https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 12 Apr 2026 20:59:25 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/4#post-1379288 Mon, 20 Oct 2014 05:58:11 +0000 Yolicr 1379288@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Love this topic! i am always wondering about wearing to many statement pieces or none whatsoever </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/4#post-1379237 Mon, 20 Oct 2014 02:55:20 +0000 Suz 1379237@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>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.&nbsp;</p> <p>Now that we know our tendencies we should all go out shopping for either statements or essentials, LOL. :)&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/4#post-1379231 Mon, 20 Oct 2014 02:44:24 +0000 Taffy 1379231@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>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?</p> <p>And as a side topic, how does one find<br /> the holes in as wardrobe, now that we<br /> better understand essentials vs. Statements? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/4#post-1378513 Sat, 18 Oct 2014 18:26:28 +0000 Isabel 1378513@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am LOVING this theme here at YLF. &nbsp;Just uncanny as I just put my Essentials capsule together right before the topic exploded on here. &nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/4#post-1378501 Sat, 18 Oct 2014 18:14:34 +0000 Debbie 1378501@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>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.<br /> 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.<br /> Turning 60 has me a perplexed as to whether or not I need statement pieces or just basics and essentials. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/4#post-1378486 Sat, 18 Oct 2014 17:56:14 +0000 Michelle 1378486@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>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. <br />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. <br />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 </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/4#post-1378437 Sat, 18 Oct 2014 16:57:09 +0000 Angie 1378437@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Tanya, updating Essentials to current and fashionable fits was the point if my post. And VERY necessary.&nbsp;</p> <p>Sveta, you are DEAD RIGHT. *applause*. You absolutely nailed it - along with Suz in her first comment. You more often then not,&nbsp;need<i> current Essentials</i> to wear with Statements - and THAT's the crux of the matter.&nbsp;</p> <p>Suz, don't think you can't wear Statement pieces when you work at home. You CAN, and deserve to.&nbsp;</p> <p>Hill, a striped tube skirt might be more of a Statement. In black, it's probably an Essential.&nbsp; </p> <p>Sharon, wearing statement tops is a great strategy too.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/4#post-1378407 Sat, 18 Oct 2014 15:31:25 +0000 Tanya 1378407@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is a fascinating discussion and I have enjoyed reading it and learning so much from it.</p> <p>Personally, I think my wardrobe has a good balance of essentials and statements.&nbsp; What gets me in trouble is&nbsp; craving the newer, more modern version of an essential piece I already own; while the old items are in perfectly good shape.&nbsp; Take a black turtleneck, for example.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; 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. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/4#post-1378399 Sat, 18 Oct 2014 15:11:02 +0000 Suz 1378399@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yup. Hil, I think you are a bit like me this way. I'm going to make a thread about &nbsp;it.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/3#post-1378366 Sat, 18 Oct 2014 13:01:51 +0000 Hil 1378366@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've been thinking about this concept and trying to get my head around this. </p> <p>Based on my last few WIW pics, can I say that I mostly wear essentials and not many statement pieces? Except for maybe shoes and jewellery? Would the tube skirt be a statement piece? And the white jeans as they're a departure from my normal denim staple? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/3#post-1378340 Sat, 18 Oct 2014 11:31:33 +0000 Neel 1378340@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Statement Workhorses .... AHA! :)</p> <p>Thanks rabbit! And I wouldn't have thought my handbags were statements?! I rarely look at updating my handbags unless they are unsuitable for use! I see them more as outfit completers. Hmm ... I have to do the Essentials/Statements exercise like Tanya and Sveta for every WIW, so I understand this more clearly. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/3#post-1378302 Sat, 18 Oct 2014 07:01:24 +0000 CocoLion 1378302@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Suz getting dressed with ease has value. &nbsp;I find I fluctuate between being perfectly happy with a uniform/formula and wanting to break out. &nbsp;So to bring this thought back on topic, my level of happiness with essentials-driven outfits fluctuates. &nbsp;Sometimes I need more statement in my look than others. &nbsp;Color and trend-driven items are my conventional ways&nbsp;to add statement back to my look.