I hope everyone had an awesome weekend! I know I did!
As I mentioned in my Designer vs. Dupes post, I’m all about classic pieces and building a timeless wardrobe. I also happen to love a lot of the trending styles (bell sleeves!) and I always look for ways to incorporate those into my style. That being said, I’ve compiled a list of my absolute wardrobe essentials, items I always keep on hand. These are also great pieces that I believe every woman should own, and they are also great starter pieces for anyone looking to revamp their style.
White Jeans (and regular)
White jeans literally go with everything, and I love them. I wear mine very often, and own several pairs. The key to these is to find a pair that is a good, thick knit so they are not see through, as many tend to be. I find that I tend to lean more towards the white twill jeans, which are a softer texture than traditional jeans but still the same look. This material does not show all the lumps and bumps that some other kinds may, but be sure to still wear lighter colored undergarments just in case! Really, the only downside to white jeans is that, obviously, they’re white, so they do stain easily. There are several stain resistant jeans on the market and while I’ve never tried them, I’ve heard great things. I also lumped normal jeans into this category as they are virtually the same thing and go with all kinds of tops.
Shop Jeans:
ASOS Nordstrom Target Asos Nordstrom Target
Black leggings
It may be habit from my college days, but if I’m not wearing jeans, I’m living in leggings. I know I know, leggings are NOT pants. But come on, some of us need that! Sometimes I just don’t want to have to squeeze myself into cute jeans or wear pants with any zippers; sometimes, I just want to throw them on and go, and that’s what black leggings are perfect for, without having to go out in sweatpants (or pajamas!) They can be worn alone as pants with the right tops, under an oversized sweater, and so much more, but they are a great basic staple to have.
Shop Leggings:
Nordstrom Target Banana Republic ASOS
White Layering Tanks
I can’t even begin to tell you how many white tank tops I own. It’s actually semi-embarrassing (same with cardigans) but these little wonders go with so much. There’s rarely a day that goes by that I’m not sporting a white tank, whether its on its own, under an open-front cardigan, or as a layering piece under a top or sweater.
Shop White Layering Tanks:
Nordstrom Banana Republic J. Crew Neiman Marcus
Cozy Cardigan
Same as with the tank tops, I’ve got way too many cardigans to count. These are another perfect layering piece, and there are so many different styles to choose from. I mostly own oversized cardigans with open fronts, or slim fitting button downs. These can be worn over a tank top, another shirt of your choice, or over a sleeveless or short-sleeve dress.
Shop Cardigans:
Neiman Marcus Nordstrom Anthropologie Revolve
Nude Flats
The great thing about nude flats is that they’re so versatile- and the color goes with everything. Of course, if you’re as pale as me, people think when you wear them you’re barefoot, and you have to explain to them that yes, you did in fact remember to wear shoes to work, and yes, you are aware that they are the same color as your skin. LOL. But aside from that, these shoes are a good staple to have. I usually pair them with jeans, but they can also be worn with leggings, shorts, skirts, and dresses. See? Versatile!
Shop Nude Flats:
Neiman Marcus Kate Spade DSW Nordstrom
Blazer
Ahh, the blazer. Such a timeless article of clothing. You can dress it up or down, wear it over a tank top and jeans for a casual look, or over a dress for more professional attire. Whichever way you chose to wear it, the blazer is a definitive must-have for your closet. I own several colors, all pretty basic, so I can mix and match them with anything I choose. For a simple, elegant, but casual look, pair with jeans, a tank top, flats, and accessories of your choice.
Shop Blazers:
Nordstrom Shopbop Revolve Forever21
Black Heels
You can never, EVER go wrong with a black heel. Let me repeat that. NEVER, EVER. Why? Because it goes with literally everything. Jeans, leggings, dresses, skirts, shorts: you name it, it goes. I’m pretty sure I own at least four pairs of black heels, in various styles. And guess what? I wear them all the time. If there’s anything on this list that you should absolutely own, it’s a pair of chic black heels. They’ll make any outfit look put together and sophisticated.
Shop Black Heels:
DSW Nordstrom Revolve Michael Kors
Little Black Dress
And finally, we have the LBD. Arguably the most classic item on this list, every woman needs a little black dress (to go with her chic black heels, of course!) I own several black dresses, and I love them. It’s usually my dress color of choice when going out, as black is known to visually have a slimming effect. It’s also a color that universally everyone looks great in, and doesn’t require much extra effort to look good. You can dress this up or down as well, depending on how you accessorize.
Neiman Marcus Revolve Nordstrom Shopbop
Hope you enjoyed this list! What are your wardrobe essentials?
Nice picks! I wrote a similar post on my blog recently. I found your blog on the Rymixer’s club page, love your logo and branding btw 🙂
Thank you!