Why Your Outfits Feel “Off” (And How to Fix Them)

Have you ever put an outfit on and thought, “This should work… but something’s not right”?

Nothing is technically wrong.
The clothes fit.
You’re dressed.

And yet, the outfit feels off.

This is one of the most common things clients say to me, and it’s almost never because they don’t have good taste. It’s usually because a few key elements aren’t working together yet.

This post isn’t about dressing “less” or toning yourself down. Whether you love clean lines or full-on maximalism, the same principles apply: balance, proportion, and intention.

Here’s how to spot what’s going wrong and how to fix it.

1. There’s No Clear Lead in the Outfit

This doesn’t mean you’re wearing “too much.” Some people thrive in colour, layers, jewellery, and drama and when it’s done well, it’s incredible.

The issue is when there’s no clear intention.

When the bag, shoes, silhouette, print, jewellery, and colour are all competing, it starts to feel mismatched, not bold. That’s usually when it becomes obvious the outfit hasn’t been styled, just assembled.

Even the most maximal looks work because there’s direction. Bold style still needs balance, hierarchy, and purpose.

How to fix it:

Before You Leave the House, Decide This First

What’s leading this outfit?
Is it the silhouette?
The bag?
A colour?
A piece of jewellery?

Once you’ve chosen the lead, everything else should support that choice, not compete with it.

• If you’re a maximalist, repeat elements (the same colour, metal, or shape) so the outfit feels cohesive rather than chaotic.

• If you’re a minimalist, make sure at least one element has intention otherwise the outfit can feel flat.

If You’re Not Confident With Dressing Yet, Start simple.

Pick one staple piece and let that be the centre point of your outfit. This could be:

• a coat you love

• a statement bag

• a dress with a strong shape

• a pair of shoes you feel great in

Then build the rest of the outfit around that piece, making sure everything else balances it rather than distracts from it.

Think of it like decorating your home, you choose a piece of furniture you love, then design the room around it. Getting dressed works in exactly the same way.

👉 Exercise:

Put your outfit on and ask yourself:
If I had to remove one thing, what would it be?

If the outfit instantly feels better, you’ve found the issue.

2. The Proportions Are Slightly Off

This one is subtle and it’s where most outfits fall apart.

It’s not about size. It’s about where your clothes are cutting your body visually.

When pieces hit in the wrong places, you end up breaking your shape up in ways that work against you. The eye stops and starts in the wrong places, which can make you look shorter, wider, or less balanced than you actually are.

Common issues I see all the time:

• Tops ending at the widest part of the hips

• Jackets cutting straight across the body rather than creating a long line

• Trouser lengths that shorten the leg line

For example:

• Wearing trousers that are too short can instantly make your legs look shorter, even if they’re not.

• Wearing tops that sit on the hips rather than the waist can pull attention to the wrong area, when you actually want to highlight your waist and create shape.

• Jackets that stop mid-hip can visually cut your body in half instead of elongating it.

How to fix it:

• Pay attention to hemlines and break points, where tops, jackets, and trousers visually cut your body matters more than size.

• Aim for longer, cleaner lines where possible to avoid chopping your shape up in the wrong places.

• If something makes you look shorter, wider, or unbalanced, it’s usually hitting in the wrong spot, swap it for a longer or more intentional length.

  👉 Exercise:
  Put the same outfit on and change just one thing at a time:

• try a longer top

• swap to a longer jacket

• adjust the trouser length or shoe

  Stand back and notice how quickly your proportions shift. Small changes here often make the biggest difference.

3. You’re Dressing on Autopilot

Some outfits feel off because they’re too safe.
Others feel off because they’re layered out of habit rather than intention.

Both come down to the same thing: you’re not choosing consciously.

One of the biggest things clients come to me with is this: once they find a rhythm in how they dress, they don’t know how to move past it. They end up wearing the same outfits on repeat, not because they love them, but because they’re familiar. Breaking out of that cycle feels harder than sticking with what’s comfortable.

How to fix it:

• If you dress simply, add one intentional moment, a bag, a belt, jewellery, or a strong silhouette

• If you dress boldly, check that everything has a purpose and isn’t just layered out of habit

• Ask yourself: Did I choose this today, or did I just default to it?

  Confidence doesn’t come from doing more or less, it comes from knowing why you’re wearing something.

  Make It Easier: Plan Ahead

  One of the simplest ways to stop dressing on autopilot is to take the decision out of the moment.

• Build outfits in advance when you have time and headspace

• Be intentional about pairing pieces in your wardrobe rather than grabbing what’s easiest

• Take photos of outfits you love and save them on your phone

  That way, on days when comfort wins or you’re short on time, you have a ready-made reference. Instead of defaulting to the same thing, you can choose an outfit you already know works and makes you feel confident.

  Getting dressed doesn’t need to be reinvented every morning.
  It just needs a bit more intention.

4. The Outfit Doesn’t Match the Moment

Sometimes the outfit itself is fine, it just doesn’t suit where you’re going.

Too dressed up.
Too casual.
Too playful.
Too serious.

And to be clear, I don’t really believe in being “too overdressed.” To me, being well dressed shows confidence.
But there is a time and a place for certain looks.

It’s a bit like not reading the room and saying something inappropriate, nothing about you is wrong, but the timing or context makes it awkward. Outfits can do the same thing.

How to fix it:

Before you get dressed, ask yourself:

• Where am I going?

• What energy does this moment need?

• Do I want to lead, blend, connect, or stand out?

You don’t need to change your style, just adjust the volume. (Link to a previous article I wrote on how to match the moment)

That might mean:

• Dialling back one bold element

• Elevating something simple

• Switching how your accessories show up

• Or refining the silhouette while keeping your personality

Same style. Different setting. More intention.

5. You’re Dressing for a Version of You That’s Passed

This is a big one.

Many women are dressing for:

• who they used to be

• who they think they should be

• or who they haven’t fully stepped into yet

That disconnect is often exactly why outfits feel wrong, even when the clothes themselves are fine.

I see this all the time with clients. They’ve evolved in their life or career, but their wardrobe hasn’t caught up. And because they feel stuck with what they already own, the idea of changing their style can feel overwhelming, like they need to start again from scratch.

You don’t.

How to fix it:

• Be honest about your lifestyle and role now, not five years ago

• Edit pieces that no longer reflect how you live or how you want to feel

• Look at what you already own and ask: Does this still fit the woman I am becoming?

  You’re not building a brand new wardrobe overnight. You’re reframing what you have, identifying what still works, and spotting the gaps.

  Once you have clarity on your “future you” style, it becomes much easier to:

• reuse older pieces in a new way

• let go of what no longer fits

• and invest intentionally in what’s missing

  Your wardrobe should support who you are now and who you’re growing into, not keep you stuck in the past.

A 2 Minute Outfit Check (Use This Daily)

Before you leave the house, ask yourself:

• Where does this outfit break my body visually?

• Is there a clear lead, or is everything competing?

• Does this feel balanced from top to bottom?

• Does this feel like me right now?

If something feels off, it usually is and one small tweak is often all it takes.

Final Thoughts

Your body isn’t the problem.
our style isn’t the problem.

Your wardrobe just needs more intention.

A few small adjustments, where something hits, what leads the outfit, or how pieces work together can completely change how you look and feel.

This post is just the starting point. There’s so much more you can refine once you understand proportion, balance, and how you like to dress and that’s exactly what I work through with clients every day.

If you’ve ever felt like “I just can’t see what’s missing” sometimes all it takes is a fresh eye.