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your top 6 wardrobe essentials? (related to this morning's blog post)

Diana

Veteran

So after Angie (correctly so) called me out this morning for making a super long "essentials" list that included several statement items, I came up with a super minimalist list. Since i am most decidedly NOT a minimalist when it comes to clothes, I found this to be an interesting exercise. Anyway, I wanted to elaborate a bit but figured I'd move it to the forum rather than the blog comments.

Four items:
1. dark blue jeans - goes with everything, cropped in summer, long in winter, probably straight leg as it is most versatile
2. black scoopneck tee - I wear some version of this at least once a week, and have done so since college
3. black mid-calf boots - most versatile shoe shape and height for me, goes with everything.
4. black jacket (short leather in fall/spring, midlength wool in winter) - I live in a 4-season climate so I had to have two options here, but I can literally wear these over anything.

This list seemed really cool weather biased so I'm going to add fifth and sixth items. This would be easier if I didn't live in a four-season climate!
5. lightweight woven cotton dress in a dark color - can be worn by itself for summer, and layered in the winter. Can also be dressed up like a LBD.
6. comfy cork footbed sandals - so I can walk in the summer, very essential. Not 100% sure this counts as an essential since it is one season only, but I can't live without them during summer.

What do you think? What would your top 6 essentials be?

ETA: yes, I realize this is really black heavy! But the truth is that black is the most essential basic color in my wardrobe, and it would not function without it.

Dressing

38 replies

Latest reply was from Gabi

Gaylene

Veteran

Straight-leg pants
Ankle boots
Cashmere sweaters
Trench coat
Long-sleeve, scoop-neck Ts
Man's watch

If I didn't have anything else in my wardrobe, I could exist on these items for a very long time. If I could add in my scarves, tweed/leather jacket, cotton skirt, flats, and a couple of short-sleeve tops, I'd be set for almost any thing.

harmonica

Veteran

Great, great great, Diana! I was pondering about the essentials list too after Angie said I put my whole wardrobe on the list. LOL

Ok- another try

1. Tank tops - a must both winter and summer, can't live without it
2. Cardis (black + light grey) - can't live without, goes with skirts, jeans and dresses
3. Dark skinny jeans - can be dressed up for work and a casual must have
4. Pencil skirt - impossible to live without. Mostly for work, but can be dressed down for nice evenings out, family events etc
5. Black booties - goes with dresses, skirts and jeans all year
6. Dark, soft kneelength dress - worn at least once a week, both casual and dressy events

The next essentials I'd add would be
- Blazer
- LBD
- One coat for winter and trench for spring, summer, autumn

Hopefully this is along the right line...

catgirl

Veteran

Currently (and NOT counting shoes or boots - I need them all and more!)....

Black blazer
Moto jacket
BF jeans
Oversized sweater
Patterned skinnies
Equipment shirt

Mo

(website)

Veteran

As I did this morning, I totally struggle with distilling this list. I think maybe being in the heat right now, where I don't layer, has affected my thinking. Each outfit is essentially 3 pieces - a top, a bottom, and shoes. In my mind, I can't see what's essential and what's not. I mean, I'd be naked or shoeless without every one of them, so I see them all as essential. Of my 20 or so tops I brought, all but 3 have been worn (silk & sequins - too fancy) so I don't see a huge fave pulling into the lead. I do wear my skirts more than shorts for the comfort factor in the heat, but I view them both as necessary. Perhaps I'm just not getting it lol!

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

My essentials is pretty easy:

Jeans (denim shorts in summer)
V-neck Ts (long and short sleeve)
Long sleeved lightweight cotton blouse
Flats
Military inspired light jacket
Handbag

I prefer having at least a pendant necklace on every day but I guess that's not essential.

RunnerChick

My list -
1. Jeans (dark wash, straight leg or bootcut)
2. Tank tops or camis in black, ivory, or white (I wear one almost daily)
3. Button front shirts (white, black, and colors in linen or silk - it's a key element in my work wear formula)
4. Mid-calf boots
5. Denim pencil skirt (I wear mine at least once a week)
6. Jacket (leather or suede - I live in California)

Diana

Veteran

Mo, at first when Angie said that I had included too many statement pieces in my very long list, I said that I thought I would have no style without statement pieces. Her response was that the essentials are the items we must have to make the statement pieces work. So, for example, my printed tops would not work without jeans to wear with them. I guess my thought is that if these six things (or types of things, I guess) were to all spontaneously combust, then I would not be able to get dressed without a lot of difficulty. So perhaps your list would simply be: breezy tops, summer skirts, shorts, and sandals (at least for FL summer). I have to admit the number I chose (6) is just because that's the number of items I came up with! So it could just as well be 5, or 7, or 9. Whatever. I liked trying to fit it into a small number though so I would not be tempted to do things like put all my different kinds of boots on the list (which is what I did at first)!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Thx, Diana. I guess I can more easily see what's not essential for me - LBDs and pencil skirts, pumps and button down tops lol. I do think once I put down woven tanks, cotton skirts, sandals, I've encompassed 90% of my summer wardrobe ha ha. Maybe I've just distilled my closet down to my essentials without realizing it?? Sounds good anyway

