Thank you, Angie, and this is a great way to further illuminate these terms. What a great gathering of wise ladies sharing "essential statements."

Thanks Angie very clear now

Greyscale - I'm trying to buy statement pieces for my (casual) life too. Leather & harem pants for example

More astute thoughts.

I think most of my wardrobe consists of essentials (or at least pieces that are completely basic.) I think statement pieces "scare" me. Those would be the pieces that take my essentials from "Nice" to "WOW!" I admire those pieces on other women but can't seem to take the plunge for myself ...unless it is something small (both in size and expenditure) like a necklace or scarf.

Case in point. I was shopping in a Chicago boutique early this month. I had wanted a bomber jacket anticipating a trend (and the ones I liked at JCrew were $300+). I found two. My daughter approved the army green shiny one...in my mind a statement piece. But because it wasn't in my usual color scheme, I immediately had second thoughts and wanted to return it.

Of course, I couldn't return it because it was a boutique- not Nordstrom! Now "stuck" with it, I am wearing it. And guess what? Two compliments at the first wearing. (Photo one shows how I wore it on its maiden voyage.)

This is also true for another piece my daughter selected for me (photo 2). When I wear it (with my essentials), people notice. So now, how do I find the courage to buy those statement pieces? And actually, it is not courage but confidence! (And perhaps the cranberry bag in Photo 1 is also a statement piece.)

I am now understanding what goes through my head while shopping. I think I won't get as much mileage out of statement pieces because I will not wear them as often.

I think I may need a blog post about Statement Pieces!!!

Angie, mind b-l-o-w-n!

"Ann, you can make a statement wearing Essentials. Does that blow your mind?"
Are nude Okalas essentials or statements for me please Angie? If they are essentials then I just may be able to make a statement by wearing all essentials.
Joking aside just wanted to say you are such a great teacher Angie XXOO

Caro, the pony hair Okalas that we both have are Statements. The nude are probably more of an Essential. Thanks for the kind words. XO.

Those outfits are great, quietgirl. Both items are Statement. Having a wardrobe full of Essentials and fewer Statements is another way to go. It's all good.

This has been very interesting, and I'm still trying to get my head around how it applies to me, and my personal style journey. I think a lot of my essentials are boring and dated, and I have too many statements. EEK! I played it safe with essentials (lots and lots of white and black tees) and tried to pump up the wow factor with statements. And now I don't want to wear my essentials, but feel I've spent enough money on clothes so can't possibly buy MORE. Well, within reason.

Time to really think and evaluate!

Thanks again Angie for some great insight.

This has been such a great and illuminating discussion.

Quietgirl, if it will make you feel any better, before I joined YLF I had an entire wardrobe of "essentials" (and mostly boring low quality ones at that) -- apart from one or two items that I splurged on for a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. And only because it was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of occasion did I give myself permission to buy those. I could never have done it otherwise. In fact, even when I splurged, I actually bought two true statement items and three or four really high quality essentials.

But that purchase taught me a few things.

1. The statements made the essentials feel better and go further.

2. The essentials in higher quality made me feel so fab I didn't always need a statement.

Interesting, no?

Looking back at the list I posted on the blog, I have a few refinements:

Button front shirts -- yes, and I do update regularly. And this includes cotton and silk, sleeved and sleeveless, because of my climate.

BUT... my plain button front, and even my silk camp shirts, or my tux shirts may be essentials -- but the Zara oversized back-pleated shirt is a statement, even though it's white (a neutral).

Jeans (blue and white are essential -- patterned and others are statement).

Turtlenecks -- my alternative button front. My fitted and fluid plain ones are essentials; my colourblocked hi-low is a statement.

High necked linen tees --- these are a summer essential, equivalent to turtlenecks in winter for me.

Wool/ cashmere sweaters -- but these come in categories. My core neutrals (grey, ink, navy, winter white, taupe) are essentials.... but patterned and brightly coloured sweaters are statements.

Blazers -- navy and taupe and even black are essentials (although they have design elements that make them special). Blue jacquard or patterned ones are statement.

Peacoat (or similar) -- in black and navy (as it is) an essential. In another colour, possible statement.

Puffer -- in grey (as it is) an essential for my climate.

Trench coat -- in a neutral -- an essential.

Chelsea boots -- core style element and in a simple version, an essential. More fashion-y versions are statements.

i feel as if this is no way enough to make my wardobe fully function. I can't really do with only Chelsea boots as shoes, for example! Flat (ish) sandals are also an essential (but that's more than 10). I also need a dress, a skirt or two, a few belts and a bag or two...OY, we are already edging up to double digits....

Great post. Important difference.

My head hurts! I need to really go back and re-read this when I'm not so tired.

My practical and conservative nature has always ensured I had the essentials well covered. It was the exciting, interesting, edgy, colorful or (statement, right?) pieces that I was lacking. I'm getting better at this, but I'm unclear about when the basic Tshirts, jeans or coats that you depend on become statement pieces....aahhhhk!

Hm, this is a really intriguing and useful way to conceptualize one's wardrobe! This helps clear up a couple of rules for me:

Here is my guess at the distinction--how close am I? I see statement pieces as the ones that get noticed and remembered. Things I would aim not to repeat in the same setting or company within a certain time frame. Whereas the essentials are pieces that if I did repeat, probably no one but me would notice.

It's probably different for people who own and wear more statement (or statement-y) pieces than I do. I own a lot of black pants and white shirts and solid colour sweaters. But my statement pieces would be the houndstooth swing coat, the black patent oxfords, the paisley pashmina that I liven them up with.

