Why is it that as we get older, we spend so much time trying to perfect our style with the least amount of effort? I’m raising my hand straight up – you’re not alone. My personal goal is to look put together every single day – even if my toddler barely slept and my coffee just isn’t hitting the spot. The last thing busy women like us need is added decision fatigue, especially when it comes to picking out what to wear.

If you’ve ever looked at someone and thought, “How do they always look so put together even with the simplest of outfits?” then this one’s for you. The truth is: you don’t need a closet full of new clothes, an hour-long makeup routine, or a 10-step skin care routine that has no real place in your day-to-day life. You just need a few intentional strategies that take the pressure out of getting ready.

Here’s exactly how to look put together effortlessly, even on your busiest days.

1. Start with a Daily Uniform

The easiest way to get dressed without thinking is to build a personal uniform or outfit formula. A “uniform” doesn’t mean boring. It simply means predictable ease.

Try:

• Straight-leg jeans + t-shirt + good quality sweater + sneakers
• Tailored pants + fitted tank + cardigan + loafers
• Maxi skirt + structured t-shirt + flats

Outfit formulas take the guesswork out of your morning. Build 3–5 combos you love and wear them on rotation.

2. Let One Elevated Detail Do the Work

You don’t need to be polished from head to toe. Just one slightly elevated piece makes the whole outfit feel more intentional.

Lazy girl favourites:

• Everyday earrings and a polished watch (Amazon has some great and affordable finds)
• A high-quality sweater
• An effortless hairstyle that you can replicate daily
• A functional handbag in a rich texture
• An everyday lip combo

amazon

Functional Bag

Shop Now

amazon

Everyday Earrings

Shop Now

amazon

Polished Watch

Shop Now

Pick one. Let it carry the look.

3. Don’t be Afraid to be an Outfit Repeater

Put-together women aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel (and themselves) every day. They’re repeating what works and wearing it regularly. They become easily recognized by their consistency. Guess what? Laundry detergent does exist, so don’t be afraid of being an outfit repeater. 

Pro tip: Take mirror selfies of outfits you love and create an album on your phone. On days you feel stuck? Open, pick, repeat.

4. Add Light Layers for Instant Structure

The secret to looking polished without effort? The third piece.

Throw a quality cardigan, structured blazer, trench coat, or button-up over your base outfit. It adds instant texture, movement, and polish.

Quick formula: tee + jeans + blazer + loafers = done.

5. Create a 5-Minute Makeup Routine

Looking put together doesn’t mean a full face of makeup. Create a 5-minute makeup routine and perfect it. Just 2–3 steps can help you feel fresh and confident.

Try this:

• Lightweight foundation or tinted moisturizer
• Brow pencil
• Cream blush
• Lip gloss or balm

Throw in a signature fragrance as the finishing touch. Remember that a good fragrance doesn’t have to be expensive. Some of my favourites are from Zara for under $50.

6. Play With Texture, Ignore the Trends

Figuring out your personal style isn’t about chasing the latest thing and constantly buying new items. It’s all about balance and knowing what works for you.

Mix this:

• One structured piece (denim, leather, blazer)
• One soft piece (jersey, knit, linen)

Contrasting pieces often look intentional, so lean on this whenever possible. Even if you got dressed in five minutes, nobody will know.

7. Keep a “Put Together Kit” in Your Bag

Prepare for impromptu meetings, errands, or school pick-ups. Your kit can live in your bag, car or somewhere that you can easily reach in a moment’s notice.

Essentials:

• Breath mints
• Sunglasses
• Lip gloss or tinted balm
• Hair clip, hair tie and travel hair brush
• Pressed powder for quick makeup touch-ups
• Travel-size fragrance
• A layering piece (quality sweater or shirt)

When you need to look polished fast, this saves the day. 

Looking Put Together is a Mindset

You don’t need to chase trends or perfection. You just need repeatable routines that save you from decision fatigue while being intentional and straightforward. 

Minimal effort. Maximum impact. You don’t need more stuff, you just need better structure. Put in the work up front and allow yourself to be “lazy” down the road. 

Want more real-life style tips?
Start here: How to Build a Realistic Capsule Wardrobe

The post How to Look Put Together (Without Trying Too Hard): A Busy Girl’s Guide appeared first on Told By Jo.

Whether your day date consists of strolling through the city, meeting up for brunch, or checking out a museum – you want to look and feel your best without doing too much. Day dates can sometimes turn into spontaneous evenings (in the best way possible!), so your outfit should move with you. Think casual first date outfits that can carry you from brunch to happy hour drinks.

You can easily elevate your look with accessories – think layering rings, bracelets, and necklaces to tie a simple look together. Other pieces, such pair of statement sunglasses and a tailored coat, are great add-ons.

If you’re nosy like me, you love seeing how people style their wardrobe staples in real life. It’s like seeing a walking moodboard. I’m the girl who feels like I never have anything to wear, no matter how full my closet is. Sometimes, all it takes is seeing someone else style a piece I already own to look at my closet with fresh eyes.

Here are four curated casual day date outfit ideas that you can use as inspiration.

Day Date Outfit Ideas

Sweater // Pants // Shoes // Sunglasses // Earrings // Bag (a really good Polene dupe!)

