Now that it is warm outside, it is much easier to people watch and see what everyday people wear in their everyday lives. Recently I have noticed two pairs of women who help to demonstrate the importance of practical style, as opposed to giving up on style completely. Both pairs of women were mothers with very young children; I spotted one set at a local playground and one set chatting on the street. All of the mothers were dressed casually, but in both cases one mother looked presentable and one looked like she had given up on style. The presentable ones weren't wearing anything especially note-worthy, just a pair of colorful cropped pants and a fitted t-shirt, but when they stood next to their counterparts who were wearing over-sized men's athletic shorts and baggy t-shirts it created quite a contrast.
What is appropriate is not static; jeans are great for lots of casual events, but you wouldn't wear them to a cocktail party. That is why style needs to be flexible. Instead of curating a closet that only works for one aspect of your life, choose a variety of pieces. You might have five fabulous cocktail dresses just waiting to be worn for a party, but you also need to have a flattering pair of jeans to wear to the grocery store, The most important thing is not that you look like a fashionista every time you walk out your front door, but rather that the pieces you wear make you look and feel good.