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/3#post-1378294 Sat, 18 Oct 2014 06:32:04 +0000 Suz 1378294@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Denise, I think this is important for me. Thank you.&nbsp;</p> <p>My tendency to buy a lot of essentials is (on the one hand) a good thing -- it allows me to get dressed pretty easily. And it is practical.&nbsp;</p> <p>But perhaps at least some of my need for constant updates/ refreshers (read, closet churn) is because I don't have the right balance of statements to essentials. I get bored of outfits that are all essentials, all the time.&nbsp;</p> <p>Hmm. I wonder. Will have to analyze my closet more carefully to figure this out.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/3#post-1378291 Sat, 18 Oct 2014 06:23:44 +0000 CocoLion 1378291@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I missed the discussion in the&nbsp;original post so I'm glad it's been continued here. &nbsp;I think I was much too busy with Shopbop's sale&nbsp;but now it's over so I can relax and not shop for a few weeks. LOL.</p> <p>I dress &nbsp;in essentials for work. &nbsp;White button down, dark wash skinny or straight jeans. &nbsp;Just today, I was once again feeling unfab with my work outfit and after reading this thread, I had my own AHA moment!</p> <p>That for me,&nbsp;a head-to-toe essentials outfit is easy but can get boring. &nbsp;I think this is why every few days I wear a bright colored shirt just to break things up. &nbsp;Or why, when I wear my bird-print bomber over my work uniform, I always get compliments. &nbsp;The bomber is a statement piece, that thankfully is washable and works nicely with my uniform.</p> <p>Today on top of the white shirt I wore my burgundy knit blazer that is pilling. &nbsp;I think I can live with the pill for a few more months, but next time I wear it perhaps I should combine it with a colored shirt so I don't feel head-to-toe essentials.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/3#post-1378283 Sat, 18 Oct 2014 06:07:17 +0000 Suz 1378283@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Nodding my head, too. Really great comments and distinctions here -- potentially helpful. Thanks, all.&nbsp;</p> <p>Sveta, I like what you added about essentials being those pieces you need to build outfits for your style <b>and your lifestyle.</b>&nbsp;That also helps whittle it down quite a lot. So for Janet -- the tee shirt vs. the white button front; for Janet or for me, the jeans vs. the pencil skirt; for MsMary, the pencil skirt and blazers.&nbsp;</p> <p>I still (even after 3 years on YLF) tend strongly to buy essentials and "regulars." Whereas others tend to buy statements and can even wear them successfully together, I tend to feel awkward if my outfits aren't anchored by at least one or two essentials. Hmmm.&nbsp;</p> <p>I might try to analyze the proportions of each in my closet. Could be very interesting.&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/3#post-1378266 Sat, 18 Oct 2014 05:20:46 +0000 rabbit 1378266@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Sveta,</b> I'm nodding my head,&nbsp;you are so right about the travel wardrobe. &nbsp;I've also experienced how if&nbsp;I bring home a statement piece and have nothing it wear it with, it's because I don't have enough essentials that won't fight with it in form or color. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/3#post-1378235 Sat, 18 Oct 2014 03:26:19 +0000 Sveta 1378235@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have no idea how it happens that I do logical analysis for a living and for the life of me cannot apply it to style and fashion! I think I am the last one to grasp this "essential" theory but maybe I am getting it now?<br />Last year when I got cobalt trousers I realized that I don't have booties, coat and bag to go with them<b> because all my booties, coats and bags were not essentials but rather statements.&nbsp;</b>So I had to get brown Vaneli booties, black a Danier bag and black Danier coat so I can wear those darn pants. I think all three items are essentials in a sense that they can easily play with a lot of things in my closet. They are not plain by all means but they are in a n<b></b>eutral color <b>AND</b> streamlined in style. I think they make a statement on their own but also play well with others so essentially they are essentials.<br />This is how I understand what are essentials: things which simple enough in color and style to play well with a lot of other things <b>AND</b> without them you <b>CANNOT</b> build outfits true to your style <b>AND</b> lifestyle.<br />So if I am right in this here is <b>MY</b> list of essentials which I own right now:<br />- <b>button down shirts</b> in white, neutral solid colors or subtle patterns like stripes;<br />- <b>turtlenecks</b> in cream, navy and black;<br />- <b>sweaters</b>&nbsp; in navy and &nbsp;cream;<br />- <b>jeans</b> in blue and white/cream in BF, skinny and&nbsp;straight leg styles;<br />- <b>trousers</b> in my solid neutral colors (cream, &nbsp;black)&nbsp;AND current styles (cigarette and men-style relaxed trousers for me for the last 2 years);<br />- streamlined style <b>booties and boots</b> in black and brown.<br />- long black <b>man-style coat</b>;<br />- <b>brown leather blazer</b>;<br />- <b>cream leather moto jacket</b>.