How To Put Together Outfits: 13 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

Skip to ContentQuizzes

• PRO Courses Hot Guides Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade
• QUIZZES All Quizzes Hot Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Trivia Quizzes Taylor Swift Quizzes
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help ProAbout UsRandom ArticleQuizzes Request a New ArticleCommunity DashboardTrendingForums Arts and EntertainmentArtworkBooksMoviesComputers and ElectronicsComputersPhone SkillsTechnology HacksHealthMen's HealthMental HealthWomen's HealthRelationshipsDatingLoveRelationship Issues Hobbies and CraftsCraftsDrawingGamesEducation & CommunicationCommunication SkillsPersonal DevelopmentStudyingPersonal Care and StyleFashionHair CarePersonal Hygiene Quizzes Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Fun Games Arts and EntertainmentFinance and BusinessHome and GardenRelationship Quizzes Cars & Other VehiclesFood and EntertainingPersonal Care and StyleSports and Fitness Computers and ElectronicsHealthPets and AnimalsTravel Education & CommunicationHobbies and CraftsPhilosophy and ReligionWork World Family LifeHolidays and TraditionsRelationshipsYouth
• LOG IN

  Log in

  Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue. Facebook Google wikiHow Account No account yet? Create an account
• RANDOM

• Home
• Random
• Browse Articles
• TrendingNew
• Quizzes & Games
• All QuizzesHot
• Love Quizzes
• Personality Quizzes
• Fun Games
• Dating Simulator
• Learn Something New
• Forums
• Courses
• Happiness Hub
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow

• Log in / Sign up

Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow

• Categories
• Personal Care and Style
• Fashion
• Fashion Wardrobes
• Putting Together Outfits

How to Put Together Outfits Download Article Co-authored by Kathi Burns, CPO®

Last Updated: February 17, 2026

Download Article

• Choosing Your Clothing
|
• Putting Together Your Outfits
|
• Expert Q&A
|
• Tips
|
• Warnings

|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by Kathi Burns, CPO®. Kathi Burns is a board certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Organized and Energized!, her consulting business with a mission to empower people to master their environment and personal image by assisting them in taking control, making change and organizing their lives. Kathi has over 17 years of organizing experience and her work has been featured on Better Homes and Gardens, NBC News, Good Morning America, and Entrepreneur. She has a BS in Communication from Ohio University. This article has been viewed 251,317 times.

Getting outfits together can be such a hassle, especially in the morning when you're getting ready to go to school or to work. Not to worry, once you get the hang of it, you'll be putting lots of fun, amazing outfits together in no time!

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 2:

