I think you can refine it still further, Roberta. Your essentials are those items in specific neutrals and (possibly) a few select colours. They are the "spine" of your closet, what you can't really get dressed without.
Those of us who dress casually usually have to become a bit creative about this. When is a pair of jeans more than just a pair of jeans? When is a pullover more than just a pullover?
For me, I mean for my own personal style, it is crucial to wear modern, current, and perhaps even trendy versions of my key neutral tops and bottoms. That's because one of my style adjectives is modern.
Let me show you example. I included both the sweaters, below in Finds, in my current essentials collection, because navy tops across seasons are crucial to my style...and I wear both these knits.
Sweater 1 is a J. Crew cashmere cable knit from their Collections line, bought on sale I don't know how many years ago. It has bracelet sleeves and a crew neck. It has a traditional tailored fit -- though slightly on the cropped side, it can be semi-tucked or worn out. It is narrow enough to work under blazers and coats, and roomy enough to be layered over non-bulky items like a silk shirt. While old, it remains a staple of my winter closet, because, due to my own personal style, like Angie, I am fond of and tend to find a good fit in classic tops and toppers, so I rely on them year after year.
Having said that, this year, I updated the sweater to a more current version -- Sweater 2. It's still cashmere, still navy, still J. Crew -- (I love me a preppy vibe!) -- but the collar, and the shorter boxier fit are much more current. It's classic, but more of a modern classic.
Anyway. You mentioned that you have five of the Anthro Carys sweaters. They tend to be statement items in terms of their patterns, so likely are not essentials for you, exactly, but if you have and wear one or two in your key neutrals, I might say they are essentials -- i.e. perhaps right now, boxy cropped sweaters in X (neutral) are essential to your style.
Also, I am not sure patterned pants ever count as essentials -- they are more likely to be statements or completer pieces -- but whatever we call them, why can't they be part of your retirement style?? Who says you have to wear plain denim or cords? You can wear patterned denim and cords, for that matter!
