My essentials - discoveries for me too!

I do find thinking about essentials a useful exercise And I’ve found everyone’s posts so far very valuable, so I thought I would chime in.

I split mine up by season because I have very different ‘uniforms’ by season, since our weather here in Toronto is so varied.

Fall/winter essentials:

Thin knit long sleeve tops in solid dark colors. - I have expanded into earth tones but I do find that they have to be dark for me to get the wear out of them; I am into tonal dressing recently so if they are a pop of color they won’t work for me - I like them to match my topper.

Well fitting pants - this is a new one for me. I have gone off almost all my jeans and I find a pair of well tailored, comfortable, high rise pants with some stretch infinitely more flattering, polished, Luxe and comfortable for my style. My essentials are straight leg, neutral, ankle or full length. I bought one pair of Theory pants last year and I was hooked - they are the most comfortable yet polished pants ever. I now own about 11 pair, bought at retail and thrifted.

Black booties - I always think it’s a waste to duplicate these but the reality is that I need several pairs to go with different pant lengths, walkability etc.

Dark colored boots - these could be navy, cognac or burgundy, but I need different pairs to go with different outfits, especially with my new earth tones.

Moto jackets - these have become essential to my style to add the ‘urban’ to my urban Luxe moniker. Not that I wear pants instead of jeans, a blazer with pants sometimes feels too stuffy, so I rely on my motos to make it more urban. Also, as Suz said, I'm liking shorter proportions on jackets these days to go with my higher waist pants, and my moto jackets are mostly fitted and/or cropped.I didn't realize that that's why I was reaching for them more than my blazers - thanks for th insight Suz!

Spring/summer essentials:

Thin knit and woven tops - sleeveless and short sleeve - in light colours

Midi skirts/culottes - These have become an essential for me in the past couple of years - my usual uniform is close fitting top with fuller midi skirt or culottes.

Nude + Light coloured shoes and sandals - essential for the paler colours I wear in summer. Right now I have silver, blush and white

Solid Fit and flare midi dresses - also a new essential in summer that is flattering, makes me look put together and is easy to throw on in the heat.

Black sandals - I didn't realize that these were an essential until I couldn't find mine last year! I realized that I still wear black in summer and i need a pair of sandals to ground my outfit.

That's it for my essentials I think - I have quite a lot of statements too, but this makes up the core of my wardrobe.

4 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Roxanna, you know what? I might be joining you in the moto love. I only have one leather jacket now (below) and for years I hardly reached for it. Suddenly it is becoming my new best friend! I am seriously considering getting another one, maybe in true navy (mine is more of a faded denim blue). Hmmmm. Interesting.

So...I'm going to get you to be more specific. Which colours of pant? And what cut??

Ditto for summer culottes.

Also -- do you have a neutral coloured dress that is essential vs. workhorse?

Black sandals make perfect sense -- bookending your hair and grounding.

rachylou

It’s an interesting thing about summer dresses. Because it’s sorta one and you’re done. I wear full skirted sun dresses in summer. They’re sort of a style departure for me, but what else to wear when it’s hot? I don’t list them as an essential because of that and because they don’t do anything for other things in my wardrobe. They’re not loud, but at the same time they’re not quiet - they’re the show. I might add a sweater for a/c... and then I suspect it’s the sweater that’s the essential. Like ‘black cardigan’.

Helena

Your style is so chic and modern, and your essentials support it perfectly!

Roxanna

Thanks so much all!

@Suz - great points and thanks for the push to think it through more. I will edit.

Also - I think of you every time I wear my BR Vegan suede moto jackets (a top pick form Angie last year.) They are CROPPED and I bought mine a size smaller so they are close fitted. The hardware is muted and they are quite refined - and they seem to go with everything I have. I have one in navy and one in blush. Keep a lookout for them this spring - they may become workhorses for you too.

Anonymous

Mine are very similar - a few differing points, but not many. I'm not making lists or even thinking about this kind of thing this season, but enjoy reading the odd post about it Yours especially

Roxanna -- on your advice I just ordered one to try in a light grey, which could be a fantastic option for me. I'll keep you posted!

Custom Find

by Suz

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@Lisa - I know you are on the forum less, so it’s even more of a treat hearing from you thanks for the boost!

@Suz - high five! I saw that color and thought it would be perfect with your hair. Do let me know how it fits! Here are mine:

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Christina F.

Roxanna, your essentials are wonderful and reflect the work you’ve done on your wardrobe over the past year. Brava!

I agree about that color of jacket for Suz - gorgeous!

I love that navy one especially but the blush is also brilliant! Let's see how the grey works out for me. I'll snap a pic whatever I decide!

smittie

Your rationale for moto jackets makes perfect sense. I think pants and blazers are too sometimes too stuffy too.
I also think that with a larger wardrobe, you do need coordinating footwear. It makes sense to have a number of shoes in various colours for coordination.

notsaf

Ditto smittie: a moto is just the thing to add some cool to those elegant pants.

@Rachy: I feel exactly the same way about dinner dresses! Not sure where they fit in Angie's scheme: they don't fit in well in my clothing accounting.

Jaime

Heh, heh, just thrifted a moto. For me I see it as a statement piece, but I do see how it works as an essential for you Roxanna.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

A solid start! Well done.

Aren't fabulous non-denim pants that fit well and feel great the best! I'm with you

Roxanna, you need to SPECIFY the colours in most of these categories. They have to be neutral and quiet. Although I think of bright red as a "neutral" because it goes with everything - it's not a quiet colour so I don't include my workhorse red items in my essentials list.

You did a good job identifying the categories, and are almost there.

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