<br />- <b>warm puffer</b> in neutral color (cream);</p> <p>&nbsp;Now below are&nbsp;<b>"almost" essentials</b> because they are still pretty versatile but not quite:&nbsp;<br />- <b>purple trench</b> - goes with almost everything but those darn cobalt trousers!<br />- <b>black tuxedo blazer </b>- because of the shiny collar it is more of a statement than essential and therefore has some limitations when it can be worn but still works nicely with a lot of stuff;<br />- <b>denim bootcuts and flares </b>- style and color wise they are as versatile as BF and skinnies but because of the weather and heel height requirements they are not as useful for me and therefore not an essential.</p> <p>Now I know why I have been&nbsp;desperately searching for <b>white straight leg jeans</b>, <b>black streamlined booties</b> (found those!), <b>black cigarette trousers</b> (found those too!),&nbsp;<b>classic navy blazer</b>,<b> navy cigarette or straight leg&nbsp;trousers</b> - because they are all holes I have among my essentials!<br /><b>Dresses and skirts</b> are not essentials for me but a welcome style refresher. I can live without them but it is nice to have them to play with. <b>Dressy heeled neutral boots</b> are also not essentials but they are essential for wearing those dresses and skirts in winter!</p> <p>Essentials are also what makes 80% of<b> my travel wardrobe</b> because they are easy to mix and match which is an important quality when you dress out of a suitcase for a long period of time.</p> <p>Most of my jackets, footwear and coats&nbsp;are statement pieces although I have statement pieces in essential categories as well.</p> <p>Does it make sense at all?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/3#post-1378130 Fri, 17 Oct 2014 23:42:19 +0000 Sharon 1378130@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This has been fascinating. And I am starting to realise that pretty much all my tops are statements. I gravitate towards tops with detail or texture and the plain essential styles get little wear. But I'm realising that if I maintain a good set of essential bottoms (pencil skirts, skinny pants and bootcut pants in black and white) then I will be able to make that work just fine! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/3#post-1378003 Fri, 17 Oct 2014 21:41:34 +0000 Angie 1378003@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You ARE getting it, Janet. You're a fast learner. xo </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/3#post-1377999 Fri, 17 Oct 2014 21:37:23 +0000 Janet 1377999@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm getting it, Angie. Absolutely, one person's essentials are not necessarily another's. I could see those Athleta capris being essentials if fluid fits are still trending next summer and that cut looks current. Workhorse does not equal essential.&nbsp;</p> <p>Great comments, Rabbit! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/3#post-1377990 Fri, 17 Oct 2014 21:28:52 +0000 Angie 1377990@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>YES, Una. You are on the right track. Don't mix up "most worn" with Essentials.&nbsp;Take a moment to figure out your Essentials. That way I promise you'll find it easier to pull together your outfits.&nbsp;</p> <p>Janet, you're forgetting that a pencil skirt and white button down&nbsp;shirt aren't your Essentials in the first place, so it's not an accurate comparison.&nbsp;That's why you have a hard time styling them.&nbsp;Your Essentials are tees, moto jackets, skinny jeans, tough boots&nbsp;and&nbsp;V-neck sweaters.&nbsp;</p> <p>Janet, will you wear a pair of sporty cropped Athleta capris next year? If you do, perhaps they will&nbsp;become an Essential.</p> <p>Rabbit made an interesting point: <b>Statement pieces can be wardrobe&nbsp;workhorses -&nbsp;</b>just like Essentials. Like my white Beatle booties, or Janet's black tunic BCBG jacket.&nbsp;</p> <p>Susie, that sounds right.</p> <p>Jules makes another good point. You can absolutely wear statement pieces from head to toe - which I think Rabbit hinted at too. You don't need to wear Essentials with Statement pieces at all. AND, you can wear Essentials from head to toe. My point is that most frequently - in my experience of dressing people for a living - combining Statement pieces with Essentials in one outfit&nbsp;hits the right level of comfort. Statement pieces aren't necessarily easy to style, which makes having an assortment of Essentials very, VERY handy.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/3#post-1377985 Fri, 17 Oct 2014 21:22:22 +0000 catgirl 1377985@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rabbit, thank you for that! "Unobtrusive" makes sense. It also helps to see that it's not just about our own tolerance but how others view it. </p> <p>My friends often make this comment: "Only you could/would wear that". Not sure it's always a compliment, and it's certainly not true! But often they are talking about my most worn favorites - Gidigio boots or Allsaints leather jacket. To me they are just the items I love wearing most. As you say, statement workhorses. You are so smart. :)</p> <p>So maybe I shouldn't be conflating "most worn or useful" with "essential"? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/3#post-1377984 Fri, 17 Oct 2014 21:20:47 +0000 Meredith 1377984@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>A statement piece can still be a workhorse. I thinks that's a pretty astute observation, Rabbit. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/3#post-1377977 Fri, 17 Oct 2014 21:10:49 +0000 rabbit 1377977@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>alaskagirl</b>, as I see it (and I could be wrong),&nbsp;I think there are several folks you, <b>Janet, Neel</b> for example who often have an outfit with several statement pieces at once but they work together harmoniously (often because of color). &nbsp;They can be workhorses in the wardrobe and not difficult to style because they go with a key look of the wearer. &nbsp; In my mind they are still statements however since they draw the eye and aren't cookie cutter in design.&nbsp;</p> <p>If you think of it, if you are people watching sitting in a cafe window&nbsp;by there are certain items of clothing you notice passing by, because of color, cut, pattern&nbsp;or movement, they stand out. &nbsp; </p> <p>I'd bet that unless I am&nbsp;specifically focused on it, or the outfit is making a statement with unusual juxtapositions, &nbsp;I'm not noticing classic essentials like&nbsp;black booties or pumps, neutral blouses or sweaters, jeans in traditional washes and cuts. &nbsp;They are more like the scaffolding of the building, and the statement pieces are the billboards and window dressings. &nbsp; &nbsp;So if <b>Janet </b>passed by on the street -- I'd notice her jacket, plaid pants, and unusual booties, the same with your shoes and&nbsp;tunic tops for example, or <b>Neel'</b>s culottes and bright bags. &nbsp; </p> <p>In my experience very rarely do people comment on or compliment non-statement pieces out in the world. &nbsp;Not because someone doesn't&nbsp;look great in them, but because by their nature they are designed to be unobtrusive. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/3#post-1377963 Fri, 17 Oct 2014 20:50:00 +0000 catgirl 1377963@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Janet, that's my issue too - I feel like I wear my statement pieces as essentials. I think I have a higher tolerance for high impact items. So if a black jacket is an essential for you, why isn't YOUR particular black jacket an essential? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/3#post-1377955 Fri, 17 Oct 2014 20:38:06 +0000 Hil 1377955@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow... Very late to this conversation but I feel like I've had a bit of an epiphany about lacking statement pieces in my wardrobe. I need to look at my wardrobe and identify what is what. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/3#post-1377954 Fri, 17 Oct 2014 20:37:29 +0000 Sadie 1377954@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Having just shopped there looking for a plain LBD, I would say that anything at WHBM would count as a statement piece ;)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/3#post-1377951 Fri, 17 Oct 2014 20:35:02 +0000 Janet 1377951@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I guess the thing that's messing me up a little is that my long black jacket really does work with other statement pieces and is easy for me to style. Same goes for the black Everly booties. These pieces are easier for me to style that most typical "essentials" like a white button-front shirt or a pencil skirt!&nbsp; </p> <p>Perhaps one person's essential might be another person's statement.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/3#post-1377947 Fri, 17 Oct 2014 20:32:49 +0000 Janet 1377947@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmmm. I'm catching up on this too, since in the blog post I mentioned three things that Angie says are statements, not essentials. I can see the BCBG long black jacket as a statement, and the Everly booties (although in a broader sense, a black jacket and a black bootie would be essentials), but I would argue that the cropped Athleta capris are essentials and not statements -- they're black, unadorned, a simple shape (fluid and not overly baggy), and they don't fight with anything I wear them with.&nbsp;</p> <p>The jacket and booties, to me are subtle statement pieces -- there's some detail and drama there, but the black keeps them from fighting with other statement pieces. I have other jackets that I would not want to wear with plaid pants, for example, because they're much stronger statements in terms of color and detailing.&nbsp;</p> <p>This is interesting to think about. It makes me realize why, even though I owned black booties, I needed my black Ugg Cortona boots. Worn without the spats, they are very simple chelsea booties. Those would be essentials. My Fluevog flat booties are quirkier -- pointy toes, an unusual closure style, etc., and I tend to wear them with simpler outfits since they are a statement.&nbsp;</p> <p>It seems to me that the more neutral in color and style&nbsp;an item is, with less texture, pattern, shine, or detail, the more it would qualify as an essential rather than a statement.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wardrobe-essentials-vs-statement-pieces/page/3#post-1377904 Fri, 17 Oct 2014 19:29:05 +0000 anchie 1377904@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I see my Essentials as simple items that are very easy to style as they go with almost anything. Statements are items that I have to put more thought into styling, because of their cut or color, and they are usually difficult to combine with other Statements. </p>