Ten Easy Casual Outfit Formulas

Outfit formulas remove the guesswork. Once you know a combination works, you can swap colors and fabrics and it still looks intentional.

The formulas

• White tee, straight-leg jeans, loafers and a leather belt

• Striped long-sleeve top, dark jeans and ballet flats

• Oversized sweater, slim trousers and ankle boots

• Button-up shirt half-tucked into wide-leg jeans with sneakers

• Knit cardigan worn as a top, midi skirt and flat sandals

• Tank top, linen trousers and an open overshirt

• Fine-knit polo, tailored shorts and loafers

• Sweatshirt, slip skirt and clean white sneakers

• Turtleneck, jeans and a long coat

• T-shirt dress, denim jacket and low boots

Why they work

Each formula balances a relaxed piece with a polished one. The relaxed piece keeps it comfortable; the polished piece — a loafer, a crisp shirt, a structured bag — makes it look put together.

Making them your own

Change one variable at a time: color, texture or proportion. A cream sweater instead of gray, suede boots instead of leather, a cropped jean instead of a full-length one. Small changes give you many outfits from the same idea.