What about my white sneakers? I think they are the same as Angie's. They have had a lot of wear from me this past summer due to a plantar fasciitis flare-up. I have worn them to work with skirts, dresses, dress pants, culottes. I definitely feel "statement" when I am wearing them. (I hope it comes across as modern not frumpy, that is the goal.) But last year they were an essential in my casual wardrobe, for wearing with jeans or more likely exercise gear.

Something in my brain has never been able to get this concept and am no longer sure it even makes sense for me to try to grasp it any more. I feel like I'm the odd one out. I'm left handed too - connection? I will continue to read and struggle...

I wonder if there's a helpful guideline for finding a balance between essential pieces and statement pieces. One statement for every ten essentials? I realize this is completely subjective and will vary for everyone. I have focused a lot on buying essentials this year; this thread and today's blog post have made me realize I need to also occasionally add statement pieces.

Fascinating read and lots to think about. I looked at it like this, what do I need to bring any odd piece I might drag home into an outfit I can wear.

For odd/statement bottoms I need crossover tops, for odd/statement tops I need jeans or straight forward long shorts, every day I need walkable flats and my current version are pointy, which make other odd things more my own style, for me to go outside I need a neutral and versatile wide brim hat, for me to go out in the cold I need a coat that fits over everything and keeps me warm.
I decided things I frequently wear like sweaters, jackets, statement shoes, and many more aren't essentials because they don't help me make other things I want to wear work. Sweaters would be promoted if I lived in a colder climate though!

AG, I think about it like this.

The essentials make my statement pieces sing...without them my wardrobe is not cohesive. There are some pieces that are borderline ( a stunning subtle shaped black draped top) but most things veer one way or the other. If you don't have these essentials it is hard to put an outfit together.

I find a black tee important - I have two at the moment. They go with my bolder necklaces, and under most or all of my jackets. They go with patterned trousers and shorts. Owning two in slightly different cuts allows me to put many different outfits together. I have owned several variations of this type of tee over the last ten or more years as fashions change. But they have always filled the same purpose. One of mine is very basic (Gap, short sleeve, fluid fit) and one is more dramatic (sheer back, high low hem) but they still link so many clothes together.

Thanks KG! That makes a lot of sense... I am also tired to the point of delirious right one from work so may need to come back to this when brain is functioning.

I'm applauding Suz and Shevia. SPOT ON.

Nicely said, Kiwigal. Well done. You have grasped the concept beautifully.

Windchine, as you already mentioned - there are no hard and fast guidelines. The quantity of Essentials vs. Statement pieces is personal and subjective. Some will have more or less than others.

L'Abeille, Statement pieces tend to be more memorable. But like I mentioned to Ann - you can make a statement with Essentials.

I think I got it. So in my wardrobe my classic slim fitting navy turtleneck is an essential, while my new oversized burgundy turtleneck is a statement piece. My black skirt is an essential too, while my plaid skirts are statement pieces. Is that right?

I think I don't have the right essentials and not enough statement pieces in my wardrobe.

Ha! Now I understand why handbags are *missing* in your list ...

My list still holds good I guess. I dont seem to have statement jeans, tops or footwear. They just play well with each other. No statement handbag either!

I could call my pleather track pants, faux leather midi skirt, tulle skirt, sequined mini as my statement pieces. The circus striped blazer which I have ordered could be a contender too. I realize that my statement pieces are mostly festive (or winter wear) that I do not use regularly for our 8 months of summer. I wonder if one needs a good dose of statement pieces for regular wear? In that case, would it still remain a statement or does it just merge with the style of the wearer and becomes an essential?

I am thinking Una's PJ jeans and Anna's ...umm ... Everything

A great discussion!

Lately I have been wanting my essentials...black turtle neck, white jeans, etc...to have interesting details, but just low key enough to keep them from becoming statement pieces. Can a black turtleneck with a high-low hem or ruched sides still be an essential? If white jeans are coated, do they move to the statement category?

You've got it, Astrid.

Neel, YES. All my bags are Statement, and not Essentials. You've grasped the concept too.

Joy, yes on the t-neck, and it would depend on the visual impact of the jeans.

Such a worthwhile discussion. I am looking at essential pieces as the foundation that may either showcase my statement pieces or serve independently, but dependably, as an opportunity to display a refined, current, simplicity in my clothes. The right essentials allow my "unique" pieces to stand out, yet if they are high quality, fit well and have a beautiful fabrication, wearing them without a statement piece is highly satisfying.

This discussion pushes me towards being sure to have an adequate number of very well made, seasonal essentials that my more "outspoken" pieces can riff off of, to use a more musical analogy. I am not content to have any pair of black pants for date night, I want them to be current and well-made even though people may remember another aspect of my attire more. I also like having statement pants. Essentials elevate the whole look and as others have said, is a very good place to invest in a wardrobe. Your point about eliminating closet orphans with essentials really resonates, Angie.

Very good sources of information in this thread and the blog post! Thanks for the food for thought.

Angie, is there any category between statement pieces and essentials, or does everything fall into one of the two?

For example, I have printed tops that are sort of subtle. They're definitely not essentials, but I'm not sure I'd call them statement pieces either.

Sure, Claire. That makes sense. Perhaps we can call those pieces Regulars?

Eliza, great thoughts. You've got it.

Okay! Regulars it is then. Thanks!

I'm trying to grasp this concept. The only thing that comes to my mind is that statement pieces are not wardrobe basics. Basics are the core pieces that work with many different things; thus, they are essential. That, to me, is what differentiates statement pieces from essential pieces. Am I right, Angie, or am I still missing the point? Like Claire, I'm trying to get this.

Actually bettycrocker, Basics are something else entirely. Check out these posts when you have a moment:

http://youlookfab.com/2014/01/.....sh-basics/

http://youlookfab.com/2014/10/.....ssentials/

That's why we use the word Essentials. And you are dead right in your description of Essentials.