How To Curate A Coveted Closet – Make Sure You Have the Basics Covered

We have all spent a year learning how to get “back to the basics” of life.  Well, your closet needs the same refresh. Different fashion publications and designers all have their opinions as to what items of clothing must be in every woman’s closet, but that has changed since this time last year. For obvious reasons, the pandemic shaped a lot of our wardrobes to be more comfortable and casual all around. As a person who LOVES “dressing up” and spent most of her life dressed for work, play or parties, I have had to review and revamp my own needs and “basics”.  Below please find my (updated) list of some basics pieces that every lady should have in their closet. If you don’t have these items, or they no longer fit or are stained or just worn out, these are worth putting on your shopping list.

Below is a list of the basic pieces, some form or fashion of which, should be in your closet. You should feel comfortable, as budget allows, in making a reasonable investment of money in these pieces and even purchasing good quality pieces that can last several seasons (remember my favorite fashion advice; “buy investment pieces and you will only cry once”).   So here goes:

A Great White T-Shirt –”You can be the chicest thing in a t-shirt and jeans.  It’s up to you.”  – Karl Lagerfeld Mr. Lagerfeld is correct (hello, of course, he is, he is Karl Lagerfeld, but I digress).  Nothing says easy and chic quite like a white tee and jeans.  Style to perfection with pearls and some statement shoes (a/k/a accessories – see below) and Voila!   I also love wearing my favorite with a pencil skirt, joggers, or some Spanx leggings and a blazer (again, additionally adding accessories of your choosing). This is a must in my wardrobe and perfect for dressing down to an otherwise “business appropriate” look for everyday wear.

A White Button-Down Shirt – So versatile and will take you from work to after-dinner drinks to use as a beach cover-up.  I love to throw on my man’s white button-down for an easy and cool bathing suit cover-up. Tie it up into a crop with your bathing suit exposed or throw on some linen pants. A white button-down easily tucks into skirts for work meetings and underneath a sheath or sweater dress for a classic polished look. A scarf at the neck will add color, sophistication and interest for work or a lunch meeting. 

Stylish Coat – The type will vary with where you live and what you need.  Some argue that a trench coat is a must-have.  For me, it is a basic wool or cashmere coat with a little flair. Add some flair with a pattern, embellishments, or fur. Love pairing mine with a simple sweater and jeans or a black wool sweater and pants.  Instantly takes the simplest of outfits up several notches.  I even love a good light statement coat for Spring.  Whatever it may be, make it match your personality and wear it for years! 

 

Pencil skirt – Start with black.  A real workhorse of any woman’s closet. Put on a  pencil skirt and heels for a powerful, yet still feminine look. Once you have one or two of your favorite pencil skirts, start to work in colors and maybe even take a risk and play with fabrics like silk or sequins for a  fun pop in your wardrobe. Work in sneakers and your favorite weekend t-shirt for a more casual take.  Still an important staple and will always be, if you ask me.

White Pants– A staple in the summer, but not just for summer anymore. Find the fit that suits you best. If you can, have a pair of bootleg (flared) and cigarette jeans, that is ideal. Wear them with a bold colored blouse or simply throw on a textured white to achieve the “winter white” look that I love so much. Great for work and play!

Sneakers– Dress down some of your favorite statement pieces by throwing on a fun pair of sneakers. I love to incorporate color here but you can’t go wrong with a classic white sneaker. Think about your favorite dresses or skirts and coordinate with a fun sneaker (I promise you will wear this a million times over)! My Chuck Taylors, hot pink Balenciaga knits and the Golden Gooses give me enough variety to feel fashionable and casual for most occasions these days.  Throwing sneakers on with my (former) law office dresses and a blue jean jacket is a great way to get those gorgeous dresses out of the closet and wear them in a more casual way.

Statement Blouse– Today blouses are not worn quite as much as they used to be and I think it’s a pity. Of course, many suits can be worn without a blouse, but I think these are so nice under a suit or even under a jacket with a pair of leggings on the bottom.   I also have a couple of statement blouses that I wear with the aforementioned pencil skirts for work or luncheons and also always take with me when I travel to pair with jeans or shorts for the perfect and fashionable casual dinner in your favorite beach town.  You can be well dressed for the evening as well as the daytime (especially for your Zoom call)!

Classic Accessories – Find them, fall in love with them, invest and covet them for years to come. You must find the following items that you can wear with thousands of outfits. These do not have to break the bank but in my opinion, they need to be special. In my opinion, invest in shoes and bags, if you invest in any accessories at all.  This post is about the basics, but candidly the thing that shows off your accessories and frankly sets all of the looks shown in this post apart from the everyday is well the accessories.  Whether they were purchased on a trip or at your favorite boutique, I love for my accessories to tell a story.  Ask me about a fun shoe, bracelet, handbag, or belt and yes, I will tell you a story about it.  Try me.

Simple White Dress  – Every lady has the “I have nothing to wear” moment sometimes. Even me, and I have been curating my closet for years to avoid it. The simple white dress is a lifesaver at times, and for that EVERYONE should have one or two in their closet. Dress it up or dress it down, either way, you will feel and look cool the entire time.  I even love pairing them with a sweater and booties for a perfect fall transitional outfit.

Classic Camo Pants  – Add some edge to your everyday with these classic camouflage bottoms. Great transitional pieces to take into the cooler seasons and perfect to layer with a black leather jacket or a t-shirt with a sassy quote on the front.  The above can be worn year-round –  with a camisole in the summer and a sweater and blazer in the fall.  Again, let your accessories set the tone.  Here, I made them more feminine with the fur puff shoes and my trademark pearls.

Joggers – Joggers have easily become wardrobe staples for so many of us in the last couple of months. The most beautiful part about this trend is the lines have been totally blurred as to where they are appropriate to wear. Well, let me be the first to tell you, there are no rules! Grab a great transitional pair and wear them to the gym, office, out for dinner and even to the sofa.