*fyi: this is a long post. just wanted to warn you before you started reading.*
I feel that the core of a strong wardrobe is basics. That being said, I know for a long time I didn't have any "plain" pieces in my wardrobe, and it took a lot of time and effort to create outfits that looked cohesive and cute. I'm by no means a style expert, but I do believe that I have an understanding of what some great foundational pieces are for a starter (or "always developing" - like mine) wardrobe. Based on my college student/starter professional perspective, here are some pieces that I believe are key to a great wardrobe and some suggestions on where you can find ones to fit your own closet needs:
1. A plain white/black tee-shirt in long and short sleeves
These can be styled about a million different ways and I think it is essential to have at least one of the above because it gives you literally a blank slate to work with.
Here are some examples with the J.Crew Perfect Tee, you can go casual with jeans and a printed scarf, dressy with a easy skirt and bow adorned flats, and work appropriate (if you have a more conservative/strict office dress code - add a cardigan!) with slim ankle pants, a bright statement necklace, and neutral pumps.
2. A neutral tank top
A basic tank top is a great building block. If you want one to wear under suiting, I recommend J. Crew and Banana Republic. For more casual everyday purposes, gap tanks are perfect, they are long, stretchy, and wear well over time. A nude camisole is another great option because it can easily be layered under sweaters and dresses when modesty is key.
3. A great fitting blazer
fit is key here. get a classic color and cut but make sure it fits your body. color wise: black, navy, and gray are great neutrals. If you can find a blazer that's part of a suit, that's even better because then you have more pieces to work with that a. work well together, b. work fantastic on their own, c. match. lightweight wool works year round, and if you want to invest: theory.
4. {Dress} Pants
By pants I mean pants that will work well professionally and some that can be worn regardless of the occasion. Banana Republic is my go-to for suiting pants and their Sloan Slim Ankle Pants are some of my most-worn every day pants, they're composed of a thick cotton-blend with the perfect amount of stretch and come in a ton of classic and trendy colors. Theory also makes some great dressier options. When buying pants, think occasion. If it's going to be for the office or for job interview - will you wear it with heels? flats? Depending on the answer try it on with the shoes before purchasing to make sure the hem is appropriate. If your looking for versatility, then go with a straight leg or a trouser leg. These are trend proof and can generally be worn with a multitude of different tops. Similar to the blazer, lightweight wool works year round. Another recommendation is to try and have at least one full suit - i.e suit pants that match a blazer. It's a great power outfit, particularly if you need a little boost of confidence for a job interview or big presentation.
5. Kick-a** Jeans
Self-explanatory. Necessary. Skinny, straight, boyfriend, trouser, whichever you choose - make sure you feel comfortable and that they fit in the rear. No one wants a saggy bum. There are so many fantastic jean options anywhere from a couple dollars at forever21 to $100+ at Paige Denim. I like Old Navy and Gap for mid-range prices and quality. I have a few pairs of the Old Navy Rockstar Skinny Jeans and they've held up incredibly well for the price. When it comes to denim I always like it darker because it's easy to dress dark jeans up or down and they make you look slimmer (bonus!). (side note: when making the list I literally wrote kicka** jeans lol and I was contemplating renaming this one but i was like no - you really do just need them to be kicka**.)
6. A button-down/oxford shirt
These are endlessly versatile and it's always a good idea to have one crisp white button down just in case. The classic oxford always looks polished and is an easy piece to throw on if your in a wardrobe rut and still want to look put-together. It's the structured alternative to sweatshirt and pj's. I love pairing these with bold necklaces and using them as blank canvas. Bright sweaters, cool vests, the opportunities to style are literally endless. And of course they look perfect under a blazer or with a skirt for the office.
7. Colorful Cardigans
I think cardigans are the perfect "topper" piece. They can literally be paired with anything. J.Crew has a ton of beautiful colors that will add much needed personality and pop to any plain ensembles. These are classic but can also be cool. The zara cardigan above has just a hint of edgy-ness but it's still a very wearable piece. I like cardigans with everything: dresses, shirts, tanks. I think a number of fun colors as well as a few conservative pieces (i.e.: black, navy, cream.) would really round out any wardrobe.
8. Flats
There are so many great options out there for flats right now that one doesn't even need to sacrifice style for comfort. I love the timeless aesthetic of the Ferragamo's, but realistically Banana Republic, J. Crew, and even Forever21 make great flats that can be worn everyday. Flats are the perfect way to jazz up an outfit. One can go bold with color to make a neutral ensemble pop, or stay classic in nude to tone down a bright dress. The possibilities are limitless.
9. Pumps
every woman needs at least one solid pair of pumps. whether it be for fun - like the kate spade above - or the office - the ann taylor pair above - pumps are a fun way to not only accessorize but also dress up an outfit. There are all sorts of price points to work with here, but it's important to make sure the shoes fit and are comfortable, particularly if your going to be wearing them for more than a few hours. I think many women can agree that there is nothing quite as powerful as when your wearing an outfit polished off by a beautiful pair of heels. It's one of the greatest perks of being a girl so why not take advantage of it?
