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Ask Angie: How to choose basics that will be in style for a while

Late Bloomer

(website)

I like to spend a little more on things like jackets/blazers, button front shirts and well made jeans that fit.Then I add less expensive items that are current. I want the items I spend more on to last a while, hopefully 4 or 5 years. But I've noticed that even basics (classics?) change though more gradually.

Last spring I bought a button front shirt at a local boutique and I find I'm not happy with it. I think it's the collar width as my Ralph Lauren shirts are narrower. The same with jackets.

My question is how do we spot this sort of subtle trend so we can hope to buy basics that will last a while?

Shopping

28 replies

Latest reply was from Late Bloomer

Carole

Veteran

good question, Late Bloomer. I will be anxious to hear how others and Angie reespond. Some classic styles and shapes seem like they would be timeless, but sublte little details do date items rather quickly, but then that can make them fun and interesting.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I'm thinking this is where the smaller wardrobe comes into play. When you have less pieces, you wear them more. Therefore, they wear out and need to be replaced sooner than if you have tons of stuff to rotate. So by the time they need replacing, the updating is automatic. In theory anway! I have way too much stuff for this to actually happen in my closet but ideally . . .

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Oh Mo- I hope so!
I have a pretty small wardrobe (and I do like that)- and that would just be another benefit.
I guess that when shopping for basics if you focus on more fashion forward styles (not trendy, but the most modern silhouette/details) then they will feel fresher longer. That's not always easy to do, though.

catgirl

Veteran

This is a great question. Having just dumped all but my trendy black jackets, I am looking forward to some guidance on lasting pieces. Or is this what "modern classic" is all about?

Barbara

Veteran

I'm looking forward to Angie's reply. To me basics are:

1. slim fit cotton tees, long and short-sleeved. With a touch of stretch.
2. jackets of all fabrics that are classic and current with perfect fit in the shoulders
3. jeans - denim is basic - boot cuts, skinnies (love them), trouser cut

I tend to avoid anything extreme, which is the polar opposite of basic.

Lisa

Veteran

Interesting question, I'll be curious to hear what others say.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I think that you have to get REALLY lucky with basics for three reasons:

o They have to fit your body in 5 years
o The quality has to last that long
o And you need to be able to live with the style – which I boil down to fashion persona

For starters, does that make sense?

Late Bloomer

(website)

Are you saying in terms of how long something (even a classic) will be in style it's basically a matter of luck?

On your other questions It's possible I would wear out a button front shirt but because we have such a short season for jackets I think the biggest danger is that I just won't like a jacket I buy after a couple of years.

I had this idea I could do this with classics last spring. I bought the pictured black jacket when RL had some things on sale after the winter. ! was thinking I was being practical of course. Now I realize that though I will wear it some it won't be my go to jacket. So I hope it will work for a while as a jacket I can wear when I need something basic, black and a little dressy (for me).

I think the people who suggested the best bet is keeping your wardrobe small are right. I like to be able to layer and hope it will get cool enough soon. But I think I over bought for such a short season.

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Barbara

Veteran

Good points, Angie. I'll add them to my style notebook!

Late Bloomer, a smaller, edited wardrobe is the only way to go. If you truly love everything in your closet, you'll always have something fab to wear.

Late Bloomer

(website)

Alaska Girl, I just went back and reread all the posts.

"Or is this what "modern classic" is all about? "

After reading that this time it struck me what is wrong. The outfit of me in the photo is classic and if I loved classic it would get worn a lot. It follows the rules for my shape and looks nice enough but except for the shoes, it isn't me.

D'Ellen

Veteran

Late Bloomer, in answer to your original question, I think we need a crystal ball. Typically I don't spend a lot on clothes. But on the rare occasions I do, it's for something I really, really love. And, at 59, I don't feel the need to always be on trend. So, I will wear something from the past with something from the present, put my own unique spin on it, and feel fab...or not. If not, I'll try my beloved item with something else and hope for success. If I don't achieve immediate success, I'll shove it to the back of the closet and try again next year.

