Whether or not you enjoyed probability theory in high school, I highly recommend trying to draw a tree diagram with every single piece of clothing and accessory you own. The first set of branches would be for your bottoms, the second for your tops, followed by outerwear, shoes, scarves, hats, and finally, jewelry. Then count up all the paths. The result is an estimated projection of potential outfit combinations (or events, as we mathematicians like to say) so big it will make you drop all your shopping bags and gasp for air. You’ll never wail, “I have nothing to wear!“ ever again.
For illustrative purposes, I followed the branches of my own tree diagram to style a single black dress for three different kinds of weddings. For event number one, I went down the beach wedding path and ended up with a combination of said dress, a pair of flip flops, a vintage crochet scarf, bangles and a flower brooch. Path two led me to a black-tie-ready outfit featuring long drama gloves, fake pearls and caramel-colored high heels. Path number three generated a look fit for a garden reception in the Cotswolds, complete with two-tone pumps, vibrant earrings and a draped cardigan. And all that, my friends, with just one dress!
The trick is to not think of this exercise as repetition, but rather as improvisation. The constraints of working with what you already have not only make you a more conscious consumer, they also challenge you to strive for more creative results. The best outfits I have ever put together almost never included brand-new items, but rather things I had already worn a couple of times. Pablo Picasso managed to paint over 400 portraits of his second wife Jaqueline, each of them one-of-a-kind. I’m obviously not comparing myself to Picasso here (or am I???), I’m just saying that true art isn’t limited to shocking with the never-seen; it can also manifest from playing with the well-known.
So, the next time you’re going through a wardrobe crisis, whether because of the third wedding invitation in four weeks, a first date or just a regular Friday evening, take a deep breath, open your closet and shop the shit out of it. If needed, your tree diagram will be happy to assist.
#1: For when the wedding is at a Floridian beach. Or any beach. Or in rainy Berlin. Remember life is a beach if you make it one!
#2: For when your wedding guest job is to make the party more dramatic. Please take this duty seriously.
#3: For when the ceremony is in a garden and you want to confuse the ladybugs in attendance. Hehe!
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Photos by Julien Barbès.
