What do Barack Obama, the Pope and Viktor & Rolf have in common? They wear more or less the same outfit every simply day, thereby simplifying their busy lives. Just one outfit in which they feel comfortable and in which they can turn up anywhere, anytime.
In an article for Elite Daily, John Haltiwanger wrote that life is too complicated and interesting enough for you to have to worry about your outfit every day. Not because fashion isn’t enjoyable, but so you don’t have to stress so much about whether you look okay today in this particular outfit or that one. Or about the idea that you have to wear a particular fashion accessory, or else you’ll look a complete fool. All unnecessary sources of stress and uncertainty.
Simplify, and don’t let minor matters like the right shoes or right tie ruin your day. Reserve space and time for the really important things in life.
Really successful people abide by this philosophy. The article mentions the examples of Mark Zuckerberg, Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs and Barack Obama.
Pare down decisions
In an article in Vanity Fair, Obama notes: ‘You’ll see I wear only gray or blue 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.’ And he referred to research that shows the simple act of making decisions degrades one’s ability to make further decisions.
Pope Francis, Karl Lagerfefld and Viktor & Rolf all sprang to mind immediately! And their success has never depended on what they look like. It has stemmed from what they do, make or say.
This is not an argument against fashion, but really a plea for choosing the right clothes that suit your daily life and will diminish the stress that comes with decision making.