Dress Codes For Your Everyday Life

When I was in high school, I was obsessed with a book called Life Is A Movie Starring You. The author, a teen herself, talked about how to make the most of your life through style, art, and creativity. It was so inspiring.

We are still and always will be the stars of our own movies.

I developed this idea of designating dress codes for ordinary, everyday days in our lives for a couple of reasons:

1. It’s practical. When you look at your calendar and designate certain days for certain dress codes, it encourages you to look at those days objectively, assign them a specific type of clothing, and plan your outfits accordingly.
2. It’s inspirational. Why reserve dress codes for special events? Let’s make life a special event by dressing for it, whether that means pulling together a cute smart casual outfit for running errands or coming up with some special looks for date night.

Here, a guide to some of the dress codes, and how you can use them to make the most of your wardrobe and to show up in the most stylish way every day.

You can find similar items to the ones shown in this video right here.

Dress Code: At Home

I need my at-home outfits to be comfortable enough to curl up on the couch, tough enough to withstand a little light cleaning, and cute enough to run around in.

Sure, leggings and sweats can fit these criteria, but I also reach for jeans, tees, cardigans, knit or woven casual jackets, pull-on pants, and joggers. In warmer weather, my go-to at-home outfit is a house dress, a casual, comfortable dress that is easy to care for and doesn’t wrinkle.

Here’s a typical winter at-home look:

Dress Up Dress Code

This dress code is reserved for nice dinners out, date nights, parties, and maybe church on Sundays (depending on your church).

What is your most dressed-up look that is not formal or cocktail? That is going to fall in this category.

O.P.T. dress, Target boots, Walmart pink sweater, Banana Republic pants, Gianni Bini shoes. Shop all of these items right here.

Smart Casual Dress Code

This is your new running-around uniform. Depending on your job and lifestyle, this can be what you wear to work, out to lunch with a friend, to a doctor’s appointment, to run errands, etc. It’s casual but elevated.

An easy way to get this look is to add great accessories to your essentials. A jacket, great shoes, and jewelry can take any essentials and turn them into a chic look.

Power Dress Code

There are times when you just need to pull out all the stops and feel your most confident and powerful. These are outfits for those occasions. From meeting your future in-laws (or your child’s future in-laws) to an interview, a presentation to a big networking event, this is the outfit to reach for when you want to feel your absolute best.

This is my version of a power outfit. Yours will be unique to you and to the situation.

Personal Style Dress Code

This isn’t so much based on occasion or event as much as it is based on mood. Sometimes, you just want to show up in a way that truly exemplifies your personal style. You just want to have fun and express yourself through your clothes. This outfit is for when you’re in that kind of mood.

House of Harlow shirt, Blank NYC pants, Gianni Bini pumps, Farm Rio dress, Cynthia Rowley bag

Which of these dress codes fit into your life and lifestyle? And which would you add? Some that come to mind include a Work Dress Code, an Athleisure Dress Code, maybe even an Outdoor Dress Code.

Let me know what you think of this concept in the comments!