How to get the look in no time
WE OFTEN underestimate the time it takes to look good. This is the reason why some people, when talking about a bad outfit, will say that “she looks like she woke up and threw on whatever she had and ran out the door!”
But, what if it was possible to throw pieces of clothing together in minutes and still ace the style stakes?
Would this not save people a lot of time?
Although it may be hard to wrap one’s head around the concept of getting dressed and looking good in minutes, the truth that is it is possible, according to celebrity stylist Thabang Mashiloane. He maintains that there are reasons people struggle with getting an outfit together in minutes, and says that it all leads back to uncoordination.
“One of the reasons most people find getting dressed up such a hassle is that they often have uncoordinated wardrobes. There is no direction, and usually, there are clothes everywhere, from formal pieces to T-shirts, all sprawled out in a disorganised manner in their closets. This can lead to confusion and a tough time deciding what to wear.
“Another reason is that people have an eclectic mix of clothing, which can lead to more confusion. While there is nothing wrong with having different pieces and playing around with fashion, it is always a good idea to keep ‘your look’ in mind when acquiring fashion pieces. Know your style, and what look you want to represent you when you leave your house and face the world. So, you can get different types of clothes, but as long as there is one main theme that speaks to who you are, then choosing an outfit should not be such a difficult decision, because everything that you choose to wear will not be such a hassle.”
Mashiloane says it is important for both men and women to have “go-to” outfits to avoid the task of getting dressed being daunting.
What are go-to outfits you may wonder? Mashiloane says they are the basics that every wardrobe should have. “Go-to outfits are the foundation of your wardrobe. They are pieces of clothing that can easily, within minutes, be dressed up or down, and would not require too much effort in doing so. Both men and women must have these and must always keep this principle in mind when doing their clothing shopping. They are what we call staple pieces, and when you have these in your wardrobe, the rest can be add-on pieces, like accessories for example, to amplify the look.”
Top go-to pieces for a woman’s wardrobe:
The classic highwaisted skirt
Flared, well-fitting pants
A power suit
A silhouette dress
These items are a solid winner in the wardrobe as any combination helps achieve that effortless look. The flared pants and high-waisted skirt can always be paired with a classic chiffon blouse, or beautifully tucked in crisp white shirt. Black, blue and hues of grey make an excellent colour choice for flared pants and highwaisted skirts, as these colours can be paired with almost any colour of blouse or top, and you do not have to waste time deciding which colour goes well with which.
The power suit can always be dressed up or down by simply alternating between the jacket and pants, and both can be paired with beautiful colourful shirts.
The silhouette dress is the ultimate go-to look, as it does not require too much time spent on what top or pants to wear with it. It fits your body beautifully, and you instantly have a full outfit. You can pair it with minimal accessories, a pair of high heels or flats, depending on the occasion, and you are ready to go.
Getting dressed in minutes for men:
“It is believed that men get ready in the morning much faster than women do, but the wardrobe struggle can equally be experienced by both sexes.
Getting ready in the morning should be easy for any man with these items in his wardrobe:
A crisp white, long sleeved shirt
Navy blue, or khaki (or both) chinos
Navy blue jeans (not ripped)
A well-fitting, navy blue power suit
A golf T-shirt
The classic checked, long-sleeved shirt
Pairing your navy blue chinos with a crisp white shirt, matching brown shoes and belt makes for a sleek and effortless look.
Pairing chinos with a golf T-shirt, tucked in, and throwing a blazer on top helps transform the relaxed casual look into a semi-formal look that can be worn out to dinner, an event or even a relaxed business lunch.
Wearing your classic checked or crisp white shirt with jeans can go down well in any office space, and substituting the shirt with your golf tee gets you in after-work drinks mode in no time.
“Go-to outfits are the foundation of your wardrobe and staple pieces