Decision Fatigue in Fashion

Decision Fatigue in Fashion

anna wintour

I’ve gotten a lot of questions from people wondering why I wear the same clothes over and over. Short answer: I don’t want “decision fatigue.” 


I have more than one outfit, but yes I buy identical outfits. If I find a style that works for my body, I buy more than one in a few color options. If I really like a dress that suits me, I'll go ahead and buy more than one. 


The idea is simple. I spent less time getting ready and more time on my businesses. Women spend approximately 8-15 hours a year putting together their morning work attire. 


And this isn't unusual. 


Men do this every single day. The biggest decision a man has to make is which tie to wear.


Plus many top female executives do this including Anna Wintour, editor of Vogue, and Lisa Vanderpump, one of the only women on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills who has a full time job. Ms. Wintour hasn’t changed her iconic haircut, sunglasses and flora dress code in decades. Ms. Vanderpump wears the same variation of a button down blouse paired with jeans, slacks and/or a pencil skirt in almost every episode. Why? Those styles work for them and they don’t have the time to worry about their wardrobe. Afterall, they are more busy making money than spending time putting together a unique outfit every single day. 


This isn't a new concept to me. As a teen, I went to a private school and the uniform was the same 5-days a week. I remember on the weekends spending far more time on my outfit than I did during the school week. That was when I realized as women we take way too much time trying to decide what to wear, thus slowing us down. Just one more way society creates roadblocks that enable women to lag behind men. 


Wearing a "uniform" to work everyday shouldn't signal to other women that we aren't fashion forward. It should signal to other women that we are ready to equalize the playing field between men and women. 


Thoughts? Leave us a comment below.

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