5 Celebrity Secrets to Developing Your Style Uniform

Last week, a woman made headlines everywhere for wearing the exact same outfit to work for three years. Her choice to wear a one-note wardrobe incited an array of reactions, from our own editor’s impassioned rebuttal to an NPR writer calling it “crazy smart.” So in the spirit of further examining the personal uniform, we naturally turned our eye to a few of our favorite stylish celebrities.

Whether you’re aligned with a pro-uniform stance or are merely interested in finding resourceful ways to save time in the morning, scroll down to find out the celebrity-approved tricks to pulling off a signature look.

The best uniforms are ones that make your body look its best. On off-duty days, Jessica Alba can often be found in printed pants or jeans, but for events she’s found a formula that works every time: a crop top paired with a full midi or maxi skirt. The ladylike combination highlights her tiny mid-section, and skims over the hips and thighs.

Take a look in your closet, and it will become apparent which styles of clothing you wear the most—whether you have a ton of striped shirts or a wardrobe full of statement jackets and flared pants like Rachel Zoe. Investing in higher quality versions of these signature pieces will not only encourage you to further commit to wearing your favorite pieces more frequently (aka develop a style uniform), but you’ll also generally look more expensive on a regular basis. After all, if you’re going to narrow your look to a few signature outfits, you want to make sure your wardrobe is well equipped with quality versions of those pieces! Obviously you might not have the funds that celebs do, but we recommend investing in an upgrade of whichever pieces you have on heavy rotation, whatever your budget may be.

On Zoe: Gucci jacket.

Victoria Beckham is really into an ankle-length dress (preferably designed by herself) paired with pointed-toe pumps. Whether she wears it because she designed it or she designed it because she would wear it, Beckham has found a look that works and is sticking to it. While the celebrity designer gets outfit feedback from fashion magazines, websites, and likely all the people who follow her on social media, the concept is just as usable for stylish civilians. If people repeatedly compliment you on a look, and it makes you feel good yourself, why not consider it for your uniform?

On Beckham: Victoria Beckham dress.

Related: The Victoria Beckham Outfits We Want to Copy Now

On Beckham: Victoria Beckham dress.

While black isn’t technically a color, Kate Moss has certainly made it her signature hue. As the supermodel knows, repeatedly wearing a certain color creates a continuous narrative through your clothing, and it makes your look a bit more cohesive. While black is mysterious and undoubtedly cool, for the summer, we love the look of entire outfits in white with a dash of blush or peach.

On Moss: Roncelli vintage jacket; Isabel Marant belt.

On Moss: Burberry Prorsum cape. 

On Moss: Louis Vuitton bag.

Your ideal style uniform should marry form and function, which means finding a practical yet stylish signature look that works with your lifestyle. Reese Witherspoon is a busy mom on the go, but she still has to look polished for the paparazzi, so her go-to outfit consists of comfortable jeans and a tailored blazer.

Related: Jeans Don't Fit Anymore? 6 Hacks to Stretch and Shrink Your Denim