Nobody needs two closets. Your clothes are versatile and by the way: So are you.

Seraina Winkler

Jul 28

4 min read

"Can I wear this to the office?" Or "Where and when do I even wear this?" Have you ever asked yourself that question? In 15 years working As a stylist, mostly for executives and people with a public profile, I've been asked this question over and over. My answer has stayed the same eversince: The question has never been whether or not you can wear something. It's how you wear it. Simply put: you make your clothes work for you.

In today's business world, everyone's talking about agility, authenticity, and leadership. Big themes that all come down to the same thing: your own point of view – or as the Algorithm likes to call it: a POV. How to form a POV? By actually looking at things closely, reflecting on what you see and consequently: making up your mind about it. Yes: Your mind. Nobody else's. The more you've actually digested a viewpoint, the more genuine and personal it becomes. Whether in a job interview, a client meeting, a leadership conversation, or over dinner, on a date, or with friends: you're meant to communicate yourself and your perspective. As you are and how you see it. Except you're not the same in every setting, and not every setting asks for the same. That's exactly why authenticity can never be about a rigid uniform. It's about understanding your role. Getting dressed with intention makes that elusive POV of yours not only visible but tangible. Sounds complicated? It isn't. It is: Simple, but significant.

A full closet yet nothing to wear

Sounds familiar? Don't worry, it happens to all of us. One of the core problems? We categorise our lives so hard that we only ever look at the pieces in our closet as singular items, ending up cultivating one-dimensional identities in the process for every category. An office-you, an after-work-you, a weekend-you. Three versions of yourself, each with its own matching merchandise. The office shirt, the office suit, the office dress, the weekend sweater, the going-out top. As if we were dressing several different people who happen to share closet space. The result: A bursting closet yet still, nothing to wear. Especially not outside the narrow, predefined boxes we’ve built for ourselves.

Good News first: you are not a role. You fill it with personality. Prefereably: yours.

As multidimensional beings, we are, by nature, multifaceted. That quality comes with us, no closet strategy required. Which sides of your personality you want to bring out according to the different settings is where getting dressed with intention comes in very handy.

OK but how? Through styling. Styling turns clothing into a communication tool, one that creates the effect you're going for. Essentially it all comes down to: combining your clothes in a way that creates a cohesive message.

So the question is never: who do I have to be today? It's: what does my role ask of me today, and what do I want to communicate in this particular situation? Not every situation calls for "hard decisions" or "unlimited access". But what every situation does require is being aware of context. This is where competence is found, and above all: where substance is born.

Stop thinking in single items. Start thinking in composition.

An outfit comes together like a layout, built for a specific message. Theres a main statement and its supporting details. What you mix and match sets the tone: distant or approachable, decisive, open or reserved to neutral etc.. A blazer worn with jeans and a T-shirt sends a completely different message than the same blazer in a classic suit-trouser combination. And that's exactly where personality happens: in the deliberate choice of elements to communicate one cohesive mood.

Structure, yes. rigid uniform, no.

Sure, sometimes the job or the situation calls for more structure. Which is reasonable, you just shouldn't overcorrect in either direction. A huge topic in today's office culture, honestly. Maybe we used to lean too hard into distance and formality. But that doesn't mean we now have to swing entirely the other way and give every single situation the "approachable smart-user-look" or cosplay the casual-hero or heroine all day. It simply means understanding: where is a touch more structure required, and how do you still bring your own flair to it. It’s not about costuming, or adhering to rigid conventions.

The magic word? Styling.

Good styling, in any situation, communicates your personality at its best and connects it to the environment you're in. This is where the versatility of your clothes comes into play, and creates genuinely individual looks. All without bursting into a monologue or overly forced self-expression.

Take the office classics: shirt, blouse, blazer, trousers, or shift dress. Depending on context, these pieces can be dressed up, or down in a myriad of ways. Turning your wardrobe into a joyful space. Best part? It keeps your closet lean and reflects your multifaceted personality. In short: you don't need more. You need a clear vision of who you are across different situations. Makes combining what you already have: a superpower in itself.

Enough said, here are a few examples: the same pieces, styled differently, creating completely different vibes.:

The Blouse / the Shirt – simply versatile