9 Fashion Basics Every Woman Should Own. From a structured bag to a white shirt and a little black dress, there are some items a girl simply must have.
It’s worth putting your focus on basics this season, take a look at your favourite labels and shops and hone your choices down to just a few key pieces.
The trick here is to build on these pieces with a few interesting add ons and of course accessories. The basics should be great quality, and if they are, you can comfortably wear them everyday without fear of being branded unfashionable. Dressing in basics is classic and that never goes out of style. Great classic dressers? Audrey Hepburn of course, and more recently, Gwyneth Paltrow.
Here’s what you need to get your wardrobe started.
1. A pair of fabulous, skinny, dark denim jeans.
These ones are from JBrand. Make sure yours fit perfectly – update every year if you need to – and they will take you through day and night.
2. A classic white shirt.
It should fit well, not pull on any buttons, and it should be long enough to tuck into jeans without fear of it coming out the back when you bend over. The way to wear it this season is to team with a wide, a-line skater skirt, and wear a chunky necklace over the done up collar. Our pick? This signature Equipment shirt.
3. A black blazer
Add a blazer to any outfit to deliver instant polish. It’s the fastest way to dress up a pair of jeans and is a great cover up for dresses and skirts. It even makes a pair of shorts work-worthy. Aim for quality rather than quantity, as this is a piece which, if bought correctly, can last a decade. We like this J. Crew blazer.
4. A black pump
Pointy or round, make sure it’s high enough to be a definitive heel but not so towering that you don’t want to wear it everyday. This will be your go-to heel. We like these Jimmy Choo pumps, which are high but not enormous, and will be comfortable enough unless you want to run in them.
5. A leather jacket
It doesn’t have to be a biker jacket, though biker styles are very versatile. Just make it interesting. Leather jackets will work equally as well over jeans as they would an evening dress. In fact, it brings home that very cool trend of romantic + tough. Try this Tigerlily biker on for size.
6. Red lipstick
No. It’s not a beauty item. It’s categorised as fashion in this case because it can add to an outfit so dramatically, in an instant. Go for a blue-based red, according to Nigel Stanislaus the Maybelline Creative Director who says that blue-based reds suit every skin tone and make teeth look whiter. Now that’s convinced you, hasn’t it! Try Chanel’s Rouge Allure lipstick in Passion.
7. A Little Black Dress
It’s your fall-back dress. The one you pick up when your morning gets the best of you and you have less than 10 minutes to get dressed. A black dress that suits YOU. Now, this must be shopped for, because everyone has a different body shape so will suit different things, but our faves this season are:
8. Striped t-shirt
To wear under a blazer. Or dressed down with jeans. Or dressed up with a pencil skirt. Or made tough with leather leggings. The point is, a striped tee is versatile. Go for a good one, like this pick from Bassike which comes in both short and long sleeves. It will serve you well.
9. The structured bag
It should be roomy, so you can fit all you need, but structured so that it doesn’t bulge out of shape. It can be any colour but black is the most versatile. We love this Rachael Ruddick bag because it’s practical but beautiful – exactly what you’re after in an everyday investment.
What are your favourite key pieces for this season? Tell is in the comments below!
