Revamp Your Style and Simplify Mornings with the OOTD Photo Diary!

Ever stood in front of your wardrobe for what feels like hours, unable to decide what to wear?

Me too!

But then I found a fun and effective solution: the outfit of the day photo diary, or OOTD diary.

One day, as I was piecing together an outfit of the day for a day out, I realized I really loved the look I’d created. I quickly snapped a photo, ensuring I’d remember this combo for future. Not long after, during a closet clean-up, I noticed I had so many clothes, yet I only wore a handful of combinations. It struck me that I had so many “forgotten” pieces.

The next day, instead of going for my go-to outfit I reached for those seldom-worn items and crafted a new look. Happy with myself I had a thought: why not photograph this outfit too? I did that for a few days in a row and from then on, the daily habit was born.

Capturing my outfits evolved into my personal outfit of the day style journal.

Setting Up the ‘Outfit of the Day’ Diary

I began using my smartphone and the full-length mirror fixed inside my wardrobe to document each outfit of the day. The light wasn’t so great, but it didn’t matter. What I cared about was consistency.  

I used the build-in filters on my iPhone and resized each picture to a panoramic view. This way, I didn’t even have to create a separate folder.

The Unexpected Benefits

Within a few weeks, I started seeing trends:

• Documenting personal style evolution – over time, I saw how my fashion choices evolved and my style changed.
• Recognising patterns or favourite pieces – I realized how often I gravitated towards certain colours and pieces.
•  A visual diary of memories associated with specific outfits – whenever I scroll through the pictures it takes me back to memorable events, I had been part of.

How the ‘Outfit of the Day’ Photo Diary Simplifies Morning Decisions

Those days when I pulled out half the wardrobe are gone. Now, I just scroll through my outfit of the day diary, spot an outfit I haven’t worn in a while, and voila! No more decision fatigue.

Plus, it’s fun to remix outfits and see how many different looks you can create with one piece.

The Bigger Picture

Apart from simplifying mornings, this diary subtly shifted how I view fashion. Initially, fashion, to me, was about staying updated with the latest trends, collecting pieces, and ensuring I had options for every occasion. However, as I documented my daily outfit of the day, a pattern emerged: it wasn’t the number of clothes that mattered, but rather how I wore and repurposed each piece.

It made me more conscious of my buying habits and valuing quality over quantity. Instead of impulsively buying every appealing item, I became more deliberate in my choices. I began to question each potential purchase: “Do I genuinely need this?”, “How often would I wear it?”, and “Will I have it for more than one season?” Such questions helped me to focus on quality and timeless pieces.

In essence, my OOTD diary isn’t just about clothes. It’s about my evolving style, memories, and simplifying life. Each picture represents a day in my life, a choice I made, and a reflection of who I was at that moment. It’s a beautiful fusion of fashion and memories.

I’d love to hear your stories. Have you tried something similar? How do you chronicle your style journey? Join the conversation below and let’s inspire each other!