Uniform or Novelty? What’s Your Style
When it comes to getting dressed, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Yet so much style advice assumes we all want the same thing: variety, trends, and constantly evolving wardrobes. But the truth is, people have fundamentally different relationships with their clothing choices.
Some of us thrive on repetition and consistency. Others need constant change and visual stimulation. Neither approach is right or wrong – they’re simply different ways our minds and nervous systems seek comfort and regulation.
The Case for Consistency
If you’re someone who gravitates toward wearing similar outfits repeatedly, you’re not boring or uncreative. You’re responding to a genuine psychological need for predictability and ease. When you’ve found combinations that work – that fit well, feel comfortable, and make you feel confident – why wouldn’t you stick with them?
Repetition in dressing serves several important functions. It eliminates decision fatigue, that mental exhaustion that comes from making too many small choices before your day has even begun. When you know your go-to formula works, getting dressed becomes automatic rather than effortful.
This approach also creates a sense of safety and reliability. In a world full of variables and uncertainties, having consistency in your daily routine can be deeply soothing. Your clothing becomes a dependable constant, one less thing to worry about or overthink.
People who prefer consistency often find that strict outfit formulas or small capsule wardrobes feel liberating rather than limiting. They might rotate between just a few trusted colour combinations, silhouettes, or fabric types, finding freedom in the boundaries they’ve created.
The Need for Novelty
On the flip side, some people feel energized by variety and stimulation in their clothing choices. For these individuals, wearing the same thing repeatedly can feel stifling, even depressing. They need visual change to feel engaged and alive.
This isn’t vanity or indecisiveness – it’s how certain minds stay regulated and interested. Switching between different colours, textures, patterns, and styles provides the mental stimulation that keeps them feeling balanced. Variety becomes a form of self-care.
Novelty-seekers often feel most themselves when they can express different moods, energies, or aspects of their personality through their clothing. They might dress boldly one day and minimally the next, not because they’re confused about their style, but because they’re responding to their inner state and needs.
For these individuals, a highly curated or minimal wardrobe can feel like sensory deprivation. They need options, possibilities, and the freedom to choose something different each day.
It’s About Your Nervous System
Understanding which camp you fall into isn’t just about personal preference – it’s about recognizing how your nervous system functions. Some people need calm, predictable inputs to feel regulated. Others need stimulation and change to maintain their optimal state.
Neither approach is superior. The fashion industry might push trends and constant newness, but that doesn’t mean everyone should strive for maximum variety. Equally, the recent embrace of capsule wardrobes and minimalism isn’t universal medicine either.
Your ideal approach to dressing should support your mental and emotional wellbeing, not work against it.
The Uniform Wearers:
Barack Obama – Navy or grey suits
“I’m trying to pare down decisions. I don’t want to make decisions about what I’m eating or wearing because I have too many other decisions to make.”
Johnny Cash – All black everything
“I wear black for those who never read or listen to the words that Jesus said, about the road to happiness through love and charity.” Fair enough!
Albert Einstein – Same grey suit daily
Said he bought several identical suits so he wouldn’t waste “brainpower” on trivial decisions
Anna Wintour – Chanel suits, bob haircut, sunglasses
Has worn virtually the same silhouette for decades
The late Steve Jobs – Black turtleneck, jeans, New Balance sneakers
“I have enough decisions to make in a day, I don’t want to make decisions about what I’m wearing.”
Mark Zuckerberg – Gray t-shirts and hoodies
“I really want to clear my life to make it so that I have to make as few decisions as possible about anything except how to best serve this community.”
Karl Lagerfeld – Black suit, white shirt, black tie, fingerless gloves
The Novelty Seekers:
Lady Gaga – Constantly reinventing her look
“I want people to walk around delusional about how great they can be – and then to fight so hard for it every single day that the lie becomes the truth.”
Björk – Known for avant-garde, ever-changing style
“I think fashion is repulsive. The idea that someone can tell you what to wear… it’s like a dictatorship.”
Harry Styles – Gender-fluid, constantly evolving fashion
“Clothes are there to have fun with and experiment with and play with.”
Rihanna – Constantly changing aesthetics and taking risks
Solange Knowles – Vibrant, eclectic, always different
Zendaya – Known for dramatic red carpet transformations and style evolution
Bad Bunny – Constantly pushing boundaries with colourful, experimental looks
Janelle Monáe – While she had a uniform phase (black and white), she’s evolved into bold, varied styling
Finding Your Sweet Spot
Many people aren’t purely on one end of this spectrum. You might crave consistency in one area (like always wearing comfortable fabrics) while seeking variety in another (like changing colours seasonally). You might go through phases where you need more predictability during stressful periods, then return to enjoying more variety when life feels calmer.
The key is paying attention to what actually feels good, rather than what you think you should want. Notice what you naturally gravitate toward in your wardrobe. Which items do you reach for repeatedly? Do you feel energized or drained by having lots of options?
Your body and mind will tell you what you need – if you listen.
Making It Work For You
Whether you’re drawn to consistency or variety, the goal is the same: creating a wardrobe that supports you rather than exhausts you. This might mean building a collection of interchangeable pieces in your favourite silhouettes and colours. Or it could mean organizing your varied pieces in a way that makes choosing easier without sacrificing options.
The most important thing is honouring your natural inclinations instead of forcing an approach that doesn’t suit you. Your wardrobe exists to serve your life, not complicate it.
Ready to build a wardrobe that truly works with your mind and body? My new ebook “Fashion That Feels Good: A Style Guide for Sensitive People” explores these concepts in depth, helping you understand your personal dressing patterns and create clothing systems that support your nervous system. Whether you’re a consistency-seeker or a variety-lover, you’ll find practical tools to make getting dressed easier and more enjoyable. Get your copy here.
