The other day, Lucky ran a piece with their
recommendations for nine wardrobe workhorses. That got me to thinking
about the workhorses in
my closet and what I’d recommend. Turns out that I don’t have
nine, I have seven, but like the Seven Samurai, they get the job done.
1 – A Striped Top
I love striped tops. I have several and I wear all of them all of the time. Striped tops are great because they manage to be classic without being dated. They also look good in every color on every build. And they’re very versatile; they can go dressy or casual and they play well both with solids and other prints. Whether the stripes are horizontal, vertical or diagonal, wide or thin, variegated or uniform, a striped top is a must-have.
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| Clockwise from top: J. Crew via Net-a-Porter, J.Crew, Madewell & Pim & Larkin via Piperlime |
I love striped tops. I have several and I wear all of them all of the time. Striped tops are great because they manage to be classic without being dated. They also look good in every color on every build. And they’re very versatile; they can go dressy or casual and they play well both with solids and other prints. Whether the stripes are horizontal, vertical or diagonal, wide or thin, variegated or uniform, a striped top is a must-have.
2 – Dark Pants
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| L to R: Ann Taylor, Vince Camuto and Gap |
You all know that I love my colorful pants. And my
printed pants. And my colorfully printed pants. But, the fact of the
matter is that I reach for my dark wash skinny jeans more than any other
pair of pants, except for maybe black leggings.
Fun pants are, yes, fun, but dark pants are more versatile and are
universally flattering.
3 – A Solid Dress
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| L to R: eShakti, Banana Republic & Old Navy |
I am a printed dress junkie, but even I have to
admit that they can be a bit difficult to style at times. A solid
dress, however, is so very, very easy. They’re easy to accessorize and
with the right accessories, easy to take from night to day. So,
whether you choose the always classic
little black dress, an au courant little white dress or a little colored dress, a solid dress will serve
you well.
4 – A Blazer
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| L to R: Gap, Aqua Girls via Bloomingdales & Target |
I have not always been on Team Blazer. I was a
card-carrying member of the Culver City Cardigans (not a real thing) for
years because I could never find a blazer that worked with my broad
shoulders. But, little by little I’ve built up
my blazer wardrobe and I don’t regret it. Yes cardigans are
comfortable, but blazers can be just as comfortable and have the added
bonus of looking a little sharper. And blazers aren’t all stuffy and
staid; you don’t
have to get a black blazer if you think it’s too boring. A white
one is equally versatile and printed and colored blazers are a great choice; they'll work well with those solid dresses.
5 – A Printed Piece
Some people are not comfortable wearing prints.
Even though I’m not one of those people, I understand it. Prints can be
a little too “hey, look at me!” for some people’s tastes. I get it. I
do. But, I still recommend a printed piece
as a wardrobe workhorse. It doesn’t have to be a big piece either; a
printed shoe is always fun. And scarves are easy ways to incorporate a print
into your look. Or, maybe a printed shell or a belt. Choose the piece you like
and use it to add some oomph to your solid
basics or even wear it with your striped top.
6 – A Colored Piece
Just as some people aren’t comfortable in prints, I know that some people are also not comfortable in color. And, again, I get it. But I still maintain that color can make you happy as long as you’re wearing a color that, well, makes you happy. So, find a color you love and buy something in that color. As with the printed piece, it doesn’t have to be anything major. That coral dress above isn’t for everyone, even people who like coral. But, a bit of color in a shoe, a clutch, a belt, a scarf, a ring, anything, can add a little zing to your outfit and a little joy to your life.
7 – Comfortable Shoes
I know this seems like an obvious inclusion on this
list, but hear me out. Everyone should have a pair of comfortable
shoes in their closet that are not tennis shoes, not flip flops and not
slippers. Notice I didn’t say a pair of comfortable
heels. No. I don’t care if you wear heels or flats or something in
between, as long as they’re comfortable. And I do mean comfortable; you
should be able to stand, walk and, if need be, run from zombies in these
shoes. And yes, boots are an option. My go-to
pair of comfort shoes are my Born Crown riding boots and I’d be lost
without them.
So, what about you, Reader Friends? What are your wardrobe workhorses?
Gracey** Disclosure: Actions taken from the hyperlinks in this blog post may yield commission/compensation for the writer. Please see the Disclosure tab for more details.
