Yup. Hil, I think you are a bit like me this way. I'm going to make a thread about it.

This is a fascinating discussion and I have enjoyed reading it and learning so much from it.

Personally, I think my wardrobe has a good balance of essentials and statements. What gets me in trouble is craving the newer, more modern version of an essential piece I already own; while the old items are in perfectly good shape. Take a black turtleneck, for example. I have two perfectly fine older versions, both fitteed; and I broke down and got a fluid version recently, because the old ones felt off. The thing is that I can not afford to do this for everything, so I think I might have to come up with most essential out of all essentials list and ake sure those are up to date.

Tanya, updating Essentials to current and fashionable fits was the point if my post. And VERY necessary.

Sveta, you are DEAD RIGHT. *applause*. You absolutely nailed it - along with Suz in her first comment. You more often then not, need current Essentials to wear with Statements - and THAT's the crux of the matter.

Suz, don't think you can't wear Statement pieces when you work at home. You CAN, and deserve to.

Hill, a striped tube skirt might be more of a Statement. In black, it's probably an Essential.

Sharon, wearing statement tops is a great strategy too.

I never felt too confused about this concept, but I've found this discussion very interesting. It just goes to show how subjective style really is.
It's also been very illuminating in terms of some of my recent purchases. While reading it, I realized that I am definitely one of those people who prefers to have both statement and essential pieces in an outfit. I tend towards the minimal, but I also fear being boring. This thread has given me some ideas on how to style an essential red tunic sweater that I just acquired. I was struggling with it before, but pairing it with my patterned coated black skinny jeans, or potentially even my dark purple slim pants that I don't think I've shown much yet, will strike the balance I feel most comfortable with.
It also seems to me that, much like in conversations, statements don't necessarily need to be bold. My new black and gold clutch, for instance, has cool styling and interesting details, but still maintains a certain degree of flexibility because of its colour scheme and size. In verbal terms, I feel it's a statement, but more of an assertion than a declaration. God I'm such a word nerd! :)Your reply

I have been thinking about this and have not commented because I am confused to a certain extend. Essentials make up your outfit but does every outfit need a statement piece. I think I am having a hard time differing from a statement piece and a true essential.
An example I have black leggings with are an essential. I think the pair with the leather inserts are statement. I understand it can work this way am I on the right track.
Turning 60 has me a perplexed as to whether or not I need statement pieces or just basics and essentials.

I am LOVING this theme here at YLF. Just uncanny as I just put my Essentials capsule together right before the topic exploded on here.

Just a couple thoughts on this: would a modern classic dresser often struggle to have statement pieces and an arty bohemian have the opposite struggle of too many statements?

And as a side topic, how does one find
the holes in as wardrobe, now that we
better understand essentials vs. Statements?

Taffy, I suspect you might be correct about the modern classic vs. arty boho distinction there -- although it's not absolute, because some modern classics will feel more comfortable indulging tastes for luxe or for trends (two ways of making a statement if you're a modern classic) while others -- more frugal, perhaps, or practical, or simply more introverted or less shopping savvy -- won't do this as often.

Now that we know our tendencies we should all go out shopping for either statements or essentials, LOL.

Love this topic! i am always wondering about wearing to many statement pieces or none whatsoever