Trench Coat // Jeans // Shoes // Rings // Bag // Shirt

Sweater // Jeans // Bag // Shoes // Rings // Coat

Sweater // Coat // Jeans // Sunglasses // Shoes // Bag

This post was all about casual day date outfit ideas.

Related: Four Date Ideas with Neo Financial

The post Casual Day Date Outfit Ideas That Are Easy to Put Together appeared first on Told By Jo.

The one thing I’ve changed when it comes to my shopping habits is saying goodbye to fast fashion and “trendy” pieces and investing in quality, long-lasting clothes. When it comes to investing in core capsule pieces, you don’t actually ever have to break the bank.

I’ve gotten very good at buying really good pieces from shops you’d least suspect to carry quality clothes. For example, this grey coat I’ve been wearing since last fall was only $40 from Ardene and is of amazing quality. I get tons of questions about it and people can hardly believe where I got it!

Favourite Places to Shop for Great Deals and Good Pieces

Here are a few of my favourite places to shop for great deals and outerwear pieces that will carry you through the seasons. One of my favourite things to wear in the spring and fall are shackets and I promise you, they’re never as pricey as they look! Sign up for each retailer’s email list as most send out coupons regularly and announce sales early. I refuse ever to buy anything at full price – designer or not.

• Ardene
• Bluenotes
• Winners/Marshalls
• Amazon
• Zara
• H&M
• ASOS
• Primark

Spring Outfit Ideas

Spring outfits are some of my favourites to put together as the pieces are so versatile. When shopping these days, I try my best not to buy anything that can’t be worn with a few different outfits. Here are three easy-to-put-together spring outfit ideas that you can replicate.

I try to follow a simple outfit formula for most of my go-to outfits. For example, when it comes to tapered chinos or dress pants, I will almost always pair them with an oversized poplin shirt. Shoes can either be smart sneakers or sandals but this will depend on whether you want to go for a relaxed or smart casual look.

Here are a few spring outfit ideas that can easily be replicated.

Stripped Poplin Shirt // Tapered Chinos // Sneakers // Bag // Watch // Sunglasses

Poplin Shirt // Chinos // Sandals // Bag // Sunglasses

Shirt Jacket // Faux Leather Leggings // T-Shirt // Converse // Prada Bag

RELATED: What to Wear Under Spaghetti Strap Tops and Racerback Tanks

The post Minimal Spring Outfit Ideas and Where to Find the Best Deals appeared first on Told By Jo.

Lucky for you, I’ve done the research so you don’t have to. When it comes to your fall and winter arsenal, you want to add timeless pieces that are of excellent quality that can be styled and layered in different ways. The goal is to add staple items to your capsule wardrobe.

So whether you’re looking to purge your closet and start fresh or if you want to refresh and add some new pieces, this post is for you. These items are all classic and far from the “in right now” category. Here are five fall style trends that you might not have considered and should probably add to your list ASAP.

Chunky Cardigans

Something about thick cardigans gives a put-together and classic look all while keeping you warm. They also double up as a great layering piece as the temperature drops.

Links: White | Grey | Beige

Cargo Pants

Forget those cargo pants you used to wear as a kid that zipped off the knees into shorts. I’m not talking about army-style cargo pants that your old neighbour would wear with a matching vest to go fishing. Cargo pants have made a comeback and the right pair can be paired really well with sneakers. Swap out sneakers for a pair of heels and a nice top for a night-out look.

Links: Straight Leg Cargos | Tapered Cargos

Half Zip Sweaters

High necks and warm knits are all the rage in the fall and winter. These will always be timeless wardrobe additions. Half-zip sweaters are a great alternative to turtlenecks, a more contemporary take, if you will. For men and women alike, they can be worn alone or with a shirt underneath at the office.

Links: White | Light Brown | Burgundy

Gold Jewelry

Statement rings and earrings have the power to take the simplest of outfits from basic to put together. I’m a huge fan of bold/chunky rings and earrings. They are the perfect fall (and year ’round) accessory! Opt for gold for fall to bring some warmth and to be honest, there is something about gold pieces that compliment all skin tones.

Links: Bold Ring | Dome Hoop Earrings | Affordable Amazon Rings

Faux Leather

Faux leather is a no-brainer fall staple. I’ve been really loving seeing different styles of faux leather, specifically browns and earth tones. You can’t go wrong with a really good faux leather piece that can add character and edge to an otherwise “safe” look. Not sure where to start with faux leather? Add a pair of great-fitting pants and an oversized shacket.

Links: Black Pants | Brown Shirt | Brown Pants

Simple Ways to Style Fall Trends

So now that you’ve gotten a rundown of some of the current fall trends, here are some great ways to style them! I love finding inspiration online and finding ways to make certain looks fit my height, size and shape.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Carissa (@carissavianca)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jo | Toronto Blogger & UGC Creator (@toldbyjo)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sarah Lynn| Toronto Sneaker style + Motherhood (@outofashion)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ALYSSA LENORE (@alyssa.lenore)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tayla Santos | Casual Chic Style (@taylasnts)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by V. — Creative (@vanessaroseblair)

Related: Six Ways to Style Faux Leather

The post 5 Fall Style Trends to Add to Your Cart Right Now (And How to Style Them) appeared first on Told By Jo.