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Style revelation: basic vs. statement clothes

catgirl

Veteran

We were campling this weekend (it got down to the 40s at night and I was able to bust out the new emerald down jacket, which got much admiration!), and I realized how easy it is to dress when you're thinking only about function - warmth, staying dry, moving easily.

I also had a strange style revelation moment, as we sat around one afternoon looking through InStyle. I am rarely attracted to basic items, and find them oddly hard to style. For instance, the recent posts on accessorizing a black dress - I am so bad at those things (maybe because I'm not Team ALGO or Maximal). I would so much rather have an item that does the accessorizing for me, like a crazy print dress or a striped blazer.

That got me thinking about whether I even need a pair of "all-purpose" black boots. Why do I need a basic item if I'm also going to want the amped-up versions (laces, zippers, buckles, etc.)?

I almost feel like I need a fashion food pyramid to guide me. Something like "basics = grains, accessories = fruits and veggies, statement pieces = dairy") so I can get a sense of what proportions make sense. Although I'm loving my wardrobe a lot more, I'm still not feeling like it's balanced somehow.

My camping capsule is the easiest one I have!

Dressing

46 replies

Latest reply was from catgirl

rute

Veteran

I love basics, the black dress, the shoes that goes with everything, I love to have clothes that I can use a lot and mix a lot!
Those are the base of an wardrobe and will make your life so much easier!
I prefer to have less clothes and more accessories that I can use to transform a look!
I'm team minimal either because I don't use a lot of accessories at the same time.

We are all different and that's fun!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I am sooooo on that same page with you!! I am hopelessly drawn to things with built in interest - a buckle here, a zipper detail there, some crystals in place of buttons. And in the same way, I like my clothes to have the accessorizing built in. But I think it's harder to pair and remix these kinds of items, and if we don't have some portion of (boring to us) basics, it doesn't work. I had to really work at accessorizing my LBD and went so far as to almost copy piece by piece an idea I saw a blogger put together.
The funny thing is - when I admire a look in a magazine or tv show or whatever it's often a more simple, neutral look but I'm drawn to the opposite of that. Hunh. Guess I don't have any answer, just commisseration!

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

Well if your jacket or blouse is a statement, you don't want all of the other components of your outfit to be a statement. It would be total overload! Your eye needs a place to rest. Let your great pieces shine, not compete with each other. I can see you in these RATE boots: http://coolspotters.com/actres.....dium-33695

They are all purpose black boots but far from basic!

Anonymous

This gives me some good food for thought. I was just wondering if it was worth it to ask how to style a black cordroy blazer (what is WRONG with me?). Maybe I suffer from the same affliction!

In any case, the thought of you out in the wilderness, sitting around a camp fire and paging through InStyle gave me a fit of giggles. I love it!

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

I agree with modgirl. Basic doesn't have to equal generic! (Love those boots for you, Una.)

Lynne

Veteran

sleeping bag, check, InStyle, check.....love it!

Una, I love your food pyramid idea, and I also think Rute has a point about the supporting acts each statement piece needs to truly shine. It's kind of assumed that the statement pieces would be in the minority, and there would be lots of basics supporting each one. Hmmm...not sure where this though train is leading so I'll stop there :).

April

Veteran

Una, Michael Kors puts the proportions at 70-30, basics to "icing and fluff."

Interesting that you prefer items that are already fully finished on their own -- I'm completely the opposite. Lately I don't even want to look at dresses because they are so much themselves. The whole "you put it on and you're finished" experience is not practical for me because I crave wardrobe variety.

catgirl

Veteran

Rute, you have hit on my dilemma - I don't find my basics to be versatile, probably because I am not creative enough with accessories and remixing. Maybe the key is to look for basics with a twist, like the black leather pencil skirt which I would wear every day if I could (and am wearing today).

CC, glad I made you laugh! It wasn't just me - there were three other women there. We noted that jewel tones are still very in along with red, faux fur is hot, and the midi skirt is all the rage (although maybe not if down-filled!).

Mo, I knew you'd understand.

Rita, I have a version of those boots in brown (F&B) that I got three years ago! I need to get them resoled for winter and then I will bust them out.

catgirl

Veteran

Lynne, I think I'm trying to combine Team Minimalist with Teams ALGO and RATE somehow!

crwilson

Veteran

Una I have the exact same problem. I have virtually no interest in basics, which becomes problematic when I need something to go under that wonderful statement jacket that won't detract from it. I do like the just-put-it-on-and-go convenience of pieces that stand alone, especially dresses. I don't know what the answer is. I'm sure that it should be a 70-30 ratio, with basics comprising the bulk of it, but I think that takes people who are more creative than me. I love blog and magazine pieces where the same item is styled a billion different ways, but in my own life, I don't have the energy for that much accessorizing.

rae

(website)

Veteran

I am also with you wanting the interest built in to my clothes. I find accessories really fussy these days, so built-in is good! That said, there are the few pieces that I'm just disinterested in (work pumps, tee shirts, slacks) and so I end up getting very plain ones.

Maybe it would help to decide that certain categories will be statement pieces and certain categories will be basics (e.g. all statement jackets, because they will be most visible vs. all basic underlayers, because they will be topped off with interesting jackets anyway).

Lynne

Veteran

Una, maybe your own basics-statements ratio differs from others?

Or maybe your 'basic' boot/jacket might constitute a statement piece in someone else's wardrobe?

rachylou

Veteran

I'm with modgrl on a place for the eyes to rest. Basics-as-backdrop.

Maybe one of the things to do is to think about where you like to make your statements, so you can know what items are the backdrop. Something for me to think about anyways... now that I think about it... (haha, too much thinking going on maybe)...

