Wardrobing 101: 9 Must Have Items in Your Wardrobe
Have you ever heard “that’s a staple piece” and wondered “what the hell does that even mean?” Well, let me explain in real people terms & give you some examples of what and why you should consider adding these pieces to your closet!
A staple piece is basically a necessity for your wardrobe - the pieces that you wear over and over again because they basically pave the ground your outfits walk on. A lot of the time, one of these pieces can take a simple outfit to the next level, creating dept to your look with you barely having to try (sounds good to me). Below is a list of 9 items you need to have in your wardrobe - if you don’t already, this is the time to go get them! I have included a link below to my youtube channel to see why one of these staples outlined below are so important, which will hopefully inspire you with your looks!
#9: Tight Turtle-Neck
This is hands down my go-to piece for pretty much any look in winter. Why? Because it’s so easy to polish a look with a turtle-neck. Oh, & did I mention turtle-necks just happen to be extremely hot right now? You’re welcome. Turtle-necks are easily the best layering piece - whether you’re a very fashion forward individual who isn’t afraid to rock your silk cami overtop of your turtle-neck, or someone stylish who likes to stick to simple pieces to complete a look (i.e. wearing a turtle-neck under a trench coat with jeans), a fitted turtle-neck is a must have piece. Black is obviously the first colour I recommend adding to your wardrobe, but plan to own a rainbow of different colours & fabrics in the near future (don’t judge me, but I own 6 different fitted black turtle-necks because I wear them so much). This will definitely be one of your easiest & most worn pieces for fall/winter/spring months!
#8: High-Waisted Black Jeans
Whether you're in to crop-tops or not, a high-waisted pair of black denim is always a wardrobe need. I personally wear black jeans once or twice a week, especially with the beige colour palette i’ve been wearing lately. Black is always on trend, and honestly, idk how we would live without multiple pieces in our wardrobe. Yes, jeans can be extremely uncomfortable… but it depends on what denim you’re wearing. My advice - invest in a good pair of premium black denim. It’s easy to spend $50-$100 on a pair of black jeans you bought online, but let’s be real - they fade within the month and you find yourself needing a new pair and cringing at the new washed out colour of your previously jet black jeans. My recommendation would be the Rocket from Citizens of Humanity. Yes, these will run you +$300, but you can expect these bad boys to last you years on years while holding their colour. Not only does the colour hold up, but the rise on these jeans are second to none. However, I do understand that this is not realistic for all of us (it took me three years of buying cheaper black denim that I was continuously throwing away to understand that quality would definitely help with my (excessive) quantity). So, if you’re only planning on wearing your black denim once every week or two, the Mile High denim from Levi’s is also a great go to (I personally own Mile High’s in 6 different washes because I have a minor obsession). High-waisted is great for tucking your shirts in, wanting to bare some skin on top, or to simply tuck your tummy in so you can wear a tighter shirt on top (that is, if you’re like me and have a few extra holiday pounds that have accumulated over the past few months.. spoiler: I’m veryyyy okay with the turkey-to-roll trade-off). Make sure to add this piece to your wardrobe like yesterday if you haven’t already.
#7: Long-Sleeve Collared Shirt
No, I don’t mean your basic “omg, I love Brad Paisley & everything country” plaid. I mean whether it’s a plaid or striped long-sleeve collared shirt (even camo will do the trick), you can do more with this piece than just add Levi’s shorts & cowboy boots. Question: how many crew-neck sweaters/tops do you own? Fun Fact: you can layer your crew-neck overtop of a collared shirt and it’s going to give you a completely different look. One of my favourite looks so far this season was when I paired my Rails plaid shirt with my Brunette The Label crew neck (which kindly noted my hair colour “Brunette” on the front of it). Long-sleeve plaid shirts are also one of my go-to’s on days where I just want to slick my hair back in a bun and throw on a heel/bootie with a pair on jeans and still look chic. Sometimes i’ll do a half-tuck - yes, you heard that right. I’ll leave my shirt unbuttoned at the bottom do I can loosely tuck the left side while the right side hangs low (& yes, I know this is a personal preference and that not everyone likes to hang out with their glass half full)). Another way I wear my plaid is under a leather jacket to give me a pop of colour. Whatever your preference, there are many looks you can try with the right collared shirt! Don’t be shy to pick a colour that speaks to you! Pinks and blues are always great colours to create a fun look!
