Anya Hawkins's blog : Day to Evening Outfit Hacks

Leading a busy life can often mean needing to plan as much as you can in advance for many different elements of your life. One of these elements is your outfits. We all know that if we look good, we feel good, and there’s nothing more important than feeling comfortable and confident with your outfit choice. Knowing which outfits you have available to you and having an idea of what you want to wear for the week is an excellent way of taking some last-minute stress out of the start of your day. Planning an outfit to go from day to night is not as much of a complicated task as you think it might be, and with a few simple steps, you can make a versatile outfit that will be perfect for any event.

When outfit planning for day to night was previously discussed, it generally refers to the evolution of your attire from office wear to evening wear. The world has changed a lot throughout the start of the 2020s, with many people still working from home, more relaxed shared office spaces, or even working from their laptops in coffee shops. Day to evening might look entirely different for you now than a few years ago, but the rules still apply, and even the more casual clothes can be turned into something suitable for cocktails and chats. It is nearly impossible to take your loungewear set to the height of formal dress, though, so with that in mind, try to focus on the type of day outfits you would either be working in or running errands, etc.

The key with any outfit is to make sure that the quality of your clothes is the best you can allow. If the materials are looked after correctly, we know that higher-priced items will last a long time and keep their fit and appearance for much longer than a high street equivalent. That’s why it’s a good idea to invest in a few key pieces of clothing that you know will make you feel great and can be used as transitional pieces for seasonal weather and outfit adjustments. If you are looking to invest in something more high-end, opt for something such as designer jumpers, a luxury light jacket/blazer, or a statement pair of shoes. You can then work your choice of attire around that piece as a foundation of your style. Changing your footwear, coverup, or outerwear is the easiest way to make a noticeable difference and feel like you have adjusted your entire outfit rather than just one or two pieces. While the outfit change is crucial to your shift in appearance, a change in lipstick can add a whole new dimension to your look. With any outfit transition, make sure you have a gorgeous bag to keep a few items of make-up and perfume with you to refresh the feel of your more minor outfit changes.

Another way to update your look from day to night is with accessories. Whether you opt for statement jewellery, bold hair accessories, or a jaw-dropping bag, the accessories you choose can bring an outfit to life. There are so many options to choose from regardless of your fashion inspiration. If you like the more chic look and want to keep your attire more neutral with cream, white, beige and camel tones, then gold jewellery is a match made in heaven. You can also add a touch of earthy tones to your jewellery to break up the neutral palette without too much disruption of your overall aesthetic. Natural stones and marble effect settings are popular in rings, necklaces, and earrings and come in tones of anything from sage green to lilac. If you aren’t shy about colour and texture, keeping your casual outfit a dark block colour (think a simple black dress) means you have a blank canvas to go wild with substantial statement necklaces, headbands, bags, or hats. The more colourful, the better if that is something you are comfortable with. Adding colour to an outfit is an art form so if it’s not something you are too familiar with, try adding small pops of colour to your everyday outfits and seeing what resonates with you and how far you are happy to push your daring side.