Wardrobe staples: determining your must-haves
Lately, I’ve been thinking about staples — you know, those foods in your pantry that you can pull out in a pinch — bread, rice, pasta — all those things that supermarkets are struggling to keep on the shelves during COVID-19 life…Then I got thinking about wardrobe staples and realized that one way to think about your closet is like your pantry — it's critical to have your go-to staples ready for when you need them.
Wardrobe staples, on the surface, appear equally as boring as the pantry staples. When I work with clients to overhaul their closets, they always want the statement, fun, exciting pieces. While these pieces are important to show your style, the staples are just as important (or even more so). Staples are the pieces that you can layer, mix-and-match, accessorize, etc.
Since we are still living life mostly at home, now is a great time to define your style (or your future style) and refresh your closet with the staples that make up your style so you’re ready to go when we can resume a more ‘normal’ life. Below are my suggestions to guide your thinking.
Body shape + clothing material: your body shape and how you prefer to wear your clothes will help guide the material to look for in your basics — I personally like cotton because it is machine washable, breathable, etc (I line dry my clothes) but you might like a jersey or something with more stretch or even silk (there are some great washable silks these days). Consider your lifestyle and how you want these basics to look and feel before you buy.
Colors + season: white is more of a spring/summer color and light colors are more likely to be worn in warmer months. Similarly, black is likely to be worn more in winter and as a layer in autumn. When you’re editing your closet seasonally, think about what items need to be repaired/replaced or make a list of what you wish you had that season so you can prioritize your purchases and take advantage of sales when you can.
Brands + voting with your money: I like to spend my money with brands that are using sustainable production models and that are still affordable. This is where your personal style values come in — to guide your purchasing decisions. It isn’t always possible to buy from sustainable brands so these are just guides, not hard and fast rules.
Now, what are those staples that you really need? Well, it really depends on your lifestyle -- if you usually work in a corporate setting, your needs will be different. I started out to write this blog post to show you just how great ‘boring’ staples can be, and after three weeks of trying to finish the post, I’ve realized that wardrobe staples, unlike grocery staples, are the exact reason I started my own styling business — they are unique to each person and should be tailored for each individual. So, if you need help to determine your wardrobe staples, I’m here for you. If you’re interested in MY wardrobe staples, let me know — I’m happy to share in hopes that it helps you.