'Trust me, "outfit mapping" is the secret to finding your true style.'

Do you have a go-to outfit you chuck on when you can't really think of a better one, or you're just short on time?

Maybe it's jeans and a blazer. One glance in your wardrobe shows a bit of a blazer addiction, and you can't stop buying denim in different cuts and washes.

It's a combo you just feel good in. Safe. Confident.

Listen: Why hacking your personal style will always trump chasing trends, post continues.

According to digital creator Derrick Smith, there's a lot you can learn about yourself from the fail-safe pieces you turn to and how you put them together.

"Do you ever notice how you keep wearing the same three outfits, no matter how much is in your closet? That's not laziness, it's data," Smith shared in a reel on his popular Instagram page.

The content creator says it's data you should really be paying attention to, because it can provide a "map" of your true style.

"Your brain's already figured out what feels like you, you just haven't caught up yet," he explains.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Derrick Smith | mensfashion (@derrick_b_smith)

So your default outfit is not, in fact, a random choice — it's so much more revealing, says Smith.

And when you interrogate it more closely, he says you might find you stop chasing trends and start to dress "in alignment" with who you really are.

Interesting, right?

I put his theory to the test with my own wardrobe and realised just how true Smith's words are when you apply them.

My closet has three sections — two hanging racks and a big pile of soft stuff in the middle, sort of partitioned into shelves but really just a… big pile.

It's this pile I reach for the most, day-in-day-out, and it's stacked with precisely two styles: knit pants and oversized tops.

My everyday look. Images: Supplied.

Sure, I have many variations of those styles, but they all mix and match, and they're in constant rotation.

I'm now seeing how this is actually a conscious choice I'm making every day to prioritise comfort and practicality (I have a toddler), while still feeling fashionable.

My go-to mum look. Images: Supplied.

It's the look that feels the most pulled-together that it can be for the realities of my lifestyle: I live next to the beach and work from home, so I don't get many occasions to pull out my blazers.

But rather than feeling lazy, I'm fully embracing my formula. These are the North Stars of my style, and the silhouettes can evolve according to my needs.

Big tees and knit pants work every time. Images: Supplied.

I can dress up the look with silky trousers and a chic printed shirt, or dress it down with cotton pants and a graphic tee. Simple.

As Smith says, "It's not about doing the most; it's about feeling the most yourself."

There's a lot of comfort in realising that what feels best is what actually suits you.

Watch: A fashion expert says your outfit should start, not end, with your shoes. Post continues.

How to find your 'outfit map'.

If you're unsure about your style, try this exercise to create your own outfit map:

Step 1: Go into your closet and pull out the outfit combos you turn to the most often. Think about what you wear for work, weekends and day-to-day life.

Step 2: Look closely at the items and see what they have in common. Are you repeating the same silhouettes or styles? That's your data.

Step 3: Use that data to help map out what makes up your true style. For example, if you live in colourful maxi-dresses, it's going to be pretty clear that maxis are part of your fashion DNA — as are the key accessories you style them with.

Step 4: If you want to go further, you can keep a list of reliable outfits in your Notes app or on a Post-it on your wardrobe door. In a fashion crisis, you'll always have a standby solution.

But as Smith argues, it should really be your first choice. And there's absolutely no shame in that.

Feature image: Supplied and Instagram/@_tamaradavis_