Closet Remix: Back to Basics
January 15, 2009 by shylab
2009 is the year of minimalism. People are cutting back on everything from that Disney World vay-cay to that extra bite of crème brule. This exercise in scaling back is having a drastic impact on people’s wardrobe decisions. Even the Hollywood mega-stars are trading in overtly lavish gowns and ginormous diamonds for more understated, monochromatic looks as evidenced by this week’s Golden Globe awards. When making purchases this year we’re thinking about consuming less and spending less; it’s about quality over quantity.
I traveled to India over the holidays to visit my family. Usually on trips to India I return with an extra suitcase full of cheap (and useless) trinkets—elephant bookends, intricately designed pencil holders, 1,001 uniquely block printed table cloths. This December I said no way José to filling my suitcases with nonsense. Instead, I bought myself two gorgeous dresses, one pair of shoes, a lot more room in my luggage, and a renewed sense of clarity.
Take a trip back to the basics this year and hand pick essential items that will revolutionize (and minimize) your identity as a fashionista. In order to start a stylish wardrobe from scratch, there are a few basic items every trendster must have. However, don’t forget to accessorize to your hearts content to ensure an individualized and unique look.
Jeans. by ❤Natalie Winston de Rossiシ [OFF]
1. The Perfect Pair of Jeans
You may find them at Old Navy or you may find them at Nordstroms however, a perfect pair of jeans is an absolute necessity. When searching for the newest addition of denim threads, take your time. Bring along your best friend and try on hundreds of pairs until you fall in love. My personal favorites are Citizens of Humanity. Citizens are a bit pricey, but I’ve had my first (and only!) pair for three years and I still wear them almost daily. Believe it or not, on a recent trip to Costco I discovered they carried Citizens, Hudsons, Sevens, and even MAC makeup. Search around before bolting straight to Bloomy’s.
2. LBD (Little Black Dress)
The perfect little black dress can be dressed-up, dressed-down, dressed sideways and always makes you look and feel amazing. I recently invested in a wallet-friendly LBD from American Apparel and haven’t taken it off in the past month.
3. Incredible Black Heels
Shoes make or break an outfit. The ideal black heels make anything look fabulous, jeans, summer dresses, that LBD, or even your birthday suit … When shopping for heels, take a moment to think about comfort. While six-inch stilettos may look amazing on my 5′1″ frame, my booty walking around like I have a turd in my panties does not look amazing.
4. Coat
Every woman needs a perfect black pea coat as well a gorgeous trench coat. My perfect black pea coat is from Urban Outfitters (two seasons ago). It’s double breasted with a large ruffle. Coats are items to invest in and have fun with.
5. Dressy Skirt
The perfect black pencil skirt is an absolute must-have. It will take you from formal interviews to fun dates. A lot of women are afraid of skirts initially, but I’ve discovered that once you try that you rarely go back.
6. White Blouse
A white blouse is a mature and essential fashion choice. The best white shirt I’ve ever found is from (I hate to admit it … ) Brooks Brothers. They have a wrinkle-free pristine white shirt that comes in various cuts that always looks impeccable. And no, I don’t usually shop at Brooks, but my boyfriend introduced me. I’ve never looked back. Hey…even Oprah wears this shirt!
7. In Lieu of Sweats
In the good ‘ol J.Lo days (pre-Marc Anthony) this consisted of a velour track suit. Nowadays, we’ve graduated to Lulemon yoga pants and a North Face fleece. Whatever your weekend warrior outfit choice may be, invest in something. You never know when you’ll run into your ex .
8. Casual Dress
My favorite casual dress is a green jersey knit dress I got from Anthropologie. I can layer it with boots and a cardigan or just throw on some flip-flops. I can dress it up for dinner, or dress it down for brunch. Either way, it’s comfy, stylish, and multi-purposeful.
9. T-Shirts and Blouses
Every woman needs the perfect t-shirt. My favorite is (again) from American Apparel; it’s their fine jersey short-sleeve tee. I have five of them and wear them almost daily. Blouses and tees are a place to save money, have fun, and show your personality. But always be sure to get some basic, quality, neutral colors in long and short sleeves to add diversity to all your pieces.
10. Flats
I love ballet flats. They are perfect for work and perfect for errands. Invest in a few comfy yet sleek pairs. Don’t be afraid to dabble in color and prints.
Trends come and trends go. With the deepening of the economic meltdown, it’s best to scale back and think about what you really need. With the right accessories, this ten-piece basic wardrobe will keep you stylish, sleek, and classic for this season, next season, and the one after that.
