Your thoughts: What current "must-haves" do you recommend?

Suz

Hmmm. That depends, April...I assume you've seen Angie's trend list for the fall season, right?

I think in a way it is anything goes, these days. So no "musts" except those that are personal to you. What do you need for your life, to feel well dressed for the situations you are encountering? What's missing?

5 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

ETA: my personal "must-haves" might not be yours...high waisted jeans, a couple of beloved blazers, variety of outerwear, waterproof booties and boots, belt, turtleneck sweaters...(this is for fall/ winter). None of that is necessarily modern (I mean, in theory) so I update it all regularly so that it looks current.

5 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I agree with Suz that they vary from one person to the next. She and several others have posted about jeans recently; they wear them almost every day. I'm wearing mine now more than I have in years, but on average it's probably still under 1 x/week.

I did a 30x30 challenge over a year ago, just posted about how I'm still benefiting from it, even though I was loose about the time and the number of items. Have you tried one of those? Another idea would be to keep a running list of what you like and don't like about what you're wearing, day by day.

5 years ago

Helena

Veteran

April, fwiw, the main thing I feel I need to modernize is my jeans silhouette ... Higher waist for sure, different leg possibly (if I can get past the practical issues!).

5 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

April, NO MORE GREY

(I slay you, but chartreuse can work with your beautiful glass green eyes).

Here's my post for 2018:

https://youlookfab.com/2018/09.....nter-2018/

To answer your question, from what I can remember about your style:

Sweater dresses
Add some trendy jeans
WEAR your white jeans in Winter!
Throw in the avant-garde piece
Patterned scarves in quiet prints that you think work with your gorgeous curly hair
Outerwear with faux fur trim

5 years ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

What I needed last winter ( since a hot summer here now) was still winter or transitional full-length pants. I prefer these in a skinny or straight leg, they form a base for tops and/or tunics although I am going off the latter a bit after about 8 years of that look. I'm liking long or 3/4 sleeved tops that can stand alone with the pants and just get the same ubiquitous black jacket thrown over the top to get in and out of buildings. I'm not much of a jeans fan, because I never wear them to work. Think I now have 3 pairs, all dark and straight, one cropped 2 full-length. I do sometimes wear dresses in those seasons or mid thigh tunics, maybe with leggings or ponte pants so long as butt is covered( see leggings thread of late 2018). Leggings as leggings in Angie's revised definition. Because I find tights uncomfy around middle. The black jacket is an essential but I have some others in different colours. Not a blazer person, I prefer softer drape.
And I need flat booties.

5 years ago

kkards

Veteran

Gosh what a great question.
For me the must have this winter that made me feel up to date & current
- White boots. They make simple outfits feel fashion foward. I’ve been drooling over these sorels.
-high waisted jeans but also some kind of trendy jean, maybe with a “tux” stripe, or button fly
Looking forward to hearing/seeing what you add

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5 years ago

Gretchen

Veteran

My current must haves:
- A medium-size tote that holds all the things.
- A pair of flats I can run in if necessary
- A pashmina or scarf that can go over a blazer or double as a layer while traveling
- Gold jewelry: earrings with pearls, small pendants
- Jeans with higher waist and bootcut or flare
- Colored blazers/jackets

5 years ago

anne

Veteran

For me - High waisted jeans, and working on getting tops that will go with high waisted bottoms (not just jeans)

5 years ago

taylor

Veteran

Off the top of my head I remember you look beautiful in sheath dresses and had quite a lovely little collection . For warm weather you may want to continue to purchase a few of those .
We are close in size but I’m not sure where you stand on the denim silhouette. I choose to never go wider than a straight leg and stick mostly to skinny’s . Higher waist is something I’m looking into . Let me know if they work for you ....should you venture that direction.

5 years ago

Lesley

Veteran

My cold-weather city shapes my list! A good down coat (short and long), good wool socks, good warm sweaters, good mittens and a cashmere hat, a wardrobe of Uniqlo heat tech to go underneath it all...

I guess to make the list more fun, the things I use to feel chic despite this utilitarian bent: sweaters in bright colors, lots of statement earrings (with backings that won't get tangled in scarves), great jeans, fun ankle boots and statement sneakers (since we're not getting so much snow this year thus far...)

5 years ago

Sal

Veteran

We are amidst summer here so I am out of sync...

This summer
- easy dresses that are cool
- tops that tuck into higher waisted pants
- midi length (skirt, dresses and culottes)
- flattering hats I like wearing

5 years ago

Column

Veteran

I have been thinking this same thing (great minds, ha, ha?) My list:

High waist trousers and jeans: After all of my recent grousing, I discovered Mango has some really on-trend silhouettes—and on sale!