Choosing Your Clothing

Download Article

1. 1 Organize your closet. A lot of times when we don't know what to wear or how to put together an outfit it means that it is time to organize our closet. Organizing means it will be easier to locate the clothes you want for the outfits you'll be putting together and it will remind you what you own in way of clothing.
   • Get rid of anything you almost never wear. There is no point in keeping around something you wear only once or twice. Make space for the items you will wear. Make a rule for yourself: every 6 months clean out your wardrobe. The stuff you just can't throw away, put in storage and if in the next 6 months you haven't looked for it, to charity or friends it has to go.
   • When you're organizing you want to make sure that you will have easy access to your clothes. An easy way of organizing them is by item, so all the t-shirts together, all the sweaters together, all the dresses together, and so on. It makes it easier to find them when you know where the items of clothing will be. And if you organize them by color it's a win-win situation for you.[1]
2. 2 Make sure you have essential wardrobe tops. You'll need a few basic tops that are the foundation of your wardrobe. These tops should be versatile and trend-proof. It's best for your basic wardrobe components to be in neutral colors like black, navy blue, white, and ivory so that you can mix and match them easily.[2] The best is to stick to more classical designs than to follow every season trend. Get a scarf or some jewelry that represents the season. Accessories can be an easy and cheap way to make the same outfit look different every day of the week.
   • Casual tops: these are tops like short and long sleeve t-shirts, camisoles and tank tops (which are particularly good for under sweaters). Invest in good quality and simple colors.
   • A few dressy blouses. Blouses can be worn under blazers or button-down cardigans. They can give a good bit of class to an outfit. Wear them with jeans, with a skirt and boots, or with jewelry.
   • You'll want to add some sweaters, button-down cardigans, or pullovers in neutral colors to wear with your casual tops and blouses. They are really good for layering purposes, especially if you live in a climate that runs warm and cold on the same day. Simply dress up as an "onion", in layers: t-shirt, blouse, light cardigan, scarf, jacket, etc.
   • Good basic jackets to have are a plain black leather jacket, a neutral peacoat, a lightweight neutral trench coat, and a blazer. Blazers especially can be worn on their own in mild, spring-type weather or they can be worn with something like a peacoat. (A peacoat is a rough woolen jacket that has a row of buttons on either side, but only buttons on one side. You can sometimes see them on doormen for hotels.)
   Advertisement
3. 3 Make sure you have essential wardrobe bottoms. These are the jeans and trousers and skirts that make up the basis of what you'll wear with the tops. Again, you'll want to go for neutral colors and styles that won't change with every fashion.
   • Trousers: you'll want a couple of pairs of jeans (a basic pair that you can dress up or down, and a casual pair that's for down house projects and lounging around), some neutral dressier trousers. For colder areas, a thick tweed is a good fabric for dressier trousers. It's best to choose straight or boot-cut jeans in dark blue, works perfectly with pumps or heels when you need a casual outfit. Every wardrobe must have black tailored trousers. You will wear them more than you think.
   • Skirts: having a tailored skirt and a casual skirt is good for your wardrobe. There are nice pencil skirts and more fitted skirts which are 'tailored' skirts, or the more floaty, knee-length spring skirts that are good for your more casual needs. If you have a pear-shaped figure, invest in an A-line, tailored skirt; it will compliment your figure and will work with nearly every sweater, blouse, or jacket. It will look good with pumps or boots too.
   • Dresses: having some basic, neutral dresses can be a good basis for any outfit. The reason the little black dress is such a closet staple is that it is so versatile. You can dress it up or down and black, of course, goes with everything. If you're not into black, find a simple dress in navy, white, or ivory. Black dresses come in so many different styles and shape that once you find the right one they will become your second skin. Even for summer dresses, you can stick with the same style of dress just in brighter colors. It's handy to find a good tailor to make needed alterations so you can have the best dresses possible.
4. 4 Gather accessories. Accessories especially can add an individual element to your wardrobe without overwhelming you. Belts, jewelry, handbags, scarves, and hosiery are great in neutral colors as well as funkier, brighter styles. A bright scarf with a black t-shirt and fitted jeans can be a fun, easy outfit. You don't have to invest a lot but you will still look great and stylish.
   • Handbags: if you have a specific color palette, (like you tend to wear greens and blues and grays) grab a handbag in a complementary color (like a mustard yellow, or gold), to add a little spice to your ensemble. Make sure that your handbag is functional too. A good idea is to have one main bag that you use every day (one in neutral colors so that it goes with your different outfits) and a range of bags that you use for more specific occasions, like going to a concert or going out to a fancy restaurant.
   • Jewelry: jewelry is very much according to individual preference. You'll need to figure out what you like and work with that. Maybe you prefer chunkier, geometric jewelry, or pearls. Jewelry can be used as a highlight to your outfit or can be the highlight of your outfit depending on your specific style.
   • Belts: the best basic kinds of belts are wide and skinny belts. If you get them in neutral or complementary to your wardrobe colors they can make a great addition. Wide belts especially look good on just about everyone as long as you find the right size. If your outfit is looking boring slip on a skinny belt to add a little fun.
   • Scarves: these are both functional (they can be warm and cozy) and great fashion statements. Getting a few neutral scarves is a great idea, but you can also mix it up with patterns you like and bright colors.
   • Hosiery: these include tights, leggings, and socks. Get some sheer black or nude tights to wear with skirts and dresses. Get leggings in neutral colors and get socks that go with your shoes (wearing black socks with white flats, for instance, can look a little weird). You can also get some fun hosiery like sparkly silver tights, or galaxy leggings. You could wear them with your little black dress, a nice cardigan, and some exciting earrings.
5. 5 Get versatile shoes. Shoes are really important to make a fun and comfortable outfit. You'll need a few different styles of basic footwear in your closet to draw from when creating outfits. Different shoes go better with different items of clothing. Something to remember, light colored shoes (especially white ones) can get dirty really fast, so make sure you consider that when picking your shoe color! You should have a pair of classic high heels ( black for winter, fall time and beige for summer, some basic pumps, and boots).
   • Flats are great with jeans, skirts, and dresses. They can be dressy or not depending on the occasion. It's good to have at least one neutral pair (again; neutral colors are good!) and a few that are more exciting, like patent red leather, or shiny silver.
   • Boots, especially in colder places, are very important. You can get some casual black or gray boots, or some fancy heeled ones that you can couple with jeans or a dress. Ankle boots are really good with skinny jeans and with skirts.
   • Casual sneakers for those casual jeans that you have. You can wear these out and about with skirts or use them when you go on a really nice long walk. They're comfortable and you can do housework or yard work in them (you don't want to get your nice things dirty).
6. 6 Find some key statement pieces. These are pieces that are very individual to you. They can be jewelry, hosiery, shoes, scarves, or all of the above. These types of pieces brighten up an otherwise neutral outfit and make it more exciting and more individual.
   • For instance, you could have a brightly colored floral dress that you could wear with black leggings, knee-high black boots, a green cardigan (to match the stems of the flowers on the dress) and a grey scarf. Or you could get really bold and wear the dress with crimson pumps.
   • Another example could be a royal purple blouse that you wear with jeans, to dress it down, or with a black pencil skirt and grey boots.
Advertisement

