There is a lot of stuff in my closet I never wear. I shudder to think about the money I’ve wasted on clothes that are not particularly flattering or truly my style. Occasionally though, I do good. I’m realizing that there are a hand full of items I use again and again. Today I’m taking a closer look at them to help me suss out my true, every day style.
My wardrobe top 10:
1-Paige Jeans: I’ve worn my Paige Hidden Hills bootcut jeans too many times to count. I recently added the Skyline straight leg jeans to my Paige collection and I’m loving those as well. I use to wear Joe’s jeans all the time but I’m finding that the Paige’s are more slimming and leg lengthening.
2-Juxtaposition bootiesaka Antelope 792 boot: No other shoe in my closet has been worn even close to as many times as these booties. I wore them all over Germany, all over Paris. They are my go to shoe because the heel gives me a little height and they are extremely comfortable.
3-Jackie cardigan: Whenever I need an extra layer, I throw on my navy jackie cardigan. I also have jackies in coral and bright blue but the navy goes with everything. I wanted all of the jackie colors but J.Crew broke my heart by changing the sizing. Even the XS is now too big and boxy on me. This navy jackie is a size small and I’m guessing it’s from Fall 2007.
4- Grey shawl collar cardigan: When it’s too cold for my Jackie cardigan, I wear J.Crew’s Dream shawl collar cardigan. I throw this sucker on multiple times a week in the AM when it’s still chilly. It’s held up surprisingly well for Dream yarn.
5-Black skinny jeans: When I have a top that needs help, because it’s boxy or top heavy, I pair it with my Martin and Osa black skinny jeans. These are the only skinny jeans that do not make me feel hippy, they’re magic. It’s a shame that M+O are going out of business. I don’t think any skinny jean is built for comfort, so I don’t wear these if I’m just lounging around. But I do wear them for going out and wore them almost every day in Paris.
6- Striped tees: My name is Shannon and I am a striped t-shirt addict. I cannot get enough of them. In fact, I just bought another one at Target over the weekend. I now have 3 navy and white striped tees, 1 papaya and white, 1 black and white tneck, 1 grey and black cowlneck, and probably more. Dh laughs at me every time I bring home a new one.
7-Cashmere sweaters: If it’s remotely cold and I can’t be bothered to figure out what to wear, I am going for a cashmere crewneck tee. My favorites are still from J.Crew despite their piling issues. You just can’t beat their colors and the fit is great as long as I wash them after 2 wears. My collection includes red, peony, and light aqua so far. I only buy them on super sale.
8-Belts: In the last year I have discovered the magic of a belt. Brightly colored skinny, medium width rough leather, and a wide elastic waist cincher are my favs. Being short means I am easily over whelmed with layers or boxiness. Tying it up with a belt really helps define my proportions. I do find that I need to keep the rest of my accessories to a min when wearing a belt. I just can’t make a belt and a statement necklace work together. I look weighed down.
9-Chie Mihara heels: Oh how I love my Chie Mihara heels. I cannot pick just one pair. I have 3, the black d’orsays above, a cognac maryjane, and the grey peep toes below. Chie’s are quite expensive and come in some really funky styles. So I am very selective about buying the classics with a twist that I can wear for years and only buy them on sale. The leather is amazing. So soft that I can wear even a peep toe for hours, where as most heels tear my toes to bits.
10-Marc by marc jacobs bag and wallet: I’m not much of a bag collector. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE handbags and admire them all the time but I never suck it up and buy one. For me a bag is an investment. It needs to be perfect. Versatile but unique. Not the black that I already have but not a color I’ll get sick of either. I paralyze myself every time. And so, I stick mainly to my MbMJ Posh punk. It’s black in a simple shape. Comfortable on my shoulder but I can carry it in my elbow too. The leather is super soft but holds up to being thrown under a table or on a park lawn. It’s constantly in the rain but doesn’t have a spot on it. The bag is pretty basic from the outside but inside it’s a crazy punky pink. It suits me perfectly.
