The Art of Uniform Dressing

There’s something about color that cheers me up like ice cream does. Though I love color, I don’t wear as much of it as I would like because I have a hard time finding designs I love—so I find myself wearing a lot of black or neutrals since they’re timeless and easier to put together.

Makeup artists, designers and creative types often wear all black to give more focus and attention to their art and product rather than themselves, which brings me to the topic of uniform dressing.

Someone say “black turtleneck and jeans” and Steve Jobs would instantly come to mind with his signature look. Jobs actually enlisted Issey Miyake, his famous designer friend, to make him 100 custom pieces because he didn’t want to spend time thinking about what to wear every morning. So his turtlenecks weren’t just one or ordinary.

It’s fascinating to see that kind of mindset, focus and dedication to his craft as an inventor and designer, which is probably what made his products so successful. Just like he approached Apple designs with quality and simplicity, he gave his attire the same treatment.

Another famous uniform wearer was Karl Lagerfeld, former creative director of Chanel and Fendi⁠—white ponytail, dark shades, sharp suit and gloves (partly because it made his arms look longer) according to an article from Harper’s Bazaar.

The list goes on including Anna Wintour with her classic bob she’s kept since 14, floral dress and dark shades. Then there’s Mark Zuckerberg, who regularly wears his classic gray tee designed by luxury brand Brunello Cucinelli (reportedly costing around $300 a piece).

In the long list of famous people who wear the same outfit everyday, the uniform dress code is not uncommon and shows a kind of focused, perfectionist mindset that probably contributed to their success. A main reason people prefer uniform dressing is due to “decision fatigue.” When you have so many decisions to make in a day, relieving yourself of what to wear is one less decision to make.

Not having to worry about what to wear in the morning sounds great, but some of you might be thinking this isn't for you since you love color and variety so much. But uniform dressing doesn't have to mean being a minimalist, wearing black or neutrals all the time.

Case in point: Jenna Lyons and Iris Apfel are great examples of ones who are pros at wearing a lot of color (as maximalists), and they’re somehow able to make color their uniform.

Uniform dressing is more like developing a consistent personal style based on your preference, life and the way you work. If you're on a mission to create your own dress code, a good way to begin is by constructing your own capsule collection with about 20-25 articles of clothing that can all be mixed and matched.

Start with pieces that make you feel good and brands you know fit you the best. Or maybe you want to try something new and fresh. If you're looking for more color variety in your style repertoire, here are a few great color combinations to try out.

1. Periwinkle + Cotton Candy Pink
2. Mauve + Coral
3. Eggplant + Olive Green
4. Orange + Beige
5. Tomato + Mint Green
6. Lime + Guacamole
7. Kelly Green + Peanut Brown
8. Oxblood Red + Chartreuse
9. Fuchsia + Gray
10. Oxford Blue + Sky Blue

For more inspiration on developing your personal dress code, try creating a style vision board on a platform like Pinterest, clipping styles and colors that you don't just like, but LOVE.

It doesn't have to just be through clothing, but inspiration can come from anywhere including food, objects, architecture and interior design. Jonathan Adler and Philippe Starck are two lauded interior designers who can do wonders to a room, and it's easy to spot which spaces they've designed because of their uncanny ability to perfectly bring different colors and textures together.

Having a consistent personal style has great advantages since it can build your confidence and save you time in the morning, especially on days when you don't have time to think about what outfit to put together. And on the days when you do have a little more time to spare, you can use that extra time to fix yourself a nutritious snack in the kitchen or stop by your favorite café to grab your favorite latte.