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Wardrobe essentials list, take umpteen-million

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Belle at Capital Hill Style just listed her "essential wardrobe items". do you agree with any of her items? Keeping in mind she works in DC and wears suits nearly every day, I can see where her list comes from, but none of it is an essential to me. OK, maybe the jeans and flats. What do you think?

Dressing

15 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

missvee

Veteran

These kind of lists are fun but as you say very specific to a particular lifestyle. What I take out of it is buy items that you can get a lot of wear out of. This makes sense to me, whether it's a suit, or a good pair of jeans and a sweater, or whatever will work for you. Quality pieces that are versatile are always the best investment.

Gaylene

Veteran

I keep laughing at these "essential wardrobe" lists and the underlying assumption that we all share a similar lifestyle and body type.

If you reduce these lists to their bare bones, they seem to tell us that we need a couple of tops, a couple of bottoms, a pair of shoes, a coat, a dressy outfit, and a few accessories. Hard to argue with that kind of minimalism.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Lol, Gaylene, and great point, Missvee. I am trying to mentally rearrange her list for my lifestyle, which is pretty casual in a casual place. I haven't owned a matchy matchy suit since last millennium.

OK, let me try to turn it into a casual must-have list:
0 - black suit turns into cotton blend pants and a casual blazer
1 - gold pendant - honestly I think jewelry is so personal I wouldn't try to translate this at all.
2 - white button up - crew or scoopneck tee in a neutral that flatters you
3 - metallic scarf - sure, but it's not what I'd call a must have. Maybe a cardigan shape that works well for you as re its functional warmth
4 - flats, as is
5 - colored pencil skirt - another pair of cotton pants in a brighter color, or a skirt if you wear them?
6 - trench coat - eh, trench coats are always cited as a classic but they make me look like a potato wearing a paper bag with a string tied around the middle. Some sort of coat or jacket in a simple shape and neutral color that works with your climate.
7 - bootcut jean - I'd say that a straightleg jean is more versatile these days, and looks good with more shoes and heel heights.
8 - statement ring - seriously??? Um, maybe a watch, but watches seem to be on the way out these days.
9 - satchel - a daily purse of some sort in a neutral color
10 - sleeveless shell - another knit top in a color
11 - LBD sheath - a knit dress in a color that flatters you that can be dressed up or down
12 - basic pump - if your flats are more sporty/sneaks, a pair of ballet shoes or something a little dressier

Gaylene

Veteran

I like your re-working of the list. My two cents, if it were my list:

0. Well-tailored pants in a dark color (mine are usually black)
0. Interesting, well-cut jacket (maybe leather?)
1. Interesting cuff and earrings (personally, I dislike necklaces)
2. Well-cut shirt of woven fabric (style and color depends on the individual)
3. Scarf (but only if you like them-- personally, I adore them so I get to have 2)
4. Comfortable but stylish walking shoes or boots (I need a little heel, though)
5. Skirt or second pair of pants, or even a casual dress if that works for you
6. Weatherproof coat that does not look like athletic gear. I love trenches, but they don't love me back. My go-to coat is a black, packable, swingy, European style that I paid a small fortune for but which looks fabulous day or night.
7. Straight-cut, dark-wash jean (I'm a traditionalist here)
8. Interesting watch (and sunglasses)
9. Handbag--big enough to hold essentials but not so big that looks like I'm planning to spend the night.
10. Knit top(s) but mine have to have at least a small sleeve. I'd also like a cardigan, thank you
11. I'm with you on your LBD sheath style here
12. Dressier shoe or sandal.

That pretty much resembles my typical travel wardrobe. I can go for 2-3 months with those items (with laundry, of course!) I'd get bored, but I think I could get by in almost any setting with that basic wardrobe.

Hey, this was fun!

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Man; I just purged ALL button-tops in my closet - I had about 10 and I've never worn one outside of my disastrous medical school interview when I was 19. :p I don't know how I acquired 10 (did I think they were professional at one point?)

There's only a few things I think are essential on her list - maybe a piece of personal jewellery; but rings are so impractical, especially if you work with your hands. I guess she works a cleaner job than me!

RunnerChick

I started reading the list and thinking about how I'd adapt it to my lifestyle, but I got sidetracked reading about the fifty ways to tie a scarf. My scarf collection is not what I would call minimalist, but I tend to always wear the same knot.