Part 2 Part 2 of 2:

Putting Together Your Outfits

Download Article

1. 1 Work around one item. A good way to make putting your outfit together easier is to pick one item and craft the entire outfit around that item. Usually, the specific item is one of the statement pieces, but it doesn't have to be.
   • Example: If you're looking to showcase a big gorgeous necklace, wear a plain, neutral t-shirt with a neck that's cut so that the necklace can be seen. Pair this with jeans and a pair of flats. This way the necklace acts as the most important part of the outfit with nothing to draw attention away from it.
   • You can also work an outfit around a specific color.[3] So for instance, one week you could wear something red each day and make outfits around that color and the next week you could move on to the green. For instance, you could pair a red skirt with a black blouse, navy tights, black boots, and blue jewelry.
2. 2 Pick your 'uniform.' This means find the two or three basic ensembles you like to wear and put together outfits using these as bases, while you mix things up a little. These will be the outfits that you feel most comfortable in.
   • For example, you could find that you tend towards an ensemble of skinny jeans (black and denim), a few different t-shirts (both long and short sleeve) with varying footwear (for instance, you could dress the outfit up with a pair of ankle boots or some flats). If you wear a lot of jeans you could mix things up a bit by rolling up the cuffs (a good spring or summer variation).
   • You could vary between jeans and a sweater and skirts and a sweater. This would give you more range. The color and type of sweater could change and you could vary it with different jewelry, scarves, and shoes, but the basic outfit would either be jeans and a sweater or a skirt and sweater.
3. 3 Mix and match. Mixing and matching clothing is your basis for choosing different outfits each day. This way you don't have to wear the same t-shirt and jeans routine that you always do (although that's perfectly okay if that's what you like).
   • Using a black blazer as an example: you could put the blazer with jeans, a white t-shirt, a bright blouse, and flats. You could pair the blazer with a pale spring skirt, ankle boots, and chunky jewelry. Or you could put the blazer over a long, colorful summer dress and wear sandals.
   • With only 8 different pieces of clothing you can make a variety of outfits. Pick a solid colored and a print t-shirt, a pair of jeans, a skirt, a dress, a cardigan, a blouse, and a vest. You could wear the print t-shirt with the jeans and the vest and a pair of sandals. You could wear the dress, the cardigan, and a skinny belt, or the dress, the vest and a pair of boots. You could pair the skirt with each of the tops in turn and wear either the vest or the cardigan over them. Pair with jewelry, a scarf, and shoes.
4. 4 Think seasonal. You can change your wardrobe around as the season's change (if you live in a place where that happens). Save the warmer scarves and sweaters for fall and winter along with your warmer jackets.[4]
   • Have boots work as your cool weather footwear, while flats and sandals can be your warm weather go-to's.
   • Colors, too, can change depending on the season. In warmer parts of the wear, you could wear paler colors to keep you cooler and more floral prints to reflect the flowers. In winter it's fun to wear some brighter colors especially if you live in a dark or rainy place so that your bright gold scarf or red dress brings a flare of color to an otherwise drably-colored day.
5. 5 Create a style library. As you try out outfits, mixing and matching and determining what your base style is, take pictures, or write down a description, of each outfit. This way you can remember what worked and what didn't so that you either recreate the outfit, or you can remember that that particular outfit didn't work.
   • This can also help you decide what to wear if you're feeling unsure. Just go back through your outfit photos and pick the one you liked the best. You'll feel confident because you know it looks good and your decision will have been made.
6. 6 Look for outfit ideas. Look everywhere for outfit ideas. Look at mannequins in store windows, look at catalogs and fashion magazines, and look at what people are wearing as you're out and about. These will give you ideas for what you can try out.
   • You don't have to go out and buy all new things based on an outfit you saw in a magazine or on the street. Instead, go through your wardrobe and see what clothing you already own that you can use to recreate the look. This way you won't be copying exactly, you'll be putting your own style onto it.
7. 7 Experiment. This is the most important part of putting together outfits and especially in getting good at it. You have to try out different styles and clothes and outfits before you find the ones that you really like.
   • Only re-wear the outfits that you liked and that you felt comfortable and confident in. Comfort and confidence are the keys to looking good.
Advertisement

Quiz Pack: We’ve handpicked these quizzes just for you.

