Last week I constantly found myself in a state of perpetual motion. I had several deadlines to meet for my extracurricular activities, and managing to keep on task for all three jobs I have on campus. All of this ended with a 19-hour working day on Friday. In the midst of my battle, I had no time to worry about how I looked to the outside world. However, anyone who knows me well enough should also know that I don’t let that stop me from looking my best.

Of course, I lived down a couple of days when I’d sleep in until five minutes before my class was scheduled to begin; I reacted as any insecure 20 year-old would. In other words, massive panic on the scale of a zombie-apocalypse. As I said before, I don’t let the little things stop me. From my years of experience in the work force of an image-driven industry I have a few tricks up my sleeve. What I needed on those days were my foolproof emergency outfits. An emergency outfit is an outfit that you should save for those times when you find yourself in a pinch with nothing cute to wear and want to look so hot that you burn a hole in the road.

My emergency outfit consists of my favorite pair of pants, layering tee, blazer (as seen on Nico Villareal below), and ankle boots; for me, all are form fitting and tailored. This way I have a polished look that I can throw on with ease. The important, and tricky, thing to remember with this go-to look is balance. You want your look to be appropriate for your day, but you also want to remember that when in a rush you’ll most likely want to be comfortable.  Also, notice how I said outfit; I have more than one. My reason behind having multiple outfits for any occasion is incase of the possibility that I sleep past my alarm multiple days in a week, or multiple days in a row.

Another key principle is to remember the details. On my days like this I don’t have time to pay attention to accessories; my clothes need to stand alone on the front lines. So, I make sure that the fit of my clothing is impeccable; this is a good tip for the guys. Ladies, you have a little more room to work with. For your emergency outfit, might I recommend the investment in a good pair of faux-leather leggings? They’re a little more expensive, but the investment will pay off because of the versatility of the piece and the unexpected edge that they can add to any look. Maybe you can allow yourself to buy that print blazer to add to the ensemble? At first this may look over the top, but the print will only compliment the edge given off by the leggings.

Go-to looks are difficult to develop at first, but carefully considering what the possibilities that your closet could afford you for days like this are endless and well worth the time.