Along with above: Dark pants in many different fabrications, lengths, leg shapes. For example, I have a nice NYDJ black flare knit pant for fall/winter/spring casual, Talbots lined black wool straight leg for winter workwear, and two light weight black crops (one straight leg, one flare) for spring summer—unless I wear them with tights and boots in winter, which I sometimes do. I could use a black three-season weight full-length dressy flare.

Some shorter-length sweaters, maybe even with welted bottoms.

Midi dresses if I need more (I bought three summer and three fall/winter/spring midis from Boden). I would be willing to go shorter and asymmetrical ala Eileen Fisher if I surrender the waist, but with a waistline, I am loving long, fuller skirts in fabrics that collapse back onto the body. I`m loving the full-on seventies sleeves, too!

5 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

As others have pointed out, it’s hard to recommend our personal must-haves to others without knowing their lifestyles and preferences. But, if it’s at all helpful, here are mine

Current (but not necessarily trendy) jeans in white, medium, and dark washes. My preference is for straight legs with a mid-high rise and NO embellishment.
Striped mariners: standard, plus a couple with a slight twist just to keep things interesting.
Pair of straight-legged, black pants in a seasonless woven wool which have been tailored to fit perfectly
Updated outerwear jacket and/or coat—because that’s what everyone sees me wearing most days.
Current, walk-everywhere shoes/boots. I update every fall and spring because I walk everywhere and my shoes get worn out
A scarf in this season’s trendy color(s)

I pretty much could function quite well if these were the only items in my closet!

5 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

If we're naming the current trends we're buying--

I'd like full length bootcut pants and a dress or possibly trousers in a classic pattern like Glenn plain or houndstooth and probably a longer blazer or cardigan.

I'm skipping the earth tones and keeping the animal print to my leopard-print gloves and a jacket with peach leopard pattern, and feel really neutral about the rise--it depends on the pants.

Otherwise everything on Angie's list is represented in my wardrobe.

5 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

High waisted jeans (high being relative to each person). Pretty much everything else looks current with them.

5 years ago

Irina

Veteran

1. High waisted cropped wide leg pants & jeans
2. Flats or block heel shoes
3. White or cream footwear
4. Wool dressy coat
5. High shaft ankle boots

5 years ago

Christina F.

Veteran

Here are mine:

Higher waisted jeans. (I achieve this by more tucking and semi tucking though.) Bonus for distressed hems.

Bright striped tops.

Midi length skirts and dresses.

Fashion sneakers

Metallic or light footwear

5 years ago

always trying

Veteran

Mine white jeans-maybe boot cut or straight, but not skinnies

wide leg or bootcut jeans

neutral , biege or tan long blazer

white dressy crops in the spring

5 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

Fun thread. It's interesting reading about everyone's must-haves!

Mine:

high-waisted jeans
fun sweaters (sweaters can be so boring sometimes...)
midi-length dresses/skirts
block-heeled booties
jumpsuits
leather jacket

5 years ago

Cee

Veteran

Presently in Australia... Nakedness and AIR CONDITIONING !

5 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Yeah, high waist pants, esp in plaid. *Sigh.* I don’t really want to buy new pants, but all those low/mid rises ARE starting to get to me. Gonna have to duplicate in high rise.

5 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Cee, sounds like Florida, May-Oct.

5 years ago

April

Veteran

Thank you for all these suggestions!

Of course I had forgotten the "must have" blog post but have now refreshed my memory.

I should have been more specific about my needs. I am currently a "stay-at-home empty nester" and spend most of my day in the kitchen and in a messy workshop surrounded by paints and inks.

I have also spent the past six weeks in a full-length leg brace and that has severely limited my clothing options. The brace got swapped out for a much smaller one yesterday, so I'm almost ready to start wearing "real clothes" again.

Will keep this thread handy as I edit my closet!

5 years ago

Aquamarine

Veteran

I echo high-waisted jeans, but for me it’s been a humbling search. I find them quite uncomfortable, plus I am short-waisted so I fear they don’t don’t do me any favors. And it seems I need to go up a size in them, thank-you-very-much, menopause-belly.

Personally, my goal this year includes finding some cotton-rich blouses/tops (not tees), in whatever is in style spring/summer 2019 (I await Angie’s posts on that). I can’t abide synthetics once the temps start rising.

5 years ago

Anonymous

Its all very personal, but mine this year are:
Tall heeled boots
A variety of streamlined booties, including burgundy
Fun trousers
Long sleeved blouses
Maxi cardigans
Pencil skirts
A variety of coats-most used is long burgundy one
Hi rise skinny jeans

5 years ago

Anonymous

These are not necessarily for me, but just what I think are very trendy and fun:
Dad sneakers
Flowy midi skirts
Paperbag waist
Tapered cropped jeans

5 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Congrats on returning to bipedalism! I recall you mentioning what a drag it was to have ability to physically put the thing on become your overriding wardrobe determinate. Looking forward to your continuing adventures.

5 years ago

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