What we call “effortless” is a recipe more often than we’d like to admit. One fresh basic, one good shoe, one unnecessary accessory, one idea too many. Somewhere between trying too hard and denying it entirely, there’s a number. And that’s seven. Maybe even eight. Overthinkers, sit down.
Back to the TikTok’s styling guide obsession, every outfit has a target, 7-8 points. Less than that? Maybe reconsider stepping outside. More than that? Guess what! Still reconsider stepping outside. Basics score 1, statement pieces, think colorful, textured, design-forward, score 2. Yes, we are now counting our sweaters like calculus problems, nothing wrong with that. Nothing says style like basic addition (I can almost hear my high-school teacher crying).
Suppose we’re risking public exposure for caffeine, baggy sweatpants (1), plain long-sleeve (1), boxy bomber (1), and my dependable “not trying too hard” sneakers (also 1), 3-4 points shy. Overstimulating stacked jewelry (2), a pair of sunglasses (1) and my everyday bag (1). I’ve never been good at math but counting isn’t that cruel. 8 points later a boring outfit can even become worthy of photos. Work it in reverse too, fix that outfit that seems too much, edit it down. No brain cells harmed, no talent required, just ruthless scoring and balance.
Okay, this whole “score your outfit” nonsense can be helpful, especially for people who overthink everything from what cereal to eat to whether their socks match their mood. It also feeds that delicious need for external confirmation, not from people, mind you, but from some arbitrary set of rules someone posted on TikTok, the algorithmic kind, the sort that tells you you did it “right”.
It’s not genius, it’s not revolutionary, and it surely isn’t life-changing. And let’s be honest, to make it work you need a vague sense of taste, otherwise your “statement” piece will look like something dug out of a prop closet at a horror shoot. Would I stick to this blindly? Absolutely not. Fashion doesn’t need those rules. But for anyone who wants to stay safely inside the tidy little box of socially digestible style, it’s… a tool. Like training wheels for your ego, sold as guidance. I could name ten influencers off the top of my head who worship it like it’s the second coming.
