The new wardrobe basics
Every lady who loves fashion and style knows this unwritten rule of the wardrobe basics. In other words, those 7, 10 (some say 15) pieces that you will wear forever. The reason why I think these basics are so important is because of their practicality. I don’t necessarily agree with the fact that you should construct and develop your entire wardrobe around them. However, I will share here my choice of perfect fashion-proof pieces:
1. The trench coat. If you can’t afford Burberry, Zara does very good models. Always wear it open or with the belt tied in front and the buckle hanging loose. If you buckle it properly, wear pearls, your hair in a bun or a longer skirt you might as well never leave the house again. Major faux-pas. Just roll the sleeves and you are good to go.
2. The blazer. The best choice is YSL, of course. Black and as close to a man cut as possible. The blazer always receives a lot of praise, however I’ve seen the jeans+blazer+t shirt combination so many times that I can tell you it really is boring. If you are not into blazers and can’t really dig the Bianca Jagger look, replace blazers with boucle jackets. In any colour, with anything, at any time of the day.
3. La petite robe noir. All the great little black dresses are worn by Audrey in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Take inspiration from her and fill your closet with lots of them. However, you have to have at least one 60s minimalist black dress. Wear it with huge back sunglasses.
4. The navy cashmere sweater. Worn with black palazzo trousers. Or white jeans and gold jewelry. The navy sweater is also a good replacement of the tired old breton one.
5. The crisp white shirt. This, as the little black dress is a concept so feel free to have as many variations of the same theme as you wish. The perfect one is of course a man’s shirt but silk or sheer models, lace and pussy bows blouses are also lovely. My favourite look is a white shirt and..nothing else.
6. The perfect pair of jeans. You already know my feelings about jeans but I have to admit there are many women who love them and wear them a lot. Levi’s and 7 For All Mankind are always good choices for classic jeans. Light or dark blue are the most flattering shades, as for shape, the straight leg jeans never go out of style. White jeans in winter time with a chunky sweater is also a very stylish choice. Think rive-gauche Isabel Marant.
7. White tanks and t-shirts. Not my favourite items but they are indeed very practical. I wear them under sweaters or jumpers all the time but I wouldn’t wear a white tee with a blazer. Too boring. With beige pants and beige sandals on the other hand, the white tank works perfectly.
8. The wool trousers. Black or gray, perfectly tailored and worn with anything: silky blouses, cashmere sweaters, shirts, stilettos or boots.
9. Black, gray or navy to the knee pencil skirt. Carine Roitfeld is the queen of pencil skirts, no one does it better. Go for wool or leather and always pair a pencil skirt with sky high stilettos.
10. The cardigan. Gray, brown, camel or any other soft autumn shade. It should be long enough to cover your derriere and always cinched with a skinny belt. I love cardigans so much I wear them with everything and my latest favourite look is 70s slouch boots with midi skirts and chunky cardigans. DKNY does some of the best cardigans out there.
11. The statement coat. Think Anna Wintour and her investment coats that look like haute couture creations. Even if you choose a simple, black, camel or any other neutral color, the cut has to be impecable. Pay attention to the fabric as well and be prepared to spend more when getting a coat.
12. The perfect pair of black stiletto shoes. One word: Louboutin. The Pigalle model are an all time classic.
13. Shoes. Black ballet pumps, brogues, nude sandals, riding boots, I think these are the basics when it comes to shoes. No limit to the number of pairs. Indulge.
14. Bags. The small ladylike shoulder bag, the slouch leather Chloe everyday saviour, the elegant tote and the perfect jewelry clutch.
15. Jewlery. Keep it simple no matter what the trends are. Skinny gold hoop earrings, a beautiful watch, pearls, a vintage diamond ring and a precious necklace are always stylish pieces. You can play with a cocktail ring or statement necklace from time to time but jewlery look best when they carry a story. I always wear my small Tiffany’s heart because it was a gift from my best friend as well as my ‘Sabina necklace’ from my mum and my beloved vintage Tiffany’s ring that I found at a jewlery fair.
What I find even more important than having all these wardrobe basics is knowing your style. Maybe you are an Audrey girl, a Sienna boho chic gal, the American girl next door dressed head to toe in Michel Kors or the you prefer minimalist clothes. When you know your style you also begin to know the designers and brands that suit you best. But no matter what your style is, never let it become an uniform. Some fashionistas have staple looks and tend to always wear variations of the same thing but then again, Anna Wintour is in her 50s.
Always play and have fun with your outfits and let your imagination run wild. I dress according to my mood, a movie I saw and felt inspired by it, a new book I’m reading or a character I want to feel like on a particular day. Half of the time I am an Audrey girl but the rest of it I like to pretend I’m on the rive-gauche. Therefore I mix the Isabel Marant sporty and relaxed looks with a little Dior extravaganza and Chanel perfect cuts. And that’s just me.
