7 Painfully Easy Outfits I Recommend to My Busy Friends

Fun fact: I’m that fashion person in my friend group. You know, the one that’s basically the sartorial sounding board. Yep, when someone needs split-second style advice, I’m the go-to. What can I say? I live for it. On that note, there’s one question I seem to get asked by my inner circle more than anything else: What’s a simple outfit that’s fashionable but takes little to no effort to put together?
My answer? Well, TBH, there are a few. I actually have seven painfully easy outfit formulas (consisting of about three pieces or less) I keep in my back pocket to suggest to my friends when they need something chic using items in their closets. But rather than continue chit-chatting about them here, I thought I’d offer up a bit of visual inspiration below to highlight my A+ fits for those on the go. Keep scrolling to check out my fail-proof outfit ideas for a multitude of occasions that are well-suited for every busy soul out there. Oh, I also shopped out each look in case you do want to add a few simple pieces to your arsenal as well.
This ensemble may seem totally high-concept at first glance, but it’s super simple to re-create. All you really need is a colored skirt, a chunky knit, and ankle boots. Yep, three easy pieces to master a forward fit.
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Have a pair of printed trousers in your arsenal? Great. Make them the hero of your outfit and team them with a black turtleneck and booties. If you want a little something extra, toss on a trench as well. Done and done.
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You just simply can’t deny the power of the one-and-done dress. Seriously. If you throw on a statement-making printed style, you literally need nothing more than your go-to shoes, and you have yourself an instant outfit.
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If you’re on the hunt for the coolest denim look of the moment, grab your straight-leg jeans, throw on a detailed sweater, and step into those black booties. That’s it.
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Grabbing a suit when you need an elevated look is basically a no-brainer. The main reason? It requires low sartorial energy. As in, there’s barely any coordination involved other than adding a classic white T-shirt and heels.
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A patterned midi skirt really does go a long way. Simply add a basic blouse and heels, and voilà, you've got a sophisticated 9-to-5 fit.
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If you’re not a dress person, but still want to live by that throw-on-and-go mentality, don’t underestimate the power of the jumpsuit. Toss it on with your favorite pair of shoes and you’ll look chic (with no effort).
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Next, check out the outfit details fashion people never overlook.

Bobby Schuessler is a fashion editor with over a decade of editorial experience covering shopping, style, and beauty. He's spent 10 years at Who What Wear, currently leading the market team to deliver highly covetable and convertible content. He creates data-driven shopping guides featuring top retailers like Nordstrom, Shopbop, and Net-a-Porter and is at the forefront of Who What Wear's shopping tentpole strategies, including Amazon Prime Day. He also works on branded content initiatives and appears on camera in video and shopping livestream franchises.
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