Saturday, June 23, 2012

Basics And My Wardrobe Building Formula

Do you like buying basics? I always liked the ease of minimalistic dressing, but somehow ended up always buying special pieces and never I wanted to spend money on simple black pencil skirt, white shirt or navy v-neck.

The problem with basics is that they usually don't go on sale, like the more trendy pieces. I thought that since I am spending my hard earned money I should be getting something more unique and special, right? Wrong. I perpetually ended up staring into the vastness of my closet with nothing to wear. Because by the time I was able to wear my bought-at-the-end-of-the-season sale leftovers, my crazy print asymmetrical skirt was out of style and felt dated.

I started looking at magazines and pictures of celebrities and style icons and analyse what was it that attracted me to their looks. OK, so most of the time it was the faces and bodies but I cannot really change that (or at least I don't want to go there just yet). But when I focused on just clothes and styles, I realized that I am drawn to very simple shapes and colors.



It was rarely the multi-layered, statement jewelry covered, shocking color combinations or mismatched prints that attracted me. So why was I buying those things for myself?

Some of it was an influence of my mother. My mother is a very stylish woman, but her sartorial preferences are very different from mine. She would buy a navy v-neck sweater only if it had a asymmetrical sequin covered ruffle attached to the bottom of it. She is an Anthro girl at heart and totally at home with over-the-top, unusual and unique. She wears it well and somehow manages to make it look classic.

My mother would rock this
 
I can do this
What I like, is the most simple styles but with perfect fit and relaxed, feminine vibe. Sort of Calvin Klein look but without the scary looking severe hair and blank faces (at least I hope my face is not blank). Now, of course, this is is not too say that at any point in time I did not have a white shirt or a pair on black pants in my closet. I did, but they were the-wrong-kind. They were the I-can-buy-it-cheaper purchases. Bought under an illusion that everybody sells basics, so I can compromise.They ones that give basics bad rap as being bland and boring and I-can-never-make-it-work.

My theory is, that if you find those great basics, you would be thrilled to just wear them on their own. If you can only wear your black pants when you cover them with your blazer or you need to wear your white t-shirt with a cardigan or a statement necklace, you probably don't like it as much and they the not THE basics you need.

So here is the wardrobe building formula that works for me:



For neutrals, white, black, navy and camel are my staples. I own skirts, plain dresses, trousers, shorts, t-shirts, cardigans or v-neck sweaters in each of those colors in warm and cold weather version. More white and navy for summer, more black and camel for winter. I keep it simple and free of embellishment. Plain pumps, boots and sandals in black/navy and nude. Purses in black and light brown.

This is my base. No multiples but just the best I could find.  From my experience, if I have multiples, I end up wearing one version over the others. The only exception for me is white button fronts and t-shirts because I wear them so often and they need to be replaced frequently.


I try to resist the temptation to buy just any pair of black pants or white shirt. Of course almost every retailer would carry basic colors but I make sure I get exactly what I want and never compromise on fit. If you want to test it for yourself, try wearing just your basics for a week. And I mean actually wear them, not just do a Polyvore of them. Your basics should have fabulous fit and you should feel great wearing your jeans with your white shirt or your camel skirt with your black t-shirt.




Life would be boring with just solids so I add couple of neutral striped t-shirts. Or maybe neutral color polka dots or colorblock.  Then I pick two other colors I like. This summer it is blue and red. I get a few tops in those colors.  Then I add printed skirt and dress where my favorite colors are the base. Same for couple of printed tops. I add other colors in shoes, belts and purses, they work great with neutrals.
 

 






That's it, really. It is not for everybody but it works for me. Everything goes together and I find it super easy to dress this way. 

***
How about you?

Do you start with basics?
What is your dressing formula?

Please share, it would be no fun without you!!!

25 comments:

  1. Great post! What I really appreciated was your comment "if you do not feel comfortable, it is not a basic for YOU." Explain why despite seeing that a white button down is a closet must have, I never like the look of myself in one! I feel more comfortable in a shell than a button down! And white drains me unless it is the perfect white....I am currently revamping my wardrobe as I approach 50 and find this useful! For me, a basic needs some jazzing... but maybe I am more like a hybrid - as if Lily Pulitzer and Calvin Klein had a love child...

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    1. Yes, I have so many things that I don't feel like me in or are too tight, but I've been ruthless recently. Love your love child, it's all about what works for you!

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    2. I agree, if you don't feel yourself in button down, pencil skirt or jeans it is not for you no matter what anybody says. I think a shell is perfectly good substitute for button down and ivory for white if this suits your skin tone better.

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    3. AJC - I was channelling you yesterday - I went to one of my favourite stores and bought two lovely black suits on sale - one was an all season wool by Judith and Charles and the other was a linen blend by Elie Tahari. Both were an excellent price, but more importantly, both fit and looked fantastic....So yes, basics are good if they are good quality!!!!

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  2. This is so interesting to think about! I am definitely more like your mother in sartorial preferences. I tend toward the quirky-feminine side of Anthro, and I adore pattern mixing although sometimes I just throw together three solid colors at random from my closet. Today it's a teal cotton knit dress, navy leggings, and a peach JC cardi--super easy and still feels like me because of the bright colors.

