My Perennial Essentials List - YouLookFab Forum

I don't think my list has changed in years and years. I have honed my style over the years, weighted more heavily in black, shifted to more neutral-rich outfits (except during Summer), adjusted rises up and down a smidge here and there, but my essentials remain "essentially" the same.

Jeans: All slim-fit or skinny. All mid-rise. All unadorned.

Black, White, Dark denim, Mid wash Denim full length for cooler months
Black, White, dark denim, very light denim ankle length for warmer months

Pants: All slim-fit, with stretch. No trousers. No wool.

Black, Gray full length
Black, White, Tan ankle length

Shorts/Skorts: Conservative, but above-the-knee lengths worn for casual wear only.

Black, White, Gray, Navy Athleta skorts
Black, Gray, White Denim, Blue Denim shorts

Tops: Black, Black and Black.

Sweaters: Pullover, lightweight cotton, silk or linen, 3/4 or full length sleeves, V-neck, scoop neck or boat neck. Lightweight long cardi.
Knit Tops: tunic length, hip bone length, sleeveless, 3/4 or full length sleeve, with some movement
Blouses: Tuckable or hit at hip bone, long sleeve, sleeveless. Popovers only, no button fronts. Only flowy fabrics. Easy care.

Dresses:

Black, sleeveless sheath/slim-fit dress, knee length
Black long sleeve shift dress, knee length

Accessories:

Shoes: Black slip-on sneaks, black loafers, black pointed toe flats, cognac pointed toe flats, black sandals, cognac sandals
Belts: Black with gold buckle, Black with silver buckle, Cognac with gold buckle, Leopard with gold buckle (essential or statement workhorse?)
Handbags: All shoulder bags. All leather. Cream hobo, Black with gold hardware, Black with silver/muted hardware, Cognac with gold hardware
Jewelry: Gold complement--watch, bracelet, middle finger right hand ring, chunky earrings, gold and pearl earrings. Silver/White gold complement--watch, bracelet, middle finger right hand ring, chunky earrings, white gold and diamond earrings. Wedding set.

Coats:

Black puffer vest
Black leather car coat
Black walk-the-dog parka (not really a style essential, but definitely an essential)

The only recent "OMG how did I live without this?" is the black puffer vest I finally discovered last year.

I'm in pretty good shape for 2019. I don't need any pants, jeans, skorts, shorts, handbags, or belts this year. (Not that I won't buy any ) I would like replacements/additions of these items: black pointed toe flats, cognac pointed toe flats, black low heel sandals, cognac low heel sandals, Black lighter weight Winter dress coat, chunky silver earrings, and several black tops in all variations need to be replaced due to wear.

Great exercise! I love seeing how different each person's essentials can be. Appreciate your thoughts.

6 years ago

Helena

Veteran

This looks great Carter ... Love your classic style and hope to see you around, maybe with some WIWs *crosses fingers*

Sal

You have it sorted....

Sounds like a shoe refresh will be your main focus in 2019.

And funny how sometimes a new addition becomes an instant workhorse essential - my cream oxford shoes were like that!!

Anonymous

So well done. And you know ... your style has been consistent all these years. I commend you for knowing yourself and staying true to yourself. THAT is authentic. BAM.

rachylou

I like it!

Carla

Seconding torontogirl

carter

Aww, thanks TG. I am trying to get back to doing WIW pics. I'm trying a 10x10 challenge now. If I manage to take pics most days, I'll post them at the end of the challenge.

Sal, I suppose it does feel like a shoe refresh, doesn't it? My husband would say I'm always "refreshing" my shoes. I feel like he's right, but I think it's the buy/return cycle I get stuck in every now and then. Maybe a B&M shopping trip is in order. I missed your cream oxfords, but I can imagine how useful a pair of cream shoes would be. You may have added to my list ;-).

Sterling, you're sweet. I do fear that consistency begets boredom, not for me, but for those who see me regularly. Let's see...will Carter be wearing a black top or black pants today? $10 bucks says yes to both! And yet, it still makes me happy so I'll stick with it for now :-).

Thanks, RL!

I will try, Runcarla. I do love seeing your WIW pics...especially with your white jeans.

Its fun to see how some people have essentials heavy styles, while others have very few!
The leopard bag though would probably be a statement workhorse

Cardiff girl

You look like you ve got this sorted.l have a feeling it might be easier to do when your main neutral is black.

RobinF

Great list, I love your style. And shoe shopping is always fun

Interesting thought, Suntiger. You got me thinking about how much of my wardrobe would fit this essentials list. Without counting, I'd guess it's about 60%. Maybe 20ish% would be statement pieces. That leaves another 20% or so that's just there to add some variation...gray sweater, navy blouse, white top, etc. I put together a 10 piece capsule the other day. 7 of the items are essentials, 2 are statements, and one is in the "other" category.

Cardiff Girl, I certainly agree that curating essentials is likely much easier in black than in any other neutral. I would love to make chocolate brown an essential part of my style, but I just can't find any.

Thank you, Robin. Yes, shoe shopping is definitely fun! It can be quite dangerous though ;-).

Mine seems to be mostly "other" for cold weather, but at least half statement for summer

It looks like you have it down at least until styles change and shoes are not pointy or you are weary of black.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*APPLAUSE*

Carter, you nailed this the very first time you posted your essentials. And you continue to reap the reward of a beautifully organized, disciplined and fabulous style.

WELL DONE, and hope hubs is doing well too.

Suz

You have a beautiful classic style, Carter, and your list (and comments about essentials heavy outfits) confirm my hypothesis that determining (and enjoying!) essentials seems easier for those with a classic bent. I frequently make essentials-only outfits (well, maybe apart from a scarf) and enjoy wearing them.

Thanks so much, Angie! My wardrobe does work for me exceedingly well. You and YLF deserve the credit for that. My choices may be largely intuitive, but I was missing the structure or framework within which they needed to work. David is doing ok. The January round of scans was indeterminate for additional metastases. Watch and wait mode at the moment.

Suz, no doubt you are correct that determining, collecting and enjoying essentials would be more challenging the more fashion-forward one is. I've always admired your ability to take an outfit of essentials and bring it all together in such a current way. Scarves work wonderfully for you. I think your shoe collection also adds great oomph to your outfits. Classic, but perfectly current in the details. However you do it, it's fabulous.

Carter, sending healing thoughts and positive energy. Much love. xo

Determining and collecting essentials being easier for those with a classic bent ....

I breathe a sigh of relief finally understanding I come by my frustrations honestly There is not a classic bone in this body .

gryffin

Carter what a great list. You definitely have things magnificently covered! Skorts - I never think of them. I usually wear capris as shorts and I saw long knee length "clam digger" cargo pants on someone and they looked great. But I'll have to keep my eye peeled for skorts. I had several pairs in my late teens and 20's and they were polished but comfortable for everything. So great you are wearing them and thanks for the reminder!!

Lisa - that's a good point. But the question is what pieces are you missing to make your statements work more easily? Also you essentials may be essentials will a twist, something a little more special than fabric or cut. Quite enough to be a binder but unique and special enough to satisfy you alone. Maybe anthro?

You crack me up, Lisa p. It's definitely easier to categorize a classic wardrobe that hasn't changed much over the years. You do such a brilliant job of keeping your style current. It must be pure intuition for you.

Category