They say time waits for no man. And as any man who’s slept through five morning alarms and faced the near-impossible challenge of finding something appropriate to wear in 30 seconds will tell you, they’re not wrong.

But there are ways to minimize the time spent blankly staring into the wardrobe as if waiting for a Wallace & Gromit-style invention to – any second now – kick into action and clothe you.

Whether you’re against the clock, or just can’t muster up anything that looks vaguely decent in the mirror, this is our guide to styling it out when you’re stumped.

First, Chill

You’re already half an hour late, so what’s another few minutes? Whatever you do, don’t panic. Losing your chill because you’re late or think you’ve got nothing to wear definitely won’t expedite the process.

“Panicking leads to frantic and impulsive dressing, which can only result in regrettable outfit decisions,” says Allie Ohyoma, a senior stylist at online men’s personal shopping service The Chapar. So less wigging out, more figuring out what you’re going to wear.

Check Your Calendar

Just like a suit and tie jars with a few jars down the local, so does shorts and a T-shirt in a corporate environment. The lesson? Use the day ahead to inform your outfit decisions.

“The most important things to consider when dressing for the day are where you’re going, what you’re doing and how long you’ll be doing it for,” says Ohyoma. Pick the right tools for the job, in other words.

Consult The Weather App

It’s not just about meeting dress codes – your decision also needs to take Mother Nature into account. A quick glance at a weather app could be the difference between arriving in style and arriving sodden.

If all you see on your screen is rain clouds, put the suede away and pack a mac instead.

Basics Are Best

When you’re up against the clock, resist the urge to reinvent the wheel. Concentrate on how to look good/not like a dick using the bare necessities rather than experimenting with new combinations.