10. Pencil Skirt
When i say pencil skirt, I don't mean in the "naughty secretary" sense. Pencil skirts are great for not only office situations but nights out as well. Make sure that it's not too tight in any area because you want it to be professional enough to wear with suiting and not scream overtly sexy. The length should also be a bit conservative: mid thigh is too short! I'm thinking an inch or so above the knee. Pencil skirts look great with plain white tops, but they also provide a perfect canvas for silk blouses and fun pumps. They don't have to be boring either. The jacquard twill J. Crew skirt above is cute and still appropriate for many different occasions. It's also a good idea to have a skirt that matches a suit so when if you want to change up your suiting (wear the skirt instead of pants) it would be easy to do so.
11. The Everyday Jacket
7. Colorful Cardigans
I think cardigans are the perfect "topper" piece. They can literally be paired with anything. J.Crew has a ton of beautiful colors that will add much needed personality and pop to any plain ensembles. These are classic but can also be cool. The zara cardigan above has just a hint of edgy-ness but it's still a very wearable piece. I like cardigans with everything: dresses, shirts, tanks. I think a number of fun colors as well as a few conservative pieces (i.e.: black, navy, cream.) would really round out any wardrobe.
8. Flats
There are so many great options out there for flats right now that one doesn't even need to sacrifice style for comfort. I love the timeless aesthetic of the Ferragamo's, but realistically Banana Republic, J. Crew, and even Forever21 make great flats that can be worn everyday. Flats are the perfect way to jazz up an outfit. One can go bold with color to make a neutral ensemble pop, or stay classic in nude to tone down a bright dress. The possibilities are limitless.
9. Pumps
every woman needs at least one solid pair of pumps. whether it be for fun - like the kate spade above - or the office - the ann taylor pair above - pumps are a fun way to not only accessorize but also dress up an outfit. There are all sorts of price points to work with here, but it's important to make sure the shoes fit and are comfortable, particularly if your going to be wearing them for more than a few hours. I think many women can agree that there is nothing quite as powerful as when your wearing an outfit polished off by a beautiful pair of heels. It's one of the greatest perks of being a girl so why not take advantage of it?
10. Pencil Skirt
When i say pencil skirt, I don't mean in the "naughty secretary" sense. Pencil skirts are great for not only office situations but nights out as well. Make sure that it's not too tight in any area because you want it to be professional enough to wear with suiting and not scream overtly sexy. The length should also be a bit conservative: mid thigh is too short! I'm thinking an inch or so above the knee. Pencil skirts look great with plain white tops, but they also provide a perfect canvas for silk blouses and fun pumps. They don't have to be boring either. The jacquard twill J. Crew skirt above is cute and still appropriate for many different occasions. It's also a good idea to have a skirt that matches a suit so when if you want to change up your suiting (wear the skirt instead of pants) it would be easy to do so.
11. The Everyday Jacket
This is the go-to. Comfortable, easy, timeless, and with just enough class to not look sloppy. I have the Banana Republic jacket above and love it to pieces. It's one of my most worn pieces and goes with everything from a sheath dress to sweats. I love the quilting on the Barbour jacket, and the brass detailing on J.Crew's field jacket. What I love about the "everyday" jacket is that it's a no brainer.
12. The Statement Piece
12. The Statement Piece
This is quite possibly my favorite. I love statement necklaces and handbags. This is where you can go as crazy as you want. Big necklaces, bright bags, there are so many great statement pieces available out there. They really make an outfit yours.
13. A Leather Jacket
I find leather jackets to be the perfect balance of sexy and sort of bada**. Particularly when paired with girly ensembles. A floaty dress with a moto jacket is a effortlessly cool look year round. I love the detailing that you can get across a variety of brands from zara all the way up to balenciaga. A leather jacket is another one of those pieces that will get better with age. It tells a story. It's also perfect for nights out with the girls or when you need a dose of confidence.
14. A trench coat
I love bright trench coats. I personally have a red one that I have worn for years. Trench coats look classic, put together, protect you from rain, and are perfect for nearly any occasion (esp. if you want to run errands in sweatpants - cover them up with a chic trench and voila! no one will know..).
15. The Dress
It doesn't have to be a little black dress, but "the dress" is something that is classic enough in cut to be worn for many different occasions. It's something that can be dressed up or down. It's the one you reach for when you can't decide what to wear and it always looks good. There is nothing quite as magical as finding "the dress."
16. A striped top
Striped tops are my favorite for a number of reasons. They look perfect under cardigans, jeans and booties for the weekend. I live in them during the summer. They remind me of Paris. I think they're essential because you can pair them with nearly anything, and who doesn't love a good stripe or two?
17. Printed Scarves
Scarves make outfits. They add personality to 'boring white top and jeans' type looks. I love printed scarves because they literally add a "pop" to every day looks. Plus scarves are relatively cheap. It is completely acceptable to have about a billion scarves.
18. Colorful V-Necks
Target makes some of the best v-necks out there. Lightweight and super soft. V-necks tees are easy to dress up or down. Throw one on with a pencil skirt for the office in the summer or over a pair of boyfriend jeans for the weekend. The colors are also great ways to break up monotonous outfits.
19. Proper Undergarments
There are so many companies that will give you a proper fitting, so take advantage. The better these fit the better you'll feel regardless of what your wearing. The proper undergarments make all the difference.
20. Finishing Touches
The finishing touch. A beautiful (and functional) timepiece. Luxe makeup. Pretty sunnies. There's no one item that embodies this piece, it's whatever you want it to be.
Thats it!
It took me a few days to compose this post.
I think this list is comprised of some pretty tried and true wardrobe basics.
Is there anything that you'd add?
xoxo,
Bella
