Ask Angie: neither essential nor statement? - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie: neither essential nor statement?

rachylou

Veteran

Ok ok. Angie et al: What would you call ... and do with ... something that is neither essential nor a statement (nor basic hosiery and underwear)?

For example, I don’t think there’s any way the silky blouse could be called one of my essentials or be accused of saying ‘here *I* am’... but I’ve got them and occasionally they seem necessary...

Shevia suggested Functional, which makes sense to me. But also, I mean, how does one go about contemplating these items? I probably have too many, but it’s nice to have options...

General

29 replies

Latest reply was from

Helena

Veteran

Yes, I have this question too! In my case, it's things like my navy blazer, fluid silky blouse or black casual clutch - they are the pieces I use to transform my essentials into something more dressy/business-like/polished, but they aren't themselves essentials in my wardrobe, nor are they statement pieces. What the heck are they?

Aurore

Veteran

That's an interesting question! There are many items I actually can't classify as "essentials" or "statements" (nor "gear", nor "basics")...

LaPed

Veteran

I find this kind of stuff the hardest to shop for. "Necessities" or "Glue" in my internal monologue. In some cases, I might think of them as "Finishing Touches"?

Mainelady

Veteran

I am so glad you asked, Rachylou! I think I have a lot of pieces that live in the valley between essentials and statement. I can’t even put my head around jewelry. Some of my pieces are essentials, some are statement, some are sentimental, some refuse to be labeled. All deserve to be worn and loved.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

La Ped, "glue" is a wardrobe essential.

Rachy & Helena:

basics
essentials

non-essentials/ regular pieces/pack pieces/completers

statements

Mainelady

Veteran

Angie, this is very helpful. I think I have many non-essential completers.

jussie

Veteran

I think I’d call them completer pieces: most outfits need one- but it’s not as workhorsy as an essential.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I sense another blog post!

jussie

Veteran

I read somewhere each outfit needs 3 things: a basic piece, a statement piece and a completer piece. The completer piece is not as plain as the basic piece, usually has some interesting but subtle detail, and the statement is the show pony.
Just a philosophy I read but I rather like it....

Sal

Veteran

I have these two - for others they might be an essential but not quite for me...

eg red leather jacket/olive jacket - I do wear them both but could live without them easily...

Helena

Veteran

And it all clicks together! Hooray!

rachylou

Veteran

Aha! Thank you thank you, Angie! I couldn’t for the life of me figure out the place of non-essential non-centerpieces in the scheme of things... I was starting to wonder if I should toss all my blouses just on principle...

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Ah completer! That makes sense .

rachylou

Veteran

Ya ya. I always have to make it worse: Is a fallback its own thing? These dresses of mine that I call ‘black farm dresses’
- I have several. There has always been at least one in my closet throughout the decades. They dress up or down - a sunny day, a funeral, the ballet. I’m terribly attracted to them, although I
don’t love them like I used to. They’re not regulars or essentials. Maybe they’re statements. Or maybe they ARE regulars, just not exactly daily wear...

Lynn

Veteran

Thanks for posting this Rachylou. I was struggling where to put these items also. Angie's response is very helpful.

rachylou

Veteran

I don’t know about you, Lynn, but I guess I didn’t realise there was a third category. Essentials and statements seemed like they could form the whole picture - background and foreground.

I guess I also forget this is about personal style as well as simply being clothed. My plain cardigans are nice but my style doesn’t rely on them to be ‘me’.

Kathie

Veteran

Completers! Yes, I was wondering about this, and especially for pieces that might be essential in some people’s wardrobes, but not mine. For example, I have two white button downs. Not statement pieces, and my wardrobe wouldn’t fall apart without them, either. My black knitwear, on the other hand, is truly essential. Without it, I have a closet of clothes, and nothing to wear.

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

rachy, that was my perspective as well. I kind of feel like pieces that are neither essential nor statement represent lost opportunity. But I concede that there is probably room for items like patterned button downs or non-neutral tees — the completer pieces.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Completers are VERY necessary. You need all sorts of ingredients to make a cake, and extras to make a movie. Without them - the end result is not the same. Think of Completers as that portion of your wardrobe.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

Oooh, this is a good thread! This clarifies some things for me as well. Not to reduce or declutter or purge (or maybe to do just that). Y'all are helping me understand why I reach for some things again and again, and why some items that ought to be useful, sit abandoned in the closet or dresser drawer. These are good considerations for future planning and shopping.

Angie, have you written an article about completer pieces, vs. essentials or statements?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Not yet, LBD. But I will.

rachylou

Veteran

Emily, LBD, (Angie!) - Yes. I’m thinking ok, I don’t need two mint silk blouses, but ten silky blouses in general doesn’t mean a waste of space. If I gave them all away, I’d probably be out buying them again. I’m also thinking, it makes sense that one would have more of these regular pieces, in absolute terms, than either essentials or statements. You don’t exactly vary essentials and statements...

LaPed

Veteran

Okay, the movie extra analogy makes perfect sense. Love it.

I think you're right, Rachy, that tops/blouses often end up in this category. Say you're wearing a Statement topper and Essential jeans, there are probably about ten different tops you could put underneath, and the one you choose may not necessarily be an essential, but it gives you an opportunity to change up the flavour of the outfit. Oops, and there's the cake analogy! Okay, maybe I get it.

rachylou

Veteran

Right. And I can’t resist this: The cake is your Essentials - chocolate, vanilla, carrot. Your Statement is your rosettes, sugared violets, candles. The Completer is the base frosting - mocha, butter cream, purple tinted...

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Love this. I feel like it’s never been discussed. And I love the cake analogy.

Lynn

Veteran

Ditto on the cake analogy. Good one Rachylou

Anonymous

Rachylou I have a lot of trouble to part with a coat and especially my shirts it makes me a blow to the heart and I'm like you if I liquids I'm going to buy them again it's stupid so I keep them .You know a little my outfits could you advise me between what can be worn every day or what is declaratory I can not wait to get your opinion

rachylou

Veteran

Oh, je pense que la chemise blanche à boutons est essentielle pour toi - le col fermé est ta façon de le porter (!) D'autres éléments essentiels - le chandail à col châle et le manteau long. Ton pièce de déclaration est certainement le nœud papillon.

(Oh, I think the white button front shirt is an essential for you - the closed collar is your statement way of wearing it (!) Other essentials - the shawl-collar sweater and the long overcoat.

Your statement piece is definitely the bow tie.)

Anonymous

Merci Rachylou je vais le mettre dans mes pièces de déclaration
Thank you Rachylou I will put it in my statement pieces