#6: Graphic Tee’s
To be honest, I don’t know half of the bands on the graphic tee’s I own, but I damn sure rock them anyway! Another piece I love pairing with a leather jacket to give me an edgier vibe and can usually be found for under $10 at your local thrift store. Pair your tee with a skirt, jeans, shorts, or pretty much any bottom you can think of and you’ve instantly changed from “aw, she’s so sweet” to “woah, she might steal my boyfriend”. While we’re not here to take anyone’s man, we’re definitely here to serve looks & feel good doing it. What better reason to add a piece to your wardrobe is there? Oh yeah, and while you’re on your thrifting hunt, make sure to look for an oversized graphic tee that you can wear with knee-high boots, because let’s be serious, this look never reaaally gets old.
#5: Mom/ Boyfriend Jeans
Need. Need. Say it one more time for the ones in the back.. NEED. Tbh, I haaaaated boyfriend jeans for like 5 years before I finally found a pair I could appreciate. Mind you, I loved the look on everyone else, but whenever I’d go shopping for a pair, I found I looked like a 5-year-old-boy with no bum who would sneak kisses on the playground from the girls who thought he had cooties. I wish this was a joke, but I promise you this was definitely a fashion don’t for me. It wasn’t until I found Levi’s 501 and Wedgie fits that I finally could embrace everything it meant to rock a boyfriend jean with some sass. Finding the right fit for you can take time, but it’s important to understand that all jeans will fit differently. Even for myself, some 501’s still look awful on me (saggy bum on 100), and I have 3 pairs of wedgies in 3 different sizes. But, if you try enough on, you will find a pair that work for YOUR body type and make YOU feel good in them. You can pair them with pretty much any shoe (heel, bootie, and sneakers) and any top (crop, sweater, shirt). With so many wardrobing options, you’ll almost always have a new fit!
#4: Jean Jacket
Jean jackets seem to never go out of style. Whether they’re short/long, light/dark wash, they’re always an easy add on to your outfit to upgrade a look. Some Saturdays, I just want to wear a t-shirt & sweatpants to leave the house. My jean jacket has helped me look like a real person at 3pm in the afternoon when I have to run hung-over errands. Whether you’re coming off a good night, of you’re wearing leggings with a scarf - a simple jean jacket will elevate your outfit with ease.
#3: Leather Jacket
Definitely in the top three of this list in regards to a must-have, every girl needs to have a leather jacket in their closet. Bringing a touch of NYC chic vibes, dress your outfit up with this quick throw-over piece. With a few ways to wear noted above, adding a leather jacket over a dress works too. I’m not going to give you a long list of reasons why you need one - if you don’t already have one, just trust me. You’re wardrobe is not complete until you do.
#2: Strappy Black Heels
A single strap. That’s all it needs. This classic heel will become your go-to for a lot of your outfits - especially for those fancier occasions. They’re great because they go with pretty much anything (cutest when paired with a boyfriend jean in my opinion), and will polish your look effortlessly. Realistically, how many times does an event come up, whether it’s a wedding, party, etc, and you’ve found the cutest dress ever but have zero idea what to wear for shoes? Well, here is your answer.
#1: White T-shirt
Hands down number one on the list of necessities. I have about 10, personally, but I have one I prefer over the others any day. Why? Because it’s the perfect one for all of my wardrobing needs - it’s a v-neck, not see-through, and the way it hangs makes my body (and boobs) looks good - what else does a girl need? Take a look at the video below for some of the ways you can easily incorporate a plain white t-shirt into your daily wardrobe for multiple different looks!
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