How I ‘meal-prep’ my outfits to avoid chaotic mornings and fashion disasters – and save money

MY SUNDAY evenings are spent ‘meal-prepping’. But I’m not slicing and dicing vegetables, or spooning salads into endless tupperware boxes.

I’m meal-prepping my outfits.

As a fashion editor who works with clothes day in, day out, I get a little lazy when it comes to what I wear myself.

And that has resulted in some chaotic mornings.

The trousers I want are nearly always in a crumpled mess at the bottom of the washing basket, while the top that I need is usually creased. Then whatever I can find probably doesn’t go together.

After endless mornings crying “I’ve got nothing to wear”;, I decided something had to change.

Scrolling through and , we’re bombarded by clips of smug, organised people preparing meals for the whole week.

While that will never be me, I suddenly had a lightbulb moment.

I decided to apply the ‘meal prep’ technique to my wardrobe – and it has totally transformed my mornings.

Now, instead of staring at a jumbled rail of clothes, hoping an outfit will miraculously assemble itself, they are neatly hung together in day order.

Not only that, I now have time to relax, make a coffee and be on time

to work, without feeling stressed.

This approach has changed everything.

I’ve discovered that I do in fact have lots to wear and don’t need to buy anything new. So I’m also saving money – much like those smug meal preppers.

I’m even getting more compliments on what I’m wearing, as my outfits are carefully curated.

Prepping my clothes for the week is the life change I never knew I needed.

Here’s what I prepped for this week – why don’t you see if this time-saving technique can work for you, too?

MONDAY

• Cropped trench, £39.99, Stradivarius
• Pale pink cardigan, £27.99, H&M
• Camel trousers, £29.99, Zara
• Shoes, £49, Next
• Bag, £30 Primark

KICKSTARTING the week with a positive mindset is a lot easier with the correct clothing.

Heading into the office, I want to feel well put together and smart, so tailored, wide trousers it is.

This pair, from , are fluid and loose so are really comfortable. Paired with comfy flats, I can ease myself gently into the week. And in on-trend leopard print, the shoes don’t look too casual.

Dopamine dressing is a scientifically proven way to boost your mood using colour. I lean into zen pastels with this uplifting pale pink cardigan from H&M is the perfect choice.

The look is topped off with a tailored coat – a real wardrobe staple that will last years.

TUESDAY

• Blazer, £37.99, H&M
• Blue shirt, £27.99, Zara
• Jeans, £40, Very
• Shoes, £59.99, Mango
• Bag, £28, River Island

THIS is a busy day for me – I’ve got meetings and I’ll also be pounding the pavement on London’s Oxford Street, getting clothes for a photoshoot.

I need a comfortable, work-appropriate outfit – which allows me to pile clothes on each arm.

Lightweight layers are key, so this oversized check blazer is a good outerwear option. Underneath, I’ll go for a classic, poplin striped shirt, which ticks the smart box when I’ll be sitting in a morning meeting.

On the bottom I’m going for dark-wash, wide-leg jeans, which look smarter than pale denim. The wide cut makes my legs look leaner without being suffocatingly tight, too – a win-win.

Classic loafers like this pair from Mango, which have horse-bit detailing and look like a Gucci dupe – but are £750 cheaper – complete the look, while a cross-body bag frees up my hands for selecting clothes.

WEDNESDAY

• Blazer, £37.99, H&M
• Dress, £36, River Island
• Belt, £35, Mango
• Cuff, £28, Marks & Spencer
• Necklace, £46, Boden
• Bag, £21.99, New Look
• Heels, £34.99, Office

MIDWEEK is when I tend to lose interest in trying to work out what to wear but not with ‘meal prepping.’

I’ll be at my desk all day, however I have a work event after hours.
This calls for a ‘do-everything’ dress – something work-appropriate, made from fabric that won’t get too creased – and that I won’t have to worry about if I accidentally slop my lunch down it.

Enter: the bargain dress from .

The cotton fabric is crease-free and the ruching detailing is flattering for all-day wear.

I’ll dress up my plain frock with the check blazer, this time wearing it with a thick belt to keep the waisted silhouette of the dress.

I opt for mini heels for all-day comfort and then add gold to elevate the outfit.

THURSDAY

• Cropped trench, £39.99, Stradivarius
• Top, £28, Boden at John Lewis
• Trousers, £18, George at Asda
• Bag, £22.99, H&M
• Scarf, £12.99, Mango
• Shoes, £34.99, Office

THE END of the week is in sight. I’ll be spending the morning in the office, before heading to my photoshoot in the afternoon, so I’ll need to feel comfortable when kneeling down to tie shoes and dressing my model. I also want to look presentable for the first part of the day.

For this, I’ve chosen these utility trousers from George that have a pleat down the front for a tailored and smart look, but are made from polyester so have the stretch that I need for dashing around the studio.

I’ll pair it with the cropped trench to match the utility trend of the trousers, adding pops of colour with a butter-yellow bag and that accessory secret weapon – the neck scarf.

These instantly add colour and interest to a plain outfit and make it appear like you’ve made a real effort.

FRIDAY

• Jacket, £59.99, Reserved
• Jumper, £29.50, Marks & Spencer
• Jeans, £40, Very
• Bag, £22.99, H&M
• Necklace, £45, Boden
• Trainers, 16, Peacocks

ON THE final day of the week, the office tends to be quieter and ‘dressed-down Friday’ comes into play.

I’m going for a pub dinner after work with my girlfriends, so won’t be coming into work in my loungewear.

Instead, I dig out those wide leg jeans again, this time pairing them with a bright trainer and lots of texture.

This viral, one-shoulder top from M&S is the perfect knit for the evening, while still being comfy with its statement one sleeve.

I’ll add on a chunky gold necklace and tap into with this yellow embroidered jacket.

To finish the look, I’ve gone for the yellow bag from Thursday, so I don’t have to transfer the contents to another bag and because it ties in with the jacket for a well put together look.