You’ve read the article, now get personalized advice with wikiHow Quizzes. Each quiz is carefully researched and even endorsed by experts. Have fun and get the expert advice you need! 1 What Is My Style Quiz 2 What Is My Aesthetic Quiz 3 What Should I Wear Today Quiz

Expert Q&A

Search Add New Question

• Question How can I look put together? Kathi Burns, CPO® Image Consultant Kathi Burns is a board certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Organized and Energized!, her consulting business with a mission to empower people to master their environment and personal image by assisting them in taking control, making change and organizing their lives. Kathi has over 17 years of organizing experience and her work has been featured on Better Homes and Gardens, NBC News, Good Morning America, and Entrepreneur. She has a BS in Communication from Ohio University. Kathi Burns, CPO® Image Consultant Expert Answer It can help to plan your outfits to coordinate colors. Start with something neutral, like black, brown, navy, or grey, and pair it with something that has a bright pop of color. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 8
• Question How do I get a classy look? Kathi Burns, CPO® Image Consultant Kathi Burns is a board certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Organized and Energized!, her consulting business with a mission to empower people to master their environment and personal image by assisting them in taking control, making change and organizing their lives. Kathi has over 17 years of organizing experience and her work has been featured on Better Homes and Gardens, NBC News, Good Morning America, and Entrepreneur. She has a BS in Communication from Ohio University. Kathi Burns, CPO® Image Consultant Expert Answer A plain white blouse is an elegant look that you can wear for almost any occasion. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 7

Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

Reader Videos

Tips

• Don't always go by the current trends, they change too quickly to keep up with. Wear what you feel comfortable in! Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
• Don't try too hard. If you keep adding and adding to an outfit, it will not work. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• If you can't decide what clothes to put together, think of colors and seasons. For example, summer colors might have blue, yellow, and pink. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

Show More Tips

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

• If you have lighter hair, like blonde, then try wearing darker colors. If you have darker hair, then try outfits that have lighter colors.
• Put the things you never wear in the back of your closet and the ones that you do wear in the front so you can see all of your favorites.
• Look around for lots of different ideas. Get inspired by what your friends wear or even from displays in shop windows!
• Try planning out your outfits for the week ahead of time so you can practice putting together your whole wardrobe.

Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

• You can spend a fortune buying all these new clothes so look through all of the clothes in your wardrobe first! Thanks Helpful 131 Not Helpful 19
• Fashion is for one season and your own style - for life! Thanks Helpful 47 Not Helpful 5
• If you want to alter some clothes to suit current trends be careful with needles! Thanks Helpful 81 Not Helpful 43
• Don't get too hung up in this fashion life, because the more time you spend picking the perfect outfit can lead to vanity. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 1

Advertisement

You Might Also Like

How toCreate a Classic Wardrobe How toPick Out an Outfit How toBecome Fashionable How toLook Stylish Every Day How Many Clothes Should Be in a Capsule Wardrobe? How toFind the Perfect Outfit Everything You Need In Your Teen Girl Wardrobe How toDevelop a Good Fashion Sense How toDress How toBe a Stylish Girl How toBe Stylish While Being Casual How toBuild a Stylish Wardrobe (Guys) How toDress More Feminine How toDress for School Advertisement

References

1. ↑ Kathi Burns, CPO®. Board Certified Professional Organizer. Expert Interview
2. ↑ Kathi Burns, CPO®. Board Certified Professional Organizer. Expert Interview
3. ↑ Kathi Burns, CPO®. Board Certified Professional Organizer. Expert Interview
4. ↑ Kathi Burns, CPO®. Board Certified Professional Organizer. Expert Interview

About This Article

Co-authored by: Kathi Burns, CPO® Image Consultant This article was co-authored by Kathi Burns, CPO®. Kathi Burns is a board certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Organized and Energized!, her consulting business with a mission to empower people to master their environment and personal image by assisting them in taking control, making change and organizing their lives. Kathi has over 17 years of organizing experience and her work has been featured on Better Homes and Gardens, NBC News, Good Morning America, and Entrepreneur. She has a BS in Communication from Ohio University. This article has been viewed 251,317 times. 35 votes - 82% Co-authors: 26 Updated: February 17, 2026 Views: 251,317 Categories: Putting Together Outfits Article SummaryX

To put together your outfits, choose an item, such as a necklace or red skirt, to build your outfit around. For example, you could try wearing a plain t-shirt with a neckline that shows off the necklace. Another way you can build your outfit is by mixing and matching pieces of clothing, like by wearing a black blazer with jeans and a t-shirt, or with a summer dress. If you're looking for fresh ideas, try to find inspiration in fashion magazines or online. For tips on how to mix and match or what clothes to add to your closet, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

In other languages Russian Italian Spanish French Chinese German Indonesian

• Print
• Send fan mail to authors

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 251,317 times.