My wallet is the MbMJ pink totally turnlock. It holds all my junk and since it zips up I sometimes use it as a clutch. It matches the lining of my bag but not on purpose. I don’t normally like matchy matchy. I carry my black bag with all different shoes and like it better when they don’t match. I think I bought the wallet first and then the bag was a gift from dh. I make an anti-matchy exception for the pink explosion that is the inside of my handbag.
They don’t really fit in with a top 10 items list but I also want to mention my love for Anthropologie knit tops. The rest of my wardrobe is pretty basic. It can get down right boring and feel like I have nothing to wear. But my growing collection of Anthro tops save the day. They are easy to throw on but the fabric and details make them interesting. An anthro top is an outfit unto itself. Of course since their unique, you need a variety of tops and this isn’t the smartest shopping strategy. But more and more I realize it works for me, as long as more often than not, I have patience and wait for a sale.
After putting together my wardrobe top 10 my style is pretty easy to pin point. Casual and feminine with a little something extra. Be it a neon belt, a funky shoe, or balancing out the frou frou with lots of black.
It comes down to:
Great fitting jeans
A variety of cute and comfortable knit tops
Cardigans and sweaters in navy, grey, and a few fun colors to break up monotony
Simple belts in a variety of colors
Unique but versatile shoes with a 2″ to 3 1/2″ heel
Basic black bag with an edge.
I’m going to try and focus of buying more of these items and less of the kind of thing that is gathering dust in my closet. This post has also giving me an handbag epiphany.. It’s okay to buy another black bag. Because that’s what I love and use. Why buy a colorful bag that only goes with a few outfits. Rebecca Minkoff’s black MAC with gold hardware has been calling my name for ages. I think I will start saving for her.
I would LOVE to hear your Wardrobe top 10 and how you think it reflects your personal style.
I love all of your outfits and that bag is gorgeous!!
That bag! OMG I love it. Have you ever posted a pic of you wearing it?
Thanks Felicity!
Sarah- Here’s an old ootd http://www.wardrobereview.com/2009/01/29/ootd-dream-tie/
Great post! I always love hearing people’s “wardrobe staples”.
I’ve lost quite a bit of weight lately so I have been really trying to focus on what I love and what suits my style in re-building a wardrobe. I agree with so many of your essentials! I love my jeans – I also used to wear Joes but got a pair of J.Brand and love them even more. Ditto on the bag, I have one that is a fawn color for the spring/summer and a large vintage black frame bag for winter, thats pretty much all I carry now. Cardigans are essentials, I like the longer boyfriend style for throwing on over dresses and such. Speaking of dresses, I love them! I didn’t realize how much until recently so I’ve been slowly adding to my “collection”. Swingy skirts also rank pretty high, I’ve been wearing them a lot and since I live in a pretty warm climate with a looong summer dresses and skirts are very practical as well. I grew up in Portland so I tend toward your layered style and I’ve had a hard time adapting it to such warm weather. I think I’m getting it now
Can’t wait to hear what everyone else will add!
Loved your post. I am over 40 and really have started to think about what I feel the best in. I too shutter to think of the clothes in my closet that I do not wear but hesitate to get rid of.
The staples you listed are really good and I like the idea of a great knit tee to spice up and outfit. A knew idea to consider. Also, I agree about the Jackie cardigan. I recently bought one in pink frost, xs, and was disappointed about where the should seam hit (on my arm, not shoulder?!) Did like the length though. Anyways, can you or someone comment on the j brand and paige premium jean. I would love to know about the rise and inseam (I too am vertically challenged). I am a little too old for low rise and lately been craving mid rise. Also, how do you guys wash your denim-inside out, gentle cycle, cold cold water, line or delicate dry etc? Is there a way to help perserve the color?
Great post Shannon. I am a huge Chie Mihara fan and have the Dura and Orinoco sandals in your post as well a few others. The most comfortable heels a gal can ever own and they are so well-made that they will last for years.
Too bad about the Jackie sizing, I don’t know what I’d do without my twinsets. Love the cardigans but also the shells alone, as a top, as a vest over a button-down or as part of a twinset. I mix and match the colors as well. One of the best values in my closet on a cost/wear basis. And I also own quite a few striped tees, picked up one at TH last week.