My aunts and uncles all do this thing - basic slacks and matching turtleneck layered under a jazzy button down. They do all always look smart... if though they're all, well, in the same outfit pretty much.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Not to go too off tangent, but I am confused by the idea of "changing it up with accessories". To me, it's still a white turtleneck with a red necklace or a white turtleneck with a blue scarf - I see a white turtleneck! Am I just being dense here? sorry, carry on!

Heather

Veteran

Una, I think you have exposed the secret to your expansive closet.

You like to buy so many pieces that are visually interesting and prints that are statements, but then do not consider a remix or repurpose for these items.

So once you have worn something so interesting and memorable once or twice then it is old news, too many people have seen it and it becomes an automatic orphan. Only to be instantly replaced with another of its kind.

Having basics to mix in with these statement pieces aids in wardrobe balance--PPW and a smiling face when something old seems new again. And you certainly have the climate to layer.

I love a statement piece and I am for sure on Team ALGO, but I try to think of ways to remix items so that a statement piece that I love won't be orphaned due to uniqueness.

Also, to bat for basics for a second: basics do not have be boring. Basics can have visual detalis, too. They are just more subtle. Think seaming, structure, quality of fabrication, drape, etc.

This concludes my ramble.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

When you like bold pieces like you do Una, you need (interesting) basics to pair them with. Can you imagine if your top screams, and you pair it with a screaming jacket, screaming pair of pants, and a screaming pair of boots? Let one piece at a time shine, unless you are going towards Christmas Tree style.

catgirl

Veteran

Heather, that's not completely true... I wear my statement pieces often if I have the chance. I'm finding those function more as basics for me than true basics. For instance, I wear my red-orange j. crew jacket all the time! Ditto my leather skirt. And the striped black and white blazer. I tend to reach for certain items all the time to the exclusion of others. Or maybe I work backwards, finding the statement piece and adding basics to match instead of the other way around.

Or maybe those aren't really statement pieces at all?

On the other hand, the black jersey dress I got from Garnet Hill just sits around because it's not fun to wear on its own - it needs effort to interest me. I thought I would have fun being creative with it, but that's not happening.

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

So is the problem that you don't have statement accessories? (i.e. pairing a really eye-catching necklace with the basic black dress? and/or a killer bag and shoes?)

This is an interesting thread - you might be really onto something in your style journey...exciting!

catgirl

Veteran

Christine, EXACTLY! I feel it is a lack of something on my part that I can't figure out what to do with a basic black dress. I use my JNY sheath all the time for work by throwing on a blazer - it's my go-to formula. But is it exciting? No. And do I use that dress for other purposes? No.

Heather

Veteran

That just means that not all basics are created equal. Basic is relative. For me, the JCrew blazer and the leather skirt are interesting "basics." They are not cotton tees or jersey dress basic, but they are super versatile in your wardrobe.

And you have discovered that a black jersey dress is just not for you. All of these epiphanies--I love it.

I also would like to request a pic (maybe I missed it) of this awesome emerald green jacket.

catgirl

Veteran

I will post one so you can see me looking truly RATE, Heather!

Sylvie

Veteran

This probably won't help you Una but I'm trying to build my wardrobe around the following strategy:

Statement shoes - I don't own a single "boring" pair now
Statement coats

Interesting basic dresses
Interesting basic tops

Boring basic cardigans
Boring basic jeans

I do have a few items that violate these category groupings - statement dresses and tops, a basic raincoat - but they are the exceptions.

Aida

Veteran

Una, I think it's just that your "basic" may not be the same as someone else's "basic" (which is totally fine). Are you finding that you aren't able to style your statement pieces? If so, have you tried keeping a little notebook in your closet so you can jot down stuff while dressing that you find missing? If it's that you want the items to accessorize themselves as you put it, then is it a matter of expanding so you have more solid pieces to balance out the prints/colors?

catgirl

Veteran

Aida, interesting approach - I should try to think about it more systematically. I know there are some here who have done a spreadsheet of their clothes and when they wear them. Although I could never keep it up, maybe a month of documenting would do me good. I feel out of touch with the rhythm of my life and the reality that I spend my summer weekends in gear, not at dressy summer barbeques.

Aida

Veteran

Well you don't need to spreadsheet it (it's a lot of work hehe), I'm thinking more like as you're getting dressed if you pull an outfit mostly together and then think "gosh, if I had red pumps I would wear this" then jot that down and move on; add tally marks next to items that keep coming up. After a few weeks you'll have a list of items, and may find that some have a whole bunch of tally marks. I found it's not the same as thinking about outfits hypothetically. You really do want to jot down what you feel is missing while getting dressed.

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

Una - not to beat a dead horse, but are you not interested in styling the "basic" orphans you have, like the black dress? If you wear it with a blazer, can you add a "statement" belt or pendant to it? Would that raise it to the level of some of your more exciting pieces? I know some people seek out these basics because they see them as "background" pieces or canvases on which to highlight accessories (jewelry, shoes, handbag, belts) or a fab jacket. If that's not your thing, that's totally cool - just wondering if you were looking for how to utilize basics in your RATE style...

catgirl

Veteran

MPJ, I absolutely am! I am not getting rid of those basics, because they are useful - I want to learn how to take them up a notch. But scarves, bags, and jewelry aren't my forte. (At least not yet!)

Maybe edgy footwear is a good direction - again, it speaks for itself.

Aida

Veteran

(Basic black dress + red blazer + edgy footwear + pendant could look fun )

Elly

Veteran

Una-- that is exactly what I struggle with. I have no idea how to combine basics with accessories to make an outfit. I struggle because I buy things that I think will highlight my jewelry (plain tops, ect) and then it never looks right or becomes a "look."

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