.

Change your handbags. I LOVE to change my bags. I don’t wear a lot of color or print, so often my bag will be a way for me to make a different statement or pull together my outfit.

The reality is that I still end up in my workout clothes a few days a week, but if I have a mental plan for how to dress for the day, I have a much better chance of making it out of the house in something that I feel good in and that better represents who I am.

If you’re still perplexed about what I call “elevated day wear”, I’d love to spend a few hours in your closet making outfits! Yes- we really do that.

Happy Fall! And hope to see you soon.
xo Amy