Essentials for me - YouLookFab Forum

My list is (repeat off blog comment with some additions as I think about it a little more. There are one or two items missing from the finds.

1) Straight leg jeans – high rise (I have mid blue and white)
2) Black dresses (I have five – winter work, summer work, summer casual, and two special occasion. My spotty one which I forgot is a summer work dress)
3) Cognac bag
4) Cognac footwear to match bag – have two pairs of sandals, hope to get one pair of boots
5) Black tops – to wear with patterned or statement bottoms, or under statement jackets. I have three tank style, two short sleeve, three long sleeve – mix of knit and woven. All plain bar one (maybe this is not quite an essential but it does not matter too much).
6) Black pants – I have three pairs -all workhorses
7) Light neutral footwear – I have sneakers, oxfords, loafers, slides, sandals,boots and heels from camel to white to cream to silver. Only one of each style though.
8) Striped tops in black and cream (one long sleeve, one short sleeve – long sleeve one was bad buy and is too sheer, prefer ones that can stand alone)
9) Light neutral bag – I have one, it has been well worn and I hope to replace in 2019
10) Good sunglasses – aviators and tortoiseshell styles.

A few notes:

Missing - a long cardigan - preferably in a grey I think....or the right caramel or camel. I have plenty of statement jackets but a simple cardigan would be very useful. If I added this I could dress pretty much from my essential list....(add maybe a jacket and some accessories)
There are a few other things I would not be without (summer floral dresses, pretty woven blouses for example) but they are not quite essentials.
My wardrobe is essential heavy and statement heavy. I have very few of the completer category... Essentials for me are also accessories- I like a small tight group of bags and shoes for example (although I have 20 pairs of shoes and my friend with 5 thinks it is not tight at all).
I believe in frequent updates of essentials with minimal duplication. I duplicate rarely - usually I want a tweak by the time it has worn out.

Thanks Angie and all who take a look!!

5 years ago

Helena

Veteran

Great list and I like how you distinguished between your workhorse non-essentials ... Think that's expert level

Sal

I am no expert Torontogirl:) But thanks.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*APLAUSE*

Sal, you NAILED it. You put in the effort and thought, and reap the reward.

Tell your friend who has five pairs of shoes that my Dad has THREE pairs and one of those pairs is a Birkie house shoe! Up until Dec last year - my Dad had ONE pair of shoes to wear outside.

Thanks Angie!!

cheryl

Great breakdown! I think a long cardigan would be a great addition!

I vote the long cardi in a shade of tan or caramel. Gorgeous with your hair.

Bijou

Sal I love how you know what to add to evolve your style. A long cardigan will be so useful.

Jenn

I’ve probably said this before, but your essentials list is almost exactly the same as mine. Statements make the difference!

Anonymous

Makes sense to me . You’re so pragmatic - it’s inspirational to me . I also like your comment about wanting to tweak the essentials regularly . Note to self ....

Brooklyn

Well done. I think a long caramel coloured cardigan would be a great addition.

lyn67

Great list! I will add DH has also a very small shoe capsule (but keeps it updated each year within the same 4 brands: Merrel, s'Oliver, Marc, Timberland): -2 pairs of casual summer, 2 pairs of casual winter, 2 pairs for trecking (1 for summer, 1 for winter), 1 pair dress shoe and 1 pair home shoes- that's all. But excluding 2 suits, he wears the same style and 2 different washes of premium jeans per season all year round:-).

Good list. I was especially impressed with this statement:

I believe in frequent updates of essentials with minimal duplication. I duplicate rarely - usually I want a tweak by the time it has worn out.

Certainly worth thinking about for me.

Suz

Excellent list, Sal. And I join the chorus of those who encourage you to try that long camel cardigan! I think it could become a workhorse.

Well done Sal! I am particularly happy that you have identified light footwear as an essential. It works so well with your hair color.
I, too, prefer an 'buy one, update often' strategy.

Thanks Smittie - yes I am in the light footwear camp mostly now!!

Suz - I almost bought about five long cardigans last year in blue or grey but couldn't quite do it for various reasons. I think for those of us that work from home they are a useful item and I really missed not owning one in 2018 after about four various versions prior to that.

Sterling - it works for me mostly. There have been times where I would have liked an exact duplicate but at a guess that is 20% or less. And I don't know that at the time of buying...only after a few months. I certainly don't always get it right.

Lyn - I know men do make life easier for themselves with clothing don't they. I see my 20 slowly reducing in numbers to 15-18. I do have a couple of pairs of heels that I very rarely wear (less than once a year) and some ballet flats that get about three-four wears a year. I have the space and am happy to keep them at the moment.

Brooklyn - I hope I can find one! I did add a caramel almost leopard cardigan in January (yet to wear) when I bought the gold bomber. It was thrifted too. I do think the colour works well with black, denim, navy so I could add one more in this colour. Let me know if you see one!!

Lisa - thanks...I sometimes overshop or make mistakes too. One expensive mistake last year for sure!!

Jenn- I agree - we both love black with cognac, tan etc I tend a bit brighter and maybe floral with my statements and you a bit more muted and artisan....

Bijou - I am getting there!! I am less interested in trends or classics that don't work for me. For example I know now that white shirts or white tees just never get worn, despite liking them.

Angie - I hope one appears, winter stock will start coming in over the next month or two which will be fun.

Sal, after you after a knit in wool or cotton? Or more of a stretchy jersey type (viscose/nylon) one?
Kookai sometimes has fine wool versions, but it’s still a bit early for them to have them here. I was looking at Kettlewell (blame Jane!) and they have a nice long viscose cardigan in lots of great colours. I am tempted but delivery from UK is expensive.

I will probably get a wool or cotton knit- I am not really looking yet - March is more likely.

It feels like Sydney here at the moment - mid 30s and humid.... and no lovely harbour!!

It’s been extremely hot and humid here. Although it is cooler today, yay. I will keep an eye out for your cardi

Thanks - yes I have seen your temps. I hope Miss B has been coping okay - bet she loves having you at home a bit more:)

karen13

Excellent analysis - I could learn from you practice of not duplicating essentials. I don't need that many pairs of blue bootcut jeans! I am loving my cashmere long cardi in navy, but agree a toffee shade would work so well for you!

Macy's

Charter Club Pure Cashmere Open-Front Cardigan, in Regular & Petite Sizes, Created for Macy's

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Jenni NZ

It's a great list Sal- I will also keep an eye out for your cardigan. Maybe when I start looking in the shops when Autumn fashion comes along in March- although my Fashion Quarterly should arrive this month. So long as I don't start wanting one too, ha! But think I'll be so happy with my bronze cardy I won't want any other

carter

I love that you're able to keep such a tight list of essentials. I have to tell you that your last statement about not duplicating essentials would leave me unable to function for fear that some critical item would suddenly get destroyed and the wearability of my closet would come to a screeching halt ;-).

Thanks Karen - that is the shape cardigan I want - great choice!

Thanks Jenni - I love FQ too - it is my read at the hairdresser:)

Carter - I have had that - especially with jeans and pants. Duplication definitely works for lots of people I know.

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