    The difficulty is that I still want to mix in some basics with my crazy pieces, so I have to shop both spectrums, and that puts me in danger of buying basics that I never wear. I finally purchased a JC double-serge cotton pencil skirt this year, in a great color, but it always feels too crisp and formal for my style.

    So yesterday I purchased something on the far other end of the spectrum: a double-layered Indian silk wrap skirt in teal and cobalt blue (two different, equally intense prints). I have a similar skirt in blue and gold patterns from years ago and I still love wearing it--and get compliments on it every time--so I know this will be a good purchase, even though the style is distinctive and not easily remixable.

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    1. keilexandra, I love when people rock the quirky-feminine side and I think what is quirky for some may be basic for someone else.
      I thing it all depends on what you like and reach for a lot. If you wear smething every week then I think this is your basic, be it mixed print skirt or a simple white t-shirt.

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  3. I agree,great post ajc!
    It is so funny i always try to be "cheap" with basics and splurge on the special pieces,but the basics are also worth good money because i wear them every day.
    On my to buy list are some navy and white tees,but it is so much more more fun to buy exciting things.

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    1. I do think that basics are def. worth the money but it sure is more fun to buy special pieces.

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  4. Ah, this is what I love too, I think so many people buy too much stuff, rather than honing their style.
    It just seems a never ending cycle of consumerism and they rarely look good, it's just all about the newest buy and the thrill of the new.

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    1. I lov ehow you can really pair down your wardrobe, I don't think I could do it. I want to break the cycle and I have been buying less but there is always something new on the horizon even when I think I am completely done, it is maddening.

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  5. Love the styles, especially the navy and yellow!

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    1. Thanks Tammy, our favorite colors in action!

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  6. I kind of hate shopping for basics, with the exception of the white tee. I would like to find tge perfect white tee but I also know that white things don't last long so I am hesitant to put a lot of money into it. As of late I found that the Loft is one of tbe best places for (cheap) basics. I also had a phase where I was obsessed with finding the perfect white shirt but then I realized that don't wear them that much so I prefer to invest in the wow pieces now.

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    1. You are right Ema, spending too much time on finding perfect basics is also not wort the time and money. I try to reconcile myself with th efact that white need frequent replacing and just budget for it, they don;t last, it is like getting haircuts.
      Have to check out Loft, once the cut is good I don;t think there is difference in quality, be it J.Crew, loft or Target.

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    2. You are right Ema, no point spending your life searching for perfect basics, lol.
      I have to check out Loft, I believe that once the cut is good, the quality is the same, be it Loft, J.Crew or Target.

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  7. Food for thought. Very interesting because I would never think of you as someone who loves basics from the outfits I see you post and how you put stuff together. Didn't you say once that you get bored easily so you don't invest in basic pieces and prefer to follow trends.

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    1. It is always interesting how other see us and it is often very different from the way we see ourselves..
      I think what you refering to is when I said I don't believe in (expensive) investment pieces because I don't believe anything is truly classic and cuts always change. In theis post I meant to say that basics are foundation and that it is much easier in incorporate more quirky/trendy/colorful/etc when you have them as a canvas, not that this is all that I would like to wear.

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  8. I like having my version of wardrobe basics (more casual than yours), but finding exactly right things takes too long and then it bothers me that I've spent so much time looking. The irony is that looking effortless takes so much effort! It is those just-right basics that I always reach for, though.

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    1. You areso right cate, looking effortless sometimes takes so much effort, lol.

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  9. I'm like you, girl - a fun top or printed skirt? I'm all in. A white button-down because I need one and it'll actually be a piece I could wear forever? Ehhh ...

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    1. ikwym lisa! But you know what, some of the 'fun' pieces arethe ones that I wear year after year especially if they are not very trendy, just somethind that really appeals to me.

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  10. Great post, you look wonderful in your basics and the outfit with the pencil skirt and blue linen shirt is my favorite of the ones you've shared. I'm all about the classic pieces and buy the best I can afford. By best I mean best fabric, best construction and best-fitting for my figure. I agree with you that simple can be better and it is about looking and feeling good, whatever that means to you.

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    1. I have learned from you to look more at the construction and fabric quality and sometimes really all we need is a great fit and comfort, these are the best basics and I am now more willing to spend a little more for them. I used to hate the fact that simple white shirt or black skirt costs me more that the more exciting print, now I don't mind so much.

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  11. If you have planned to shopping cashmere clothing, I am generally happy with The Cashmere Gallery products. They are one of the very few outlets and online shops that offer 100% Pure Cashmere Clothing their range includes Cashmere Cardigans, sweaters, pullovers, stoles, capes & scarves for men and women. The quality of the cashmere is very high and finishing is very good. i would definitely shop here again and recommend them

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  12. i loved this post - i have a mix of basics and prints. but you are right, you need a foundation of solids and neutrals so the rest can play together. i love solids as much as prints. i love these outfits. xox P

    phiphisblog.com

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