Barbara

Veteran

bionda, I agree! I'm 56 and I although I may dabble in SOME trends, I am very, very selective. I too wear clothes that I've owned and loved for years, paired with newer items. And I love what you said about putting your own unique spin on it. I do this daily!
The goal here is to have fun with fashion. Miss Angie said so!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Not quite, LB. The combination of all three points is a matter of luck - and you don't quite know how they will play out in the future. Something might still be fashionable and in style - but YOU got tired of it. That's why fashion persona plays a crucial part in all of this. Does that make sense?

Late Bloomer

(website)

Yes it does, I've reached the stage where I really need to work on the persona part. I'll keep the black blazer and see if I can find some ways that will feel more like me. But no more buying just because I think it's a classic that will last.

Anonymous

This has always been my issue with collecting "basics"...1) I get bored of them within a year or two and cannot face them after a period of time. 2) My size changes year to year. So basically, I am revolving items in and out of my wardrobe frequently...both for fit AND for style.

But in terms of "basics", I always have a selection of jeans, jackets and layering tops etc in my closet that are a year or 2 old and when I grow weary of them, I consign them and replace them with a current model that I like even more. I just don't bother with the fantasy of finding The Perfect Jacket that I will still be wearing in 10 years.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

This brings me to the question of how long should we be expecting our basics to last? I seem to have to cull through my clothes long before they are truly too worn out. Mine date faster than they wear, I guess. Is a year or two standard for tops and layering pieces, with skirts, jeans and coats going more the distance of say 4 or 5 years??

I have to amend this to add that much of my wardrobe dates back several years more than the above mentioned timeframe. But if I am aiming to pare down and therefore wear items more often, can I expect to be replacing at this rate?

Late Bloomer

(website)

Mo, as you pare down your wardrobe take a careful look at the basics. Even a classic white button front shirt changes in 10 years. Right now it seems like collars have narrowed.

OTOH I do think something like a the black blazer I pictured might last 4 or 5 years though the buttons might have to be changed.

I think the people who suggested keeping your wardrobe small may have the best idea. I used to think I had to have so many different outfits. I don't believe that anymore. I don't think most of our coworkers are keeping tabs on how many times we wear the same thing. They notice a nice outfit but they aren't going to mind if we wear it again. They would probably notice if we wore something really awful and would hope we wouldn't wear it again. The rest they just don't remember.

cloud9

Veteran

I don't believe in "basics".. except for maybe a coat/boots, or anything over $50 for me.. :D. Everything changes, albeit very subtle sometimes but nonetheless they are there & noticeable. I treat majority of my clothes "disposable" that I wouldn't feel a heartburn if only lasts one season. They typically last 2-3 years. I buy quality items from discount stores (TJMaxx/Ross types), and sometimes I get lucky with fringe styles on clearance with deep discount but come in mainstream trend 1-3 years later. So I don't buy items that has been wildly popular for the past years already. I don't have an urge of *have to* have something of the latest trend. Very few items make my heart skip a beat, I buy for the color, the fabric, the construction, and something I look good in. I still don't have a huge wardrobe (not tiny by any means though) and I routinely wear a particular clothing so they do get worn.

So basically, buy something you love *and* you look good in, buy the latest style if possible, and don't worry about its longevity. The things that last longer are the most simple things: solids, no details, not too narrow, not too wide, basically boring. And I am not willing to settle for boring unless I have ways to jazz it up.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Cloud 9, I've been shopping much the way you describe up until this point. Both the stores and the budget! But I found I ended up with a lot of interesting pieces rather than a cohesive wardrobe that way. So then I had to start backtracking and getting *this* grey sweater to got with *that* tank, etc. I essentially was buying my basics after the fact to make the wardrobe work together better. I still shy away from the most basic of items because, like you, I find them boring. I guess I have that desire for an item to have some sort of interesting detail to it. So we end up having to trade in sooner that way I suppose. Hmmm, food for thought.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

I agree, Marlene, about the idea of the Perfect Jacket (or perfect anything, especially the big-ticket items like boots, coats, suits and jackets) is more of a fantasy than reality. Sometimes as Angie says you do get lucky and it still fits, is still in good shape and is still interesting to you after a few years, but in my experience that convergence has been rare. I do have a few pieces that I refuse to part with even when my weight fluctuates, and is kind of amazing to me which ones they end up being. Two of them aren't even items I bought but that were given to me by Shopping Friend.

