This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s fall editorial intern Elizabeth Miller. Find them on Instagram at @Lizzy_7979. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Since entering my 20s, I’ve been looking for ways to elevate my daily outfits from “clinging to my late teens” to “confident young adult.” There are lots of different ways to work on styling outfits, but one of my favorite methods that I’ve found so far has been the 8-point rule. The 8 point rule fashion advice I’ve seen online has been super helpful and I’ve gotten so many compliments on my outfits when I keep this method in mind as I get dressed. And, the concept is super simple and great for incorporating accessories. If you’d like to learn more, read on!
What Is The 8 Point Rule?
The 8 point rule is a method for building outfits. The basis of the rule is to make sure you have enough elements in the outfit to be visually intriguing. The rule does not necessarily tell you what to wear, but questions if you are wearing enough.
The rule works by assigning point values to pieces you wear in an outfit. Any piece used to build an outfit that you can see in the finished outfit is 1 point. Shirts, pants, shoes, jackets, and accessories are generally all worth 1 point. On occasion, there will be a piece in the outfit that is extra eye catching and is therefore work 2 points. These are usually dresses or anything that has super bold colors or patterns that stand out from the rest of the outfit.
When you build your outfit, the rule says you want to aim for 6-8 points. Any less means the outfit will be less visually appealing, and any more means the outfit might be too busy. The general balance seems to be reaching at least 6 points, but the best outfits have 8 points.
To figure out how many points your outfit is, look at all the elements you can see in the complete outfit. Count 1 point for each basic element of the outfit and each type of accessory you have, such as shirts, pants, shoes, glasses, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, purses, bags, hoodies, and plain jackets. If there are elements of your outfit that are meant to draw the eye, count them as 2 points, such as dresses, shirts with bold patterns and colors, and jackets that catch the eye (like leather jackets).
I love this method because I have a lot of accessories that I have wanted to wear more but haven’t figured out how to wear them. With this method, I have a better idea of when and where I should accessorize. If you have accessories you want to use more but aren’t sure if it will work for your outfit, this method is great for figuring out if it might enhance your outfit.
Styling With The 8 Point Rule For Different Seasons
Since this style relies so much on layering and accessorizing to reach 8 points, it might seem hard to reach that many points depending on the season. Here is a breakdown of where you can lean into points when styling in different seasons.
Spring/Summer
In the warm weather, it can be hard to layer, even when it is for a cute outfit. This is where bold colors, patterns, and accessories become our best friends. Eye catching patterns get 2 points in outfits, so use that to your advantage. A patterned shirt can take your 2 points from a shirt and short combo to three points. With shoes and a bag, that takes the outfit up to 5 points. Then, use accessories to get that point total up. Sunglasses are a staple to summer weather, and add a point to the outfit. Use jewelry to elevate your outfit just a little more, and you will reach the 8 points easily. These playful styling tricks are part of what makes womens fashion in Australia so uniquely expressive and climate conscious.
Fall/Winter
In the cold weather, it can be hard to accessorize with jewelry because layering for the cold weather means you cover a lot of the areas that you see jewelry. But, winterwear racks in more points that you might realize. Where bracelets and rings would get you two points, gloves only get you one. Scarves are a direct swap in points for necklaces. Hats add a point too! Layering for the cold weather can also be a great way to get more points for your outfit too. Any visible turtlenecks and shirts under jackets add points toward the total outfit.
What do you think about this 8 point rule fashion trend? Hopefully you found it helpful!
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