Find your Uniform

For 13 years of my life I wore a uniform 5 days a week and for the better part of most weekends.  I never really thought twice about it and it has been almost 10 years since then.  I have been slowly getting back into the idea of having a daily "uniform" - or - different variations of the same silhouette that I wear everyday.

 I have figured out that the key to finding your uniform is that it must be a silhouette flattering to your body type and it must be comprised of elements that are comfortable for you to wear daily.  The goal is to wake up every morning and not have to give your outfit much thought, yet still look like yourself and be well put together everyday.  It really is wonderful once you have experimented enough to find your uniform. 

Mine, at it's most bare bones, is this:

 Some sort of slouchy top, stretchy skinny jeans or boyfriend jeans in different washes, different styles of boots with a slight heel, infinity scarves, slouchy hats, bags that make a bit of a statement and can be carried across the body or on the arm, nerd glasses occasionally and big cocktail rings as my only jewelry most days.  And always, always loose messy hair.

I could give you 2-3 reasons why each piece works for me and why I'm comfortable in each piece.  For example, I will not wear tight skinny jeans without a lot of stretch anymore, I hate the feeling of something tight and restricting on my body.  I've also learned that a bit of a chunky heel on a boot makes me look 100 times better from the back! Yes people, please check out the back of yourself in a full length mirror before leaving the house.  Always.

What's really nice about finding your uniform is that you can still evolve and develop your personal style by updating one piece at a time, or tweaking the silhouette a bit towards something a little more fashion forward or a little more relaxed.

 I love it when one of my friends tells me that something they saw in a store looked "very me".  That means I have cultivated a personal style that is highly identifiable to the people around me.  It really is worth the time to try and find your best uniform. Many women have found a uniform that is comfortable for them, but how many can say that it is also flattering to their silhouette? I guarantee there is a uniform out there for you that is BOTH comfy and flattering.  You owe it to yourself to find it. Once you do you will feel so good about your body, your clothes and the image you're projecting.

  After all, sticking to what works for you regardless of what is "in" or "out" of fashion is what true renegade style is all about. 

Below are different variations of my uniform for different life events.  Of course sometimes a black-tie wedding will come along and you need to scrap the uniform for a night but I still stick to the aesthetic of my look by looking for a dress with some slouch, wearing my favorite badass heels and carrying a statement clutch.
Here are a couple examples of how I variate my uniform for different events:

To an art gallery opening:

For a night out:

You get the idea.
(Source: Polyvore)