Sylvie

Veteran

Here are my essentials:

Jeans
T-shirts
Cardigans
Flat sandals
Flat ankle boots
Trench coat

Bonus item:
Denim jacket

I couldn't get dressed without these in my wardrobe. In fact, I have a specific piece from each of these essential categories without which my wardrobe would be in major trouble.

Anonymous

I'd be heavy on black as essentials too. These are items I wear most months of the year, multiple times a week:
1. dark denim straight jeans/clamdiggers
2. denim jean jacket
3. LBD, sheath style
4. black pencil skirt
5. tanks/camis in black and white
6. metallic flats

rachylou

Veteran

Oh, keep the thinking tight challenge! Yes, guilty guilty!

Tissue tees
Skinny jeans
Office trousers
Puffer
Beanie
Patent flats

Jyoti

(website)

Veteran

Mine would be:

1) tanks & camisoles
2) blazer
3) A-line skirt
4) black tights or leggings
5) ballet flats
6) riding boots

I kind of vascillate between ballet flats and oxfords as my preferred non-boot work shoe, so that's my disclaimer with #5. xD

This was a good exercise, as it shows me that my style is pretty girly at its core and that I don't wear very many complicated tops. Interesting.

Anonymous

6 things i would struggle to replace which to me makes them essentials are :

My cream/ivory tanks
Black dress pants
Leather black wedge shoes
Grey, black and leopard cardi
Silver hoop earrings
Trench coat
Trouser jeans
Long sleeve vneck t-shirts

I'm over 6

But I am not counting my necklaces and bracelets...I cannot live without them

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You did great, Diana! I added onto your minimal list in the blog comments: shrunken blazer, flat oxfords and scarves.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

Diana,

Thank you for starting this thread - I didn't get a chance to read through all the blog comments this morning, but what you've taken from the blog post is helping me *so much*.

You were saying:

"Mo, at first when Angie said that I had included too many statement pieces in my very long list, I said that I thought I would have no style without statement pieces. Her response was that the essentials are the items we must have to make the statement pieces work. So, for example, my printed tops would not work without jeans to wear with them. I guess my thought is that if these six things (or types of things, I guess) were to all spontaneously combust, then I would not be able to get dressed without a lot of difficulty."

This is exactly my problem. I don't have the essentials. I have all kinds of orphans, some fun pieces but the foundation seems to be missing. And *yes* I am having a hard time getting dressed.

Lately, I'm in the same predicament as Mo - just too hot for anything other than bottoms, top and shoes. Very low-key and casual.

In the run-up to some upcoming travel, I am in a panic because I have not been taking care of the essentials. I don't even know yet what "my" essentials are either!

Susie

Veteran

My number 1 essential item is black pants. Almost any top I wear was probably bought with the thought of 'I can wear this with black pants!'

Other essentials include:

Jeans
Tanks tops or camis (black and white)
White top (could be a tee or blouse)
Black shoes (sandals in summer, boots or pumps or other style in winter)
Cardigan(s)

flowergirl

(website)

England is damp and cold in the autumn and winter. I love to layer and wear wooly items to keep warm.

cashmere turtenecks
alpaca/merino cardigans
cords- trousers and skirts
cashmere or merino wool socks
jersey knit shirts
sheepskin coat
merino/cashmere scarves

Anonymous

Mine:
Dark wash jeans
Black turtleneck
Black riding boots
Watch
White tops
ETA: I left out a topper, i.e coat, jacket, blazer, cardi or trench, depending on season.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

I need to get this lesson, so am back to make myself answer the question...

Thanks to this morning's blog post and your follow-up, here are what I think will be my essentials:

So far:

1. Flat tall boots - already have
2. Pencil skirts - have several
3. Trench coat - have three, but none are "just right" - need one great trench, not three "ok" ones
4. Dark denim jeans (straight, bootcut or flare) - this area of my wardrobe is in need of help - need more/better jeans
5. Button-down shirts - have a few, need more/newer/better
6. Low-heeled dressy shoes - need new/more

HEY! I did it

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Great list Zap and VC!

*applause*

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Ok - I'll give this a "go":

- pencil skirts
- blazers
- pumps
- booties
- straight leg jeans
- dresses

Astrid

Veteran

Here are my essentials, I'm not sure if there isn't something missing but these were the first six I could think of.