That said, I have a lovely Chanel-esque jacket from Forth & Towne that I got 5 years ago, and lo and behold it has come back in style this season. If I were smaller, I would like it to be more cropped than it is, but it is fine for me as it is. I do tend to keep my jackets year to year, but my tops, pants, and sweaters are usually more disposable.

cloud9

Veteran

@Mo.. we are alike! That happened to me too.. because I had too much prints, colors, cardi/jackets with too much detail, and I find them hard to coordinate them together. So just recently, I bought some simple neutral-colored solid basic tops to go with my colorful/detail-ful cardis, and then a couple simple black (boring) cardis to go with my print/colorful blouses. I think the best way is still to buy with an outfit/ensemble in mind. I am still working hard on maintaining a smaller wardrobe.

Another factor in choosing basics is to find an item that is simply cut, but with a interesting style that is a fringe style that never came into mainstream. I find those pieces last longer as some fringes are rarely seen, and some can last much longer in trendy years (such as Angie's 5 year old cardi). Another example is the ombre styles, I maybe wrong, but I never remember it being very big, but I've seen something ombre for quite a few years. When something is so fringe, it's hard to tell whether it's IN or OUT, may not be the newest style, but wouldn't look dated either.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I've had a problem finding basics, too. They are just 'boring' compared to the more showy pieces. They are really the glue that holds your wardrobe together, though. I'm trying to focus more on a good balance.

Aida

Veteran

I have the opposite situation. I have a closet full of basics and very few "showy" pieces. It's part of the reason my look is so casual right now, but while basics can be boring there's nothing that says you have to style them in a boring way.

Late Bloomer

(website)

I have good basics and some vests and jackets that add to an outfit. I've bought three scarves and already had a couple. I'm really ready to try putting together some outfits and have a little spark and that reflect my personality.

Now I just have to try some things. It finally got down to the mid 80s and the temps are heading down into the 70s. I am so excited to wear fall outfits!

MsMaven

Veteran

Late Bloomer: I like that jacket and the way you have combined it in your outfit. I would wear something like that to death but then I love tailored jackets.

Anonymous

I think the "secret" lies in... simplicity (some might call it "boring" but it doesn't have to be necessary the case). It might sound funny to you but my Grandmother and my Mother were my primary "fashion icons". Their "pieces" would be (at times) 10 (and then some) years old and still looked... oh, so elegant and classy and polished because they believed in quality and accessories. People would stop them to compliment their look/outfits! Maybe that's why I was never into a "trendy" styles (thanks tho these two women I sort of "knew better"! :))and my closet was never excesively big (on the contrary...quite small in fact) and yet these "I have nothing to wear" moments hasn't been something I am really familiar with. Yes, I have a "bad hair" days and "this really doesn't look flatering on me today" days and "hmmm, it looked great on me last week but I think it is not working that well today for whatever reason(s)" day but generally I am satisfied and complimented on and happy with what I have in my closet and what I do wear. Yes, I am still looking for a classic LBD (for years and years now... still searching :() but other than that... again, I am truly pleased with what I have in my closet and I think it could be sort of the "minimalism" which is something I have been practising for years and years now (probably more by luck than judgement... or rather call it an instinct or blame it on my Mum or Grandmother :))

tarzy

Veteran

What an excellent discussion!

LB - I know exactly what you mean about the jacket. It's a really nice jacket, but it does say "very classic" to me. Maybe you could change the gold buttons?

I've been searching for the "right" black jacket for about three years. I have a lot of blazers from my office days - they're very nice, from Ann Taylor, but ... they're not FAB. I can throw them on with my jeans and it's ... okay. I sort of look like a lawyer on her off day (SO NOT ME!!) I want an "Angie" jacket - something that looks special, like in her outfit in the picture below. Each item is interesting by iteself - the jacket, the boots - but nothing is outrageous and they all work together. And then she adds a simple scarf and it's all just so amazing! I think this is what I'm aiming for.

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Late Bloomer

(website)

I've had that Angie jacket firmly implanted on my mind too ever since she posted it. Classic but with a touch of difference that makes it fab!

I'd been thinking more about changing the buttons on my RL black jacket sometime down the line but now you have me thinking about doing it NOW. Hmmmm. What would give it my earthy chic vibe? I already took off the big pocket emblem with the anchor.

I'm off to look at buttons online.