Coco Chanel once famously preached taking at least one thing off before leaving the house. The idea was to resist the temptation to over-style (less is more, elegance lives in restraint, etc.). But somewhere between her era of classic pearls and today’s fashion landscape, the problem flipped. Now, it’s not uncommon to stare at yourself in the mirror and feel like our outfits are missing something or possibly doing too much, even when we’re technically got all the makings of a great look.
That’s where the 7-point rule comes in. A styling formula that has recently reemerged on TikTok. More and more, people have been leaning on this viral trick to provide an easy framework for dressing that also helps explain why some outfits feel complete, while others feel just… eh.
While this theory doesn’t tell you what to wear. Instead, it helps you understand how much your outfit is doing, and what to add if it’s falling short. At its core, it’s a simple bit of fashion math. Don’t worry; you don’t need to be a woman in STEM to get it right. Every basic item and statement piece (such as jewelry) you wear is assigned a point value. The goal? Build a look that adds up to seven or eight points. Think of it as a visual checklist. All in all, it can be a tool for days when your look feels “off” and you can’t figure out why.
According to this theory, the ideal outfit will score seven or eight points, and never less than six or more than 10.
One Point Items
One-point items are your staples. These are pieces that serve as a foundation: simple jeans, a basic white tee, a plain crewneck sweater, sneakers, or a black crossbody bag. They’re part of your essential wardrobe, but can’t do a lot of visual storytelling on their own.
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Basic tank top or t-shirt
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Jeans or solid trousers
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Plain sneakers or ballet flats
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Minimal loafers
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Button-down shirts in a neutral color
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Simple tote or crossbody bag
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Classic sunglasses
Two Point Items
Two-point items are where things get interesting. This includes anything that adds texture, shape, color, or personality. A red ballet flat, an asymmetrical top, a statement belt, a puff-sleeve blouse, a leopard-print mini skirt, a pair of cat-eye sunglasses—these pieces catch the eye or add contrast.
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Statement jewelry (e.g., chunky earrings, layered necklaces)
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Textured or patterned garments (like lace, sequins, or animal print)
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Corset or sculptural top
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Unusual shoes (mesh flats, satin heels, cowboy boots)
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Headwear (beret, baseball cap, bandana)
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Eye-catching bag (metallic, unique silhouette, bold color)
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Layered outerwear
7-Point Outfit In Action
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Take a look at this outfit for a visual example. You can allot two points each to the statement jacket and the oversized slouchy bag. On the other hand, these classic jeans and sunglasses, and black heels would each get one, rounding it out to be a total of seven.
A 10-Point Outfit
Getty Images
Going over seven points isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Fashion is subjective after all! According to this rule, however, an outfit that goes overboard simply means it could be toned down a notch should you so wish.
In this example, the basic top counts for one point, the ruffled skirt is two, the cowboy boots are two, bag is one, the leather jacket is two, glasses are one, and minimal jewelry is one. Altogether, this makes for a 10-point outfit.
Read the original article on InStyle