1. Knee length a-line or full skirt in a neutral
2. Flat Oxfords that go with skirts and pants
3. Tall flat boots to enable skirt wearing in fall/winter
4. Watch
5. Cardigan in a neutral
6. Scarves

Jjsloane

Veteran

Now that we've generalized our categories I can join in but I kind of feel I'm cheating (since I have multiples of everything)
1. Blazers ( I have many for each season, but could not feel professional at work without one)
2. Wedge shoes (again I have these for each of my 3 seasons)
3. Straight Leg Pants (I've been more into skirts for summer, but if the pants fit well I prefer them)
4. Jeans (BF at the moment, but dark straight or trouser for work)
5. White tops (button down, tee, tank, cami)
6.Knit Dress (I have all seasons of these and they are so easy with a blazer)
7. Fall/Winter Alternate: BOOTS (I LOVE ALL BOOTs and booties would wear them year round if weather would not preclude this)

Diana

Veteran

Angie, I thought the scarves would fall into the statement category? At least most of mine are statementy. I did also think about the oxfords and the shrunken blazers, but those are both new in the last year or so (although I have always loved oxfords, I got dressed for many years without them!) so I'm not sure they're absolutely essential yet.

I am loving seeing everyone's lists!

ETA: I thought about adding my watch to the list since I wear one every day but then I realized that not having a watch would not make it difficult to get dressed, it would just make it difficult to tell time! Same thing with bags - I carry one every day because I need somewhere to put all my stuff, but if I didn't have a handbag, I'd just make do with a tote bag or something.

celia

Veteran

For me the dificulty resides in making a difference between basics and favorite items that are a constant but not necessarily basics.
Let me give it a try(considering items I wear all year long):

-white and black camis(I use them for everything from layering beneath sheer tops to sleep in summer)
-jeans(1 pair of bootcuts and a pair of skinnies)
-flats(and usually there is a pair of tan ones for some reason)
-black GAP bootcut dress pants(uninteresting item and probably old fashioned but I wear them for many occasions)
-cropped denim jacket(interestingly I don't consider it one of my favorite items but I count on it for many jobs my snotty blazers don't want to do and then some)

For fall/winter I would add:

-Mock turtlenecks
-black tall boots

And this are the basics basics. I have to think of the next level, which is the things I like to have and make with this basics a easy outfit.

shiny

Veteran

Okay I'll try...

1. Dark wash jeans (I wear my skinnies far more often than anything else, but this could be subject to change, due to trends, so I'll leave vague).

2. White blouse (not a tee, knit or button down)

3. Perfectly fitted tall boots with a bit of a heel, walkable (not flat) and in a brown or wine shade (not black)

4. Nude heels and/or flats (for book-ending)

5. Cardigans - V-neck, please!!!!

6. LBD (though now I'm thinking an LND may replace LBD)

7. Cotton underwear that provides a little gut-suckage/smoothing/shaping and no panty lines.

8. Am I allowed 8?? A white purse.

And I really want to add "pearls" to this list! This makes me realize that a lot of my essentials add white to an otherwise darker outfit, to brighten it all up and work with my coloring.

Diana

Veteran

Celia, good point about the difference between basics and favorites. I think that was my problem with my first long list and why I ended up with statement pieces in that list. I might wear printed skirts all the time, but it's true that they don't go with a lot of things so they are more statement than basic. I guess maybe if you have to think hard about what to pair something with, then it's not really a basic.

Shiny, it's interesting that you have so many white/light items and I have so many black ones. Must be the bookending theory at work again. I often have to work hard to get light colored things (especially footwear) to work for me, but I can pretty much put black with anything and it looks OK.

So maybe we all have an "essential" color too, one that works effortlessly with a majority of our wardrobe and obviously with our coloring. Mine is obviously black.

shiny

Veteran

It's not just book-ending; I find nowadays I must have at least one item with white in it. So maybe I'll wear head-to-toe black, but I cannot leave the house without adding a string of pearls and/or a cream clutch.

Reality here in Boston is that black is what we wear. Add to that, the reality that, resigned to petites, my color options are far more limited than if I was regular sized instead of pint sized.

Petites nearly always are offered in black, maybe brown or gray, and that's it, or if lucky, one trendy color, that may or may not work for me. And that's it. So with these limitations I do have tons of black. I don't hate black, mind you. I'm just venting frustration that my options are much more limited than if I was taller. Grrrr. So yes, pops of white are how I deal. Because white is usually a petite option.. nice safe boring neutral!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Diana, you wear LOTS of scarves - possibly more than anyone else on this forum. Your scarves are virtually like my watch

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