Why uniform dressing is the ultimate power move
image via @greceghanem/instagram
Words by Lauren Di Bartolo
“It’s not just psychological benefits that uniform dressing can bring to your daily human experience.”
Lauren Di Bartolo is a fashion stylist and human behaviour expert based in Melbourne. An industry innovator and founder of Australian Style Institute, she has spent decades observing the relationship between people and their clothes. She’s a regular contributor to Fashion Journal, answering our burning style questions in her fortnightly column.
Imagine having a go-to wardrobe that works for your body shape, lifestyle and your personal aesthetic. Mornings wouldn’t just look different, there’s a good chance you’d also gain from a range of psychological benefits.
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…I can already feel my anxiety reducing. It’s estimated that the average person makes over 35,000 decisions daily and of those, women make about 34 wardrobe related decisions each morning alone. The answer to this problem? Uniform dressing.
Uniform dressing starts with knowing what you want your style to communicate about you as a person, and about your aesthetic preferences and values.
When we think of some of the best dressed people, it’s often those who have a strong sense of personal style who come to mind. I’m sure you have a friend you can think of, someone who always layers jewellery really well, or is always in an interesting colour palette, mixed with texture that makes a simple outfit feel interesting.
Grece Ghanem and Denny Balmaceda are great examples of the power of uniform dressing. You’ll notice that Grece’s looks always have trend references, usually from classic pieces that lean a lot on colour and resort styles. This resonates with us as her outfits always feel ageless and youthful.
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Danny on the other hand, is a great example of someone who has a really specific style, which I think is the antithesis of what many people would think ‘uniform dressing’ can be. It’s preppy, nostalgic and it leans into a modern day Americana aesthetic.
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So, what are the benefits of uniform dressing?
It’s not just psychological benefits that uniform dressing can bring to your daily human experience – I’ve also seen first hand how it can be a power move both personally and professionally.
But first, let’s get something clear, uniform dressing isn’t about wearing the same exact outfit every day (unless you want to!). It’s about curating consistent, go-to style options that work for your lifestyle, body type and personal aesthetic, emphasising individuality over mass-uniformity. So how can a uniform wardrobe help us, exactly?
Reduce decision fatigue to free up mental energy
Science has backed this up for years: too many choices drain our brainpower. This is one of the reasons why Steve Jobs championed the ‘same items in multiples’ approach to dressing.
Extensive options are usually a result of chasing trends, which can be exhausting, not to mention expensive. A defined uniform helps you resist impulse buys and focus on versatile, quality pieces that actually suit you.
Help manage fashion-related anxiety
We’ve all experienced those ‘nothing looks good on me’ days. Trying on more options doesn’t always mean you feel better in the final outfit selected, usually it’s the opposite and we feel heightened stress rather than increased confidence.
Reduce waste and spend, feel good about less
Fast fashion thrives on overconsumption. When you invest in fewer, better pieces that mix and match, you naturally reduce waste and save money in the long run.
Enhance our self-perception
What we wear influences how we perceive ourselves and the people around us, and the flow on effect of this is huge. Positive feedback, compliments, recognition – it all compounds. If you’re wanting to reposition how the people around you see you, look at your ‘uniform’ as an opportunity for a personal re-brand.
How do you start uniform dressing?
Start by finding style references you like. Choose variations of the same colour palette or shades of the same colour (this is tonal dressing). Focus on garment fit and quality construction, and have a good mix of staples with some personality or fun pieces.
To learn more about the Australian Style Institute, head here.
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