I’m still looking for the perfect jeans, ones that would give me a bit more curves. I’ll have to be more adventurous in that department this year.
It’s always interesting when one stops to think about what really works, rather than desiring pretty things that don’t work with one’s own personal style or lifestyle. I should probably take some time and edit my closet, now that you’ve given me inspiration.
Great post, Shannon! I laughed at loud at your Striped Tee Anonymous statement! Here’s my Wardrobe Top Ten, which is mostly focused on career clothes, since I invest most of my wardrobe $$$ in pieces I can wear to the office:
1. Cardigans (cashmere, merino, and Jackie’s): call me Cardigan Girl. I am not a big fan of suit jackets at work. I work in a fairly formal office at a university, but I find that I can still look pulled together and professional in a nice cardigan with a pencil skirt or pants. I have an embarrasing amouont of cardigans…seriously, I need a program…I like cardigans with subtle embellishments (ruffles, beads, etc.) and in unusual colors and knit patterns. But, the Jackie is my all-time favorite, although I’m not happy about the change in sizing over the past couple of years. Favorite brands: J. Crew, Anthro, Ann Taylor, Boden
2. Striped tees: I need a program for this one, too. LOL! Love them under cardigans. Boden has wonderful striped tees.
3. Pencil skirts: these play a major role in my career wardrobe. I like them with cardigans, of course, and pull-overs. Not a big fan of blouses tucked into skirts as they make my chest look too huge. Don’t need any help with that!
4.Silk and cotton camisoles/tanks: completely addicted to these. Cannot have enough. Brands: J. Crew, Anthro, Boden
5. Wool pants from J. Crew and Ann Taylor
6. Leather tote bags from J. Crew, Coach
7. Franco Sarto and Kenneth Cole leather flats and semi-heels. I walk around a huge campus a lot, so I cannot wear heels above 3″, sigh.
8. Colorful scarves. Current passion: stripes!
9. Gemstone jewelry. My own and older J. Crew
10. Matchstick jeans and cords for weekends: J. Crew, M + O, Levi’s
Great idea for a post. I need to join the Twelve Step Program for striped tees too. They’ve been hard to find in the last few years so I’m amassing a collection now for the lean shopping days that are sure to follow them becoming a trend.
After reading Nothing to Wear, I realized how much I avoid replacing basics for statement pieces and then don’t have enough mix and match pieces.
I bit the bullet this spring and bought three pairs of pants from Crew and AT (120s and the new work cut at AT) and three Jackie cardigans that can serve as jackets for me at work plus some black, white and navy tees. I’ve been shocked at how many outfits I’ve been able to make with those very basic purchases. Best of all, they’ll carry me into fall when it will be time to buy more fun tops, skirts and dresses.
I too am a huge lover of belts – the neon skinnies, the thick black cinch — it such a wonderful accent piece to wear!
And striped tops I have avoided like the plague for years, until one day I felt a desire to buy one, and now I have four. And three striped skirts.
And how I would love a pair of Chie Mihara pumps, but they are just so expensive!!
I love this post, Shannon. Like another poster, I am 40ish, and am ruthlessly going through my closet. Yes, it is painful to look at the $100+ purchases that have never been worn, but I’ve accepted that’s part of life. Styles change, sometimes we shop for the wrong reasons, etc. A couple things I’ve learned: don’t buy something that doesn’t fit well; don’t buy something on sale that you wouldn’t consider paying full price for (in other words, make sure you aren’t buying it just because it is a great deal).
One thing that hasn’t been mentioned is jackets. You probably noticed, Shannon, how Parisian women all have a well-cut, great fitting jacket that is their go-to piece (no matter that the color or pattern clashes with whatever else they are wearing!) I would say that jackets are the staple of my wardrobe, and they are one of the only things I will snap up at full price on rollout day.
Other than that: great boots; great jeans (the JCrew matchsticks work well on me); cashmere turtlenecks; Hermes scarves (worth every penny); knit tops (yes, I am a stripe addict too!); belts of all shapes, sizes, and colors (this is the one purchase I’ll break my rule on. I’ll try anything fun when it is under $20 and there is an extra 20% off on the JCrew site); pencil skirts; costume bracelets (the blingier, the better!)
