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Happy Inauguration Week (photo source)! Usually, it is Michelle Obama who is the talk of the fashion world, but I recently read this Vanity Fair interview, specifically the excerpt below, that piqued my interest with regard to the President’s wardrobe:
You also need to remove from your life the day-to-day problems that absorb most people for meaningful parts of their day. “You’ll see I wear only gray or blue suits,” [President Obama] said. “I’m trying to pare down decisions. I don’t want to make decisions about what I’m eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make.” He mentioned research that shows the simple act of making decisions degrades one’s ability to make further decisions. It’s why shopping is so exhausting. “You need to focus your decision-making energy.” ~Page 4, Obama’s Way by Michael Lewis
This got me thinking about mothers and making decisions. How many decisions do mothers make in a day? Likely, MANY. If you removed the “What am I going to wear today?” decision, would your day run smoother? I’m guessing that, if you are like me, you have about 90 seconds to get dressed in the morning, between getting your kiddo(s) out of bed and helping them with breakfast. Here are two ways to decide what to wear in a snap!
The Minimal Closet
Limiting the number of color options in your closet would definitely cut down on the brain power needed to pair items. Focusing your wardrobe around a set of colors that all look good together (and on you) makes getting dressed, as President Obama points out, a no-brainer.
This idea could be implemented anytime you are buying a new wardrobe, for any reason. Maternity clothes? Only purchase them in a limited number of colors that all match. Starting a new job after some time off? Build your work wardrobe around the same idea.
If the idea intrigues you, try limiting yourself to one group of colors in your closet for two weeks. You may find out you love it!
Wear Three Colors
You also may find out the minimal closet strategy is not for you, or it may not be practical (or tempting) to get rid of half of your closet. Your closet is a rainbow of color and you love having all of the options. In this instance, the “wear three colors” approach may help you minimize your decisions around what to wear each morning. The basic rule is that each of your outfits contains three colors from top to bottom. This idea is relatively easy when two of your three colors are neutrals. Pick two neutrals and add a color with your third. Done.
If you want to get more creative with color, try the age-old color wheel! Yes, I’m talking about the color wheel you learned in your elementary school art class. The same color wheel advocated by the likes of Tim Gunn. How do you, pardon the expression, “make it work”?
Color wheel (photo source)
First off, black, brown and white go with any of the colors. One use of the color wheel is to pick a color and pair it with the color directly opposite (e.g. blue-violet and orange). Colors that are in 90-degree angles to each other also pair well (e.g. yellow and red-orange). To wear three colors, add a neutral into your color-wheel pairing (e.g. violet, yellow and brown).
You could also get all three colors from the color wheel by either picking three colors right next to each other (e.g. blue, blue-violet and violet) or picking colors that line up in a T-shape (e.g. green, red and blue-violet).
Print off a color wheel and hang it in your closet. You could also make the process even easier by organizing your closet by color.
Do any of you limit the color palette to your wardrobe a la President Obama? Have you tried it? What are some ways you try to minimize the “What am I going to wear today” conundrum? I’d love to hear in the comments!
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
you know me too well, so you already know. black is my staple. and making decisions?! I am the worst! maybe that’s why I stick to one color of shirts! haha
I love you and your black shirts, Brooke
Amy S recently posted.."New" Kitchen Table
I just talked with my DH about Obama’s decision (ha!) to only wear 2 suit colors. I think two advantages he has is that 1. the expectations on his wardrobe are already pretty limited and specific, and 2. he has a fashionista wife to take a lot of the pressure off.
But seriously, it is a really interesting and compelling idea to try to do in our own wardrobes. I think I already subscribe to the minimalist wardrobe based on just being a poor shopper and overwhelmed by how to diversify! But it doesn’t come with a feeling of calm…it makes me feel drab and uninspired. Maybe that is because the colors are black, grey and “is black, grey, blue…or just dirty?” Maybe trying to do the 3 color thing is the ticket! I’m going to take this to heart and try doing something fun with this idea!
Now…what to eat for breakfast????
Ali recently posted..11 = 1/3
I totally agree that Obama (and men who need to wear suits in general) have a slight edge on the whole deciding what to wear thing. My DH gets up, and puts on a suit. End of decision. I would also add that not only does Obama have a fashionable wife, but two fashionable daughters (as Hadyn brings up below) to take some pressure off
Also, just because one decides to have a “minimal wardrobe” in terms of color doesn’t mean that all of those colors have to be neutral. I know several people who only buy clothes that are color A or color B outside of neutrals.
I am not minimalist at all – I can’t imagine having to decide what colors to pick! – but I think it is an interesting concept that does work for some people.
Amy S recently posted.."New" Kitchen Table
Whoa. I’d never thought of the color wheel in this way. Amazing. You have changed my life.
Wow! Glad you think it is useful – I will add “life changer” to my resume, ha ha ha.
Amy S recently posted.."New" Kitchen Table
On inaugural day I really loved how Malia and Sasha had complimentary pink and purple coats, then they took them off and had complimentary blue and green dresses! So perfect.
I read that magazine article where Obama discusses how he cuts down on the number of decisions he makes a few months ago and thought it was a really smart idea. Bringing it back to clothing, I think having several pairs of neutral pants, like jeans and cords, really helps cut down on the time it takes to get dressed. I worry with the color wheel idea that some color combinations are TOO familiar- like green and red, or orange-green-purple. Mardi gras, anyone?
hadyn recently posted..Rosca de Reyes Part II: Three Kings’ Buns!
I feel your pain with some of the color wheel combos. I mean, I get that red + green work according to this theory, but I’m not rushing to try that one! I think to the extent that the color wheel gets one to try NEW combinations outside of pairing colors with neutrals are where it can be exciting, but also may push the comfort zone in all of us. Like I have tried out orange and pink and like it but orange and yellow? Not sure. One thing that is interesting is working with the different shades of each color if the basic colors are too bold. For example, using orange and pink (a shade of red) instead of orange and red. Thanks for the comment!
Amy S recently posted.."New" Kitchen Table
Honestly, I just wear the same things over and over and that helps minimize my conundrums!
I’m totally serious – though it does get boring, you know?
Missy | The Literal Mom recently posted..Dream Big? Ok. Let’s.
Sounds like you have a very easy (and smart) system, Missy! Having reliable clothes in your closet is a god-send. If you do on occasion get bored, you could throw on a new combination or an accessory or two. I am a firm believer that we have to do what works for us at any given time – sometimes I just don’t have the energy to wear something amazing, or even change out of my hooded sweatshirt and sweatpants that I wore to bed
I admire people who have a signature look and are able to pare their wardrobes down to their essentials, but I am much too eclectic for that strategy. I can’t even decide on a signature perfume… so many great ones to try!! Over the years I have developed a system that works for me, though. My basics are almost exclusively solid colors (and I’ve learned from my daughter that less pieces of good quality is better than loads of cheaply-made “bargains”) and I accessorize with prints and vivid colors, a variation on the three color rule. To save money I often buy basic pieces at end-of-season clearance sales, like the pretty cardigan I just found at 60% off that will take me right through the spring. From there, a beautiful scarf, cute jacket, leather belt, boots, or chunky jewelry add my personal statement to each outfit. These style and budget tips got me through my SAHM years with a touch of personal style. It has to be as easy as sweatpants, or SAHMs just don’t have time to make it work!
Great ideas, Maureen! Thanks for sharing!
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