Should You Wear a Uniform?

Make like Steve Jobs and stick to a formula. It takes the stress out of dressing ... and potentially makes you an icon!

I gave a presentation to three different groups of startup founders yesterday about how to dress when pitching to investors, and in my talk, I offhandedly mentioned that it could be a good thing to create a uniform of sorts and wear it over and over again. I noted that it doesn’t work for everyone, but it can keep things easier and more streamlined.

It was definitely an aside, not the main idea of my talk, so I was surprised when each group of founders latched onto the uniform thing. But the more I thought about it, it made sense. These are people who are working towards lofty goals, and getting bogged down in fashion choices just holds them back. They immediately saw the appeal of taking the thinking out of getting dressed, and they also saw it as a way to create a personal brand. Those smarties!

Another thing that may have made the uniform idea more appealing: the Steve Jobs factor. I mentioned Apple Daddy when I talked about uniforms, and I saw the founders’ faces light up. They remembered the iconic turtleneck, the jeans, the New Balance sneakers. And every founder wants to be the next Steve Jobs, so maybe it was unintentionally manipulative on my part to summon his name! Either way, they were so into creating their own take on the uniform!

Love this image from Nicuturea on LiveJournal, which shows the longevity of Jobs’s look. That’s commitment!!

This experience made me think about other people who have created a uniform and how comforting that can be to both the wearer and the viewer. It feels good to know what to expect from someone, and the repetition makes you fall in love with them in a way. It shows they’re reliable, steadfast, safe, and there’s something undeniably attractive about that.

Miuccia Prada (who I was thrilled to see on the cover of the March issue of Vogue!) is a uniform girl—perfect sweater, full skirt, ladylike heels. Sometimes a white button-up shirt under, sometimes a boxy jacket over (or both!).

L to R: In her Vogue shoot by Stef Mitchell; on Harper’s Bazaar Instagram; by Massimo Torrigiani

I recently read an interview with Mel Ottenberg, who styled Rihanna in the early 2010s and is now editor-in-chief of Interview. In it, it was mentioned that, despite all the clothing he undoubtedly has access to, he almost always wears a Canadian Tuxedo. Fashion people dig the uniform!

Mel Ottenberg in Purple by Katja Rawles

Diane Keaton is another uniform queen and always riffing on the menswear style she introduced in Annie Hall wayyyy back in 1977. The beauty of it is that, nearly 50 years later, she never looks dated. And that’s really the key to creating a uniform that works. Choosing pieces that never go out of style and making slight adaptations as silhouettes change.

Left: Here’s our girl in a newish J. Crew ad; Right: A Getty image of her at the Thom Browne show. See how she’s embracing the trends a little bit by choosing a pant silhouette that feels current, but still staying true to her uniform?

The uniform is also interesting because it’s a subversion of trends. As much as I love to call them out, trends can become oppressive at times. It’s impossible to keep up with how quickly things change, and being a slave to trends is EXPENSIVE!

So, I think it’s about picking and choosing which trends to incorporate and perhaps having a uniform as a foundation for it all.

Here are some uniform fundamentals I’ve found in stores now:

The Miuccia Prada

Clockwise from Top Left: J. Crew polo sweater; Mango classic white button-up shirt; By Anthropologie short-sleeved sweater; Sacai pearl and gold chain necklace; By Anthropologie yellow pumps; English Factory belted skirt; G. Label inverted center pleat skirt

The Mel Ottenberg

L to R: Aligne Canadian Tuxedo; Wrangler + Staud denim shirtdress; Good American oversized denim shirt; Agolde A-line denim shorts; Reformation denim skirt (love the crossover waist!); Citizens of Humanity wide-leg jeans

The Diane Keaton

L to R: Cos tailored vest (this one is also great); Freda Salvador loafers; Everlane linen high-waisted pants; DISSH straw hat; Everlane white shirt; Weekend by Max Mara trench skirt

Do you have a uniform? Do you WANT to have one? Do you love the idea? Hate it? Let’s chat about it in the comments!

xx,

Joanna