So, here's my take on the essentials
0. Well-tailored pants in a dark color (navy or charcoal)
0. Distressed leather jacket (all season, works for California, the distressed would work for my lifestyle)
1. Hoop earrings, silver
2. White button up
3. Scarf
4. Neutral colored boots
5. Pencil skirt
6. Weatherproof coat
7. Boot-cut, dark-wash jean
8. White t-shirt (as well as a black one)
9. Handbag (or stylish work tote, with a padded laptop sleeve)
10. Cardigan
11. Dress
12. Dressy flats

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Meh, I don't think unless we walk the same walk there is any point in comparing 'musts'. I live where there are no sidewalks half of the places and it's either too hot or too cold (depending on if I'm in FL or Tahoe) to use most middle of the road things the average lady wears. I am either in layers and boots or conversely, tanks and sandals, always a uniform for work. So I understand my life is unique unto myself and would never deign to say what others should have based on my own experiences.

Anonymous

These lists are fun to read. My actual must haves read more like the items in Angie's spring/summer MOTG formulas.

MsMary

Veteran

My version of her list:

0 - suit or suit equivalent in black, gray, or navy
1 - gold pendant - substantial multi-strand pearl necklace
2 - white button up - white or ivory silk pussy-bow blouse, with or without a subtle pattern
3 - a fab scarf (or a million)
4 - leopard pumps instead of leopard flats
5 - colored pencil skirt -- yes times a million
6 - trench coat - yes, but ot beige
7 - bootcut jean - sure, now that I've discovered premium denim! (But I will add that in my world there is no such thing as an "office jean")
8 - statement ring - yes! I love my Princess Di/Duchess of Cambridge knockoff
9 - satchel - I trade my purse daily
10 - sleeveless shell - sure, why not?
11 - LBD sheath - black is'nt my best color, but yes on a flattering dress

qfbrenda

Veteran

"These lists are fun to read. My actual must haves read more like the items in Angie's spring/summer MOTG formulas."

This, exactly, though I would add some of the things from the fall MOTG formulas as well. I'm a list maker so I really enjoy reading through lists of must-haves, even when I need to edit the list pretty severely. It would be fun to read a MOTG "must have" list.

harmonica

Veteran

hmm.. when I started builiding my wardrobe from scratch, I actually made my wardrobe essentials list after a lot of internet browsing and have followed it with success. Of course, I made modifications to my lifestyle, weather etc, but I found it very helpful and the classics / essentials are mentioned in a number of settings for a reason. I have found that i.e. jeans, pencil, blouse/shirt, trench, blazer, pumps, boots/booties are my workhorses. As said, every list must be taken with a pinch of salt + be modified

Melissa

Miss Rhubarb Laura...you read my mind...great post...I share opinions with lots of the commentary here from the ladies...I stumbled upon YLF in search of "The List"

Mellllls

Veteran

well....i work in dc in a business casual environment so this list is pretty accurate for me! but i think we prob have the same lifestyle...i should read her blog.

Mander

(website)

Veteran

I find these lists interesting, and I think that I probably first came across YLF (and Academichic) while looking for inspiration in the form of an "essentials" list. Sometimes they are pretty far out from my lifestyle, though, or seem excessive in strange ways. One example I have used as a guideline (from Real Simple magazine, I think) suggests 6 different types of coat (trench coat, cashmere wrap coat, lightweight waterproof coat, raincoat, winter coat, peacoat) and 5 jackets (denim jacket, leather blazer, cashmere wrap, one-button blazer, cropped Chanel-style jacket), plus sweaters/sweatshirts! I don't understand why so many different coats were considered necessary, especially since it's kind of a "minimalist" magazine. My trench coats are waterproof, and my winter coat looks fine with a dress.

Although I do have to guiltily admit that I probably *do* have 6 different coats in these terms... including two different "gear" raincoats...

rachylou

Veteran

You know, the trench, the white button down, the pencil skirt AND the leopard flats are all a bit on the useless side for me.

The trench doesn't keep me warm, button downs I find fussy, and black flats infinitely more useful. I picked up a bright pencil skirt last winter, but it's not something I use as a staple. I use that to shake things up a bit.

The shell is a 'meh'. It's ok. I could layer that. I'm not a jewelry person usually. I do wear scarves quite often.

I almost forgot the satchel. Hate those types, which are heavy empty.