It has been a lot of fun to read other’s comments. Keep up the great work, Shannon!
Thanks for your comments ladies, it’s fun to read your lists!
Stacie- I’m jealous of your skirt style! I keep trying to wear more skirts and dresses but it just doesn’t feel like me.
Josie- I don’t have any Jbrands right now but the Paige hidden hills I wear all the time have a 9″ rise and the Skylines a 8.5″. I hate jeans that are too low. Both have pretty long inseams, so I have to get them hemmed.
I wash all my jeans in cold, extra gentle, and then dry on low. I’ve heard you can add vinegar to the wash to preserve a dark rinse but I haven’t tried it yet
Elizabeth- Oh yes, I LOVE jackets. I’m still searching for the perfect one
Awesome post, Shannon! You have some fanTASTIC pieces! I am a stripe addict too—is that Target top a Rodarte, cuz mine is too and I love it! And I thought I was the only one who noticed the change in sizing of JCrew, though oddly enough the cashmere cardis (non-Italian) at our JCrew Outlet are sized a bit smaller. I have a ruffle cardi from JCrew.com that is big on me, but I would rather not return it.
My Top 10 but in no permanent order:
10. Below-knee brown boots from Target
9. Red/white polkadot espradilles from JCrew, Spring 2007(?). GAWD I’m so glad I bought these—haven’t seen any like this in this quality! A true test of quality: got caught in a downpour with these, and they still look and feel great!
8. Blue/white Rodarte striped top from Target
7. Dark-rinse trouser jeans from Banana Republic
6. Denim pencil skirt from Gap
5. Schoolboy blazer in navy, from Gap
4. faux-leather moto jacket from FXXI (wish I could afford the leather from JCrew!)
3. Red stripe breton top from Zara
2. Metallic silver snakeskin-print skinny belt, from Wilson’s leather (on clearance before the store went out of business!). Goes with formal, casual, spring, summer, fall, etc
1. Last but not least: Bracelets and bangles. It’s my signature. I am wearing to death my braided leather cuff from The Pleasure Chest (Chicago location).
I have a question that I’m wondering if you could shed some light on. I’m looking for a new pair of designer jeans, and right now I wear Citizens of Humanity (Margo — I think Ingrid is what I would buy if I bought another pair). I think they fit wonderfully, but I want to try a new brand and your Paige jeans look like they might be a good cut for me. I can’t find a retailer nearby who stocks them, so I was wondering what you think — 26 waist, 36 hips, shortish legs/long torso, and as I said Citizens fit really well but Sevens don’t (the pocket sits way too low). Any suggestions?
Great list Bibi!
MwP- Sounds like we are a similar build, same waist and hip, except I have a short waist. The hidden hills and skylines fit me great. Like you, the pockets on 7s are always too low for me. I have a pair of citizens that fit well. I can’t remember the name but they are the straight legs. I think you would like the paiges! I get my regular size 26 and had the waist taken in on the hills just so I didn’t have any leaning over gape
Thanks, Shannon! I was leery of buying a new brand online, but it sounds like Paige might work out really well. I just found a pair of Hollywood Hills on Tobi for $107 — I think I’ll bite!
That’s a great price! Did you size up? I read on revolve that the Hollywood hills run smaller than the hidden hills. I haven’t tried them yet though. I’d love to know what you think of the fit when they arrive
I didn’t size up, but I was trying on Citizens and Sevens last week and was a 25 in some and a 26 in others, so I just went with the 26 figuring it would be okay. Hopefully they’ll fit! I realized after the fact that I accidentally bought the EXTRA-LONG cut (I think that’s why they were discounted — I found a similar price on several other sites for the 36″ inseam, but somehow I just didn’t notice that Tobi’s were also extra-long!) which is kind of hilarious because I wear about a 32.5″ inseam.
I’ll have to get them hemmed; hopefully it won’t do excessively weird things to the proportions of the leg opening!
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