I am not huge on essentials either Lisa- and I can struggle with things like a basic merino sweater or a plain long sleeve tee - they are not enticing in store.

There are one or two labels here that produce lots of neutrals but in slightly more interesting shapes (- maybe seamings, maybe neckline) - I have a few simple black and navy pieces from them.

The labels are Witchery, Kowtow and Moochi if you want to look them up - Witchery is an Australian chain store - mid market, the others are NZ brands, Kowtow is a local ethical brand, and Moochi a local designer brand. Attached is a pic of a Kowtow tee I bought - I wear it more fitted than shown - or maybe I just fill it out with curves - the lower neck is flattering on my short neck, and the twisted side seams make it a little more interesting. I know it is still an essential and pretty plain but it feels more exciting to me.

Sally - I've heard of Witchery , and appreciate this find for the Kowtow tee. That's really up my alley!

unfrumped - this makes sense to me too, and how I see it.
Vix - I agree with your categories - and like the in-betweener part too

Suz - I laughed at the cultural norm comment too . And on that note, Sally, I want to know what these new planning tools are that you are using in other parts of your life. That comment struck home with me.

You know , lately, I've been buying things, some good, some kind of questionable, and it's often a response to having been in a spending drought. And instead of filling holes, or boning up on essentials, I buy something else. Two weeks ago I came home with a crazy (actually, I cut the tags off and wore it out of the store) oversized, pink mohair sweater with the word PARIS knit into the front. I went into that store looking for black work pants. For starters, I don't usually go for words on clothes, I don't go for pale pink, and am well aware of oversize sweaters being questionable flattering, or not. What was that all about? But I LOVE this sweater now and am so happy I bought it! Essentials, bah. I still don't have good black work pants, however

lisap: I hear you on basics being boring. I was an all statement buyer before YLF. The problem with my closet was that I HAD no basics—not even footwear that made daily outfits work. Now, I have a closet full of them, and I can get dressed. What a concept. I did have to figure out a silhouette for my bottom half. I prefer narrower bottoms, whether pencil skirts or skinny leg trousers. Nailing that piece made everything else fall into place. And when I find a good basic, like my winter lined Talbots trousers, I don`t mind buying multiple colors, since finding basics is no fun, ha ha. No one really notices that I am always wearing the same trouser precisely because it is a support act to something higher profile, or just part of an ensemble. So I have made my peace with basics that way. Statement dresses, however are an entirely different weakness!

Just re-reading this thread, and I really find Suz' comment about 'items you've been wearing since high school' being a good clue something's an essential, really helpful ... just re-visited my list and, yep, with variations in cut (e.g. my skinnies used to be bootcuts used to be baggy high-waisted used to be tapered jeans) to account for the current decade, my list is virtually unchanged in 30 years and still going strong ha! I guess we really do know ourselves when we're young!

I'm just chiming in to say my tops are all statements, too. Except for the few I keep for statement bottoms. I'm also tracking my wardrobe, and I repeat bottoms a LOT, and tops hardly ever. I should cull if I can, for space reasons. But anyway, tracking has been helping me figure out which items belong in which category.

I struggle with this as well Lisa, and am formulating a post about my situation... getting all the feedback is certainly food for thought.

I feel I'm also much more of a statement girl than an essential girl. Although, I definitely have some essentials. I don't layer much, so I need my pieces to speak for themselves.

Following with interest!

I'm just popping in to say that I kind of love that Paris sweater too.

I find these essentials posts interesting because I can't figure out essentials from statements in my own closet. I've kind of given up on this exercise for myself but I still find it fascinating to read about.

I love that pink sweater - the pink is pale enough and dusty enough that it reads feminine without being super girly.

I think I own mostly essentials but for me maybe the statements are much more subtle than others. I have a pair of interesting jeans that seem a little more of a statement. My white twill jeans are more statement than my blue denim jeans (for me again). My long knotted necklace might be another statement for me. Any dress would be a statement for me lol. Also a couple of my newer patterned sleeveless tops are def. more statement than my usual.

Lisa - I will write an off topic post on my planning.

Re-reading, your post and your PARIS sweater story and it struck me that maybe 'statement' pieces are emotional (heart) and 'essentials' are calculated items (head)?

My head rules my heart, and most of my wardrobe is practical essentials (turtlenecks, t-shirts, tanks, straight cut jeans and pants, pencil skirts). The unplanned, emotional, impulse purchases are my statements - and unlike anything else in my closet! Maybe you have more statements because your heart rules your head? (I'm wondering if you are a Leo?)

Purple leather jacket
Embroidered silk bomber
RELAX sweater.

A Gemini through and through And you’re absolutely right , my heart dictates everything .

I love you lot more than I hate cowlnecks, loud infomercials and loud infomercials selling cowlnecks...

What ?? Lol. And for the record , I cannot with cowlnecks either .

Maine Lady's cream cowlneck started it !

Look at it's police mugshot photo ! I ask you, have you ever seen a more evil garment !?

Maybe Cee was making a statement? (???)

I do understand why you loved the Paris sweater, though. It actually combines one of your essentials (oversized sweater for weekend wear) with a statement (I want to get out of Winnipeg in winter and look glowy while someone serves me my café au lait in bed!)

I have mostly essentials, too, because while my heart rules in some other areas in my life, I have trouble allowing it to rule in my closet. Except when I purchase expensive essentials, ha!