A few weeks back, I had a fashion event and was dreading having to figure out what to wear. Those sorts of invitations are always the most stressful, knowing that most of the attendees will be in sleek outfits that seem to highlight just how many things are missing from my closet. But G and I decided to make a night out of it, first going to a dinner spot we’d been wanting to try, swinging by the party on our way home.

I tried on countless pieces, all of which ended up in a pile at my feet in front of the mirror. I’d pulled out patterned blouses, slinky dresses, sheer skirts, and oversized blazers, none of which felt quite right. When G texted it was time to leave, I panicked and reached for what I knew always worked: a black lace bra under a chambray shirt, and jeans. I kept it from veering too cowgirl by pairing it with my Chanel bag with seaglass-colored sequins and a pair of sleek silver pumps.

I felt cool, if slightly overdressed, for dinner, but was surprised by just how well the outfit suited the event. As we walked in hand in hand, I felt understated and whatever the opposite is of a try-hard. I wore my hair down in air-dried waves, had a smattering of necklaces stacked on my neck, glowy makeup (I shared my routine here), and perhaps the most important component of all: the knowledge that the whole look just…worked, without much effort.

That night sort of reframed how I’ve been approaching my outfits. It’s less about the one perfect piece (though, in all fairness, that sequined bag does a lot of the heavy lifting) and more about a closet balanced with the right pieces. Some are simple and classic: the building blocks that, while sometimes can seem boring, rarely appear that way when balanced by more fun, vibrant pieces. A pink dress with a low back and oversized bow, a black top with a fringed bottom, and an outfit-making clutch.

Below are six looks that follow the same formula, which I plan on recreating all summer...