Reader Success Stories

• 

  Gloria Herrod

  Dec 20, 2017

  "The specific steps are great. I will use everything when I redo my closet and when time to put an outfit together,..." more

More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story

Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Kathi Burns, CPO® Image Consultant Co-authors: 26 Updated: February 17, 2026 Views: 251,317 82% of readers found this article helpful. 35 votes - 82% Click a star to add your vote

Gloria Herrod

Dec 20, 2017

"The specific steps are great. I will use everything when I redo my closet and when time to put an outfit together,..." more

Cj Mostert

Jul 22, 2017

"My boyfriend and I got invited to a night club launch. With these ideas, I will look like a million dollars!" Rated this article:

Ella Nolan

Nov 11, 2018

"I now know how to look cute and have my own style with the choice of clothing I have."

Jessica

Apr 28, 2019

"This article is awesome! It helped me so much. I highly recommend it. " Rated this article:

R. M. Jackson

Oct 7, 2017

"Helped me with how to put together a wardrobe with 8 pieces." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

Quizzes & Games

What Should I Wear Today QuizTake QuizWhat's My Clothing Style Quiz (For Men)Take QuizWhat Is My Style QuizTake QuizWhat Should I Wear Tomorrow? Styling QuizTake QuizFashion Stylist QuizTake QuizStyle Finder QuizTake Quiz

You Might Also Like

How toCreate a Classic WardrobeHow toPick Out an OutfitHow toBecome FashionableHow toLook Stylish Every Day

Featured Articles

What 16 of the Most Common Hugs MeanJuicy, Deep, & Hot-Seat Questions to Get to Know Your Friends Better40+ Talking Games to Play with Friends, Partners & MoreHow toMake Friends

Trending Articles

Do I Have Brainrot QuizWhat Emojis Mean Sex?What Pokémon Am I Quiz151 of the Juiciest “Most Likely To” Questions to AskSigns a Woman is Sexually Attracted to YouDo You Agree with These Hygiene Hot Takes?

Featured Articles

The Different Types of People You Can Find in a Friend GroupAn Introduction to Kibbe Body Types (with Styling Tips!)Being the Little Spoon While Cuddling: Is It Better Than the Big Spoon?From Alpha to Omega: A Guide to the 7 Male Personalities

Featured Articles

7 Easy Card Magic Tricks You Can Master in MinutesHow to Perform Magic: 8 Tricks for BeginnersHow toHypnotize SomeoneThe Easiest Guinness World Records to Break: Which Will You Try?How to Solve a Rubik's Cube in 20 MovesHow toWhistle with Two Fingers

Watch Articles

How toGrow Out Your BangsHow toDress PunkHow toEnd a Long Distance RelationshipHow toDo E Girl EyelinerHow toRespond to the Fire EmojiHow to Stop Your Glasses from Making Your Eyes Look Small

Trending Articles

Do You Agree with These "Hear Me Out" Character Hot Takes?Am I More Hannah Montana or Miley Stewart?The Most Attractive Zodiac Signs & What Makes Each Sign Beautiful24 Different Types of Bras ExplainedWhat Are the Korean Animal Face Types? (And Which Type Do You Have?)Can Your Finger Length Tell Your Personality?

Quizzes & Games

What Do I Look Like QuizTake QuizWhat Makeup Should I Wear QuizTake QuizMakeup Quiz: Discover The Perfect Stye For YouTake QuizMy Shoe + My Year GeneratorGenerateWhat Color Season Am I QuizTake QuizEngagement Ring QuizTake Quiz

• Categories
• Personal Care and Style
• Fashion
• Fashion Wardrobes
• Putting Together Outfits

wikiHow Newsletter You're all set! Helpful how-tos delivered toyour inbox every week! Sign me up! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy.

• Home
• About wikiHow
• Experts
• Jobs
• Contact Us
• Site Map
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info
• Contribute

Follow Us

×

wikiHow Tech Help Pro:

Develop the tech skills you need for work and life

Let's do this! X --514