Essentials - YouLookFab Forum

I have really enjoyed all the posts on essentials. Suz's post , on a 4-6 season assessment of one's wardrobe , really struck a chord with me. These multiple seasons and how short or wild they can be are a real challenge for me.

A couple of years ago, I decided to do a "core" wardrobe with "core" colors. That worked very well for me. So much so, that I extended that concept to my lipstick ! LOL It helped in many ways but especially in allowing me the opportunity to wear many colors that I love with having them overwhelm me by using them all at once. For example, in the Fall/Winter, I wore fuchsias, wines, burgundies, and rose along with my "core" grays, olives, denims, and blacks. In the Spring/Summer, I switched to blues, teals, greens.

So this all got me to thinking that my lifestyle ( SHM ) doesn't warrant a much variation. My essentials list ( what do I HAVE to have that would make me happy and prevent me from going naked, hahahahaha ) :

jeans : straight leg ( summer weight denim except for heigh of summer )

black pants : straight leg

black dress : for nicer occasions

topper for said black pants and black dress : grey

colorful dress

black pumps

2 cardigan : grey, color

2 or 3 blazer : navy, menswear, black or dark grey

knee high black boots

black booties

T shirts : merino wool , cotton, long sleeve, short sleeve, 3/4 sleeve

1 sweater coat : navy or gray

lightweight dresses for summer

1 linen pant

lots and lots of scarves !!!!

stud earrings in silver and gold

hoops in silver or gold

2 watches silver and gold

bangles silver and gold

lipstick, MAC twig ( or something similar )

Summer Nails : very light pink or neutral

Winter nails : dark grey

8 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

Great list. Interesting to see what everyone posts. Are your scarves essentials or statements? I ask because mine are statements. At least I think they are.

Greyscale

It sounds like you know your look well. Where do you get your merino tees? Are they sweater-weight or tshirt-weight (like Icebreaker)? That's definitely an appealing item for my climate.

Isabel

Stylefan, my scarves are absolute essentials. If I had nothing to wear except jeans and Hanes t shirts, I would still be really happy as long as I had my scarves. I NEVER go anywhere without one. In the summer I generally keep one in my car or bag in case I go somewhere with air conditioning. I will take a really large one to the beach, sometimes two, one for a cover up the other in case it gets chilly. I feel the same about earrings. Just one nice pair of studs would do but I need them.

Greyscale, yes, most are Icebreaker. I have a couple of Smartwool too. The most versatile for me are the lightweight long sleeve ones. I bring one every time I travel. I don't like them snug so that I can throw a tank under them and wear them with a blazer. I even took one to Hawaii and a couple to the Azores in July. I also have some in short sleeve v neck that are fantastic alone or for layering. I have them in my core colors: grey and black. Then a couple of bright fun colors and/or designs. ☺️

rachylou

Do you have statement bangles?

Yes, making the rounds on everyone's thread to find out if they are more essentials dressers or statement dressers...

jenanded

You are SO focussed! I do love the bangles and .ipstick element to your essentials...

Suz

(website)

I am wondering if the scarves are not statements even though they are essential in the sense that you need them. I am still a wee bit confused on the categories!

This definitely shows the influence of the core wardrobe idea and it totally works for you!

Rachy, yes. I have statement jewelry. My essential bangles are rather plain in gold and silver.

Suz, they are not to me. I do have statement scarves. I am going to jump on your post on statement vs. essentials. To me it is very clear in my head. But I think that is a lifestyle thing. Also a taste thing. I just don't bore easily.

Two or three years ago I switched to this core wardrobe and I have never looked back. I don't do the khakis, off white color. I use olive. I also don' t like turtle turtle necks so I wear scarves . http://www.theviviennefiles.co.....drobe.html

Sara L.

Nice list although I think I'm still confused on what's an essential and what's a statement. I would think scarves are statements even though they are workhorses for you. The top underneath would be the essential that allows you to wear the scarf. However, I'm finding this exercise a bit confusing.

Sara...I take this statement by Angie quite literally :

"Wardrobe essentials are indispensable staples without which your wardrobe would not function."

and this : "They are PERSONAL. What is essential to one person is not to another.

They are often wardrobe workhorses."

So, in MY head, my wardrobe simply would not function without scarves. And they are WORKHORSES for me.

"They are fabulous items to duplicate in the same or different colours. "

I have lots and lots of scarves. In many colors and shapes and sizes.

I think that the key here may be that what I consider is statement may not be a statement for you, but a work horse. A key for me is the duplications. I have "statement" pieces and jewelry that I would not duplicate or and over.

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