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It has taken me years to get to the point of avoiding trends. While I love the initial hit you get from wearing a statement piece, I’ve come to realise it’s the ‘go-to’ pieces in my wardrobe that I reach for the most. And while I’m not as trendy as I used to be, I don’t think that it’s diminished my style by any means. On the contrary, with a muted colour palette, I play around more with textures and luxurious fabrics.
Wardrobe staples are the workhorses in our closet – they can be dressed up or down, pair well with other pieces and are the classic staples that you rely on time and time again.
While we all have our own personal staples suited to our tastes, here are the five wardrobe staples that serve me all year round.
#1 – Blue denim
If I didn’t work in a conservative office environment, I have no doubt that my wardrobe would rotate around a pair of blue jeans! They are the most popular denim colour for a reason. While it takes a bit of trial and error to find the right shade of blue and the cut to make you feel great, when you do find that pair – hold onto those babies for dear life!!
There are so many choices; boyfriend, skinny, straight and mom but whichever style leaves you strutting down the street like you own it is the pair you should consider part of your wardrobe basics. My preference is towards skinny and straight cuts and in the past few years, I’ve favoured vintage blue washes (and have moved away from distressed and ripped denim).
My go-to brands for denim are Nobody Denim, an Australian based label and Everlane, for its affordability. Both labels work well on my petite frame and I’ll always opt for ‘ankle’ length when it comes to the latter.
#2 – A blazer
Blazers don’t prescribe to any season meaning you can wear it in summer with a ribbed tank and shorts, or in winter with a turtleneck and tailored slacks. I predominantly wear my blazers to work, though I’m not one to shy away from throwing one on when the occasion calls for it – such as a date night or a dinner out (though they’ve been few and far between given current circumstances).
For the transformative power they wield, blazers are one of the most accessible pieces out there. And the best part? There’s a blazer to suit every budget and flatter every body type.
#3 – A white tee
There’s something so refreshing about a crisp white tee. But we all know that not all white tees are created equal. For me, the perfect white tee needs to strike the right balance between cut, comfort and cost. I love a pure cotton tee to layer under a blazer or to wear with jeans. To mix things up, linen white tees also feature in my wardrobe that I typically wear when I want things to look a bit softer.
#4 – Pointy black mules
My signature style must-have is a pointy black mule. One quick scroll of my Instagram feed and you’ll see why. They magically work to elongate the legs and make you feel a million dollars but they go with absolutely everything. It’s my go-to shoe for work meetings, date nights and everything in-between and it’s one of those items with the best cost per wear. Personally, I love a pointed-black mule and kitten heels. They instantly lift a look and are comfortable enough to wear all day long.
#5 – The day-to-night midi dress
The beauty of a midi dress is that it’s chic and highly versatile either worn on its own or with statement accessories. The length makes it appropriate and comfortable to wear to the office.
This knit midi dress from Reiss has been a firm favourite of mine since I got it back in February. I’ve worn it to work and also on date nights with my husband before lockdown measures were put in place. Find the right style for you and it will be the ultimate workhorse in your wardrobe.
I hope my wardrobe staples provided some inspiration for you. Thanks again for stopping by!
P.S. The style lessons I wish I’d learnt before my 30s, my WFH favourites and the five things I never wear when working from home.
