What’s wrong with essentials?
Absolutely nothing.
Essentials in the wardrobe are not dull, don’t have to be boring and are not there to define our signature style; they enhance it, make it happen.
I rely heavily on essentials and as I describe my style often as, “classic with a twist”; I think of my wardrobe as “essentials with a twist”.
Essentials, when we talk wardrobe, are very personal and unique.
A list of “must-haves” should never be the same for every woman. Simply because my closet contains a rainbow of trainers I consider to be crucial doesn’t mean another woman isn’t as connected to her ballet flats. It’s the same for tees and shirts. Some women would only wear a button-down shirt and never a tee; I am forever searching for the fabulous tee to wear with my outfits.
The answer is to create our essentials list – draw inspiration from others and adapt to what suits our body shapes and our lifestyles. Don’t like a leather jacket look? A cropped jacket in a fabric that suits is equally as useful and can do the same job. Never wear a little black dress? Swap the idea for a pair of tuxedo trousers or a bias midi skirt and slim-fitting top.
Essentials are about us and we can lose this notion when we try and follow too many “official” lists.
The wardrobe basics change.
Pieces can do their work and then cease to be effective. Essentials can change with the season, with the years and they change with our moods.
My body is not the same as it once was – it’s not the same as it was last year, let alone ten years ago – different pieces work better for me now than they once did. Working changes the list. I am more dressed up and yet need the freedom of movement to type and sit at the desk on a daily basis. Dresses are so much more important to me now than they were and therefore the LBD is one of my top essentials. I can work and play without having to change in between, that’s a win/win.
A suit is still very much a part of my go-to but it needs to be a versatile version I can mix and match. I can’t sit and work in a stiff jacket all day; it is too restrictive unless it is a squishy fabric. I’m thinking of adding a soft suit as an essential. Simply a new version of what was included before as my easy dressing.
How far do we go with essentials?
What constitutes essentials? I think it is any piece or accessory to be worn on a regular basis. It’s the sweater or blouse you reach for without hesitation. The dress you can style without looking in the mirror and the one you settle on for a hard day. An essential should provide all the self-confidence in the world.
The spend?
How much should we spend on our essentials? I consider them on an investment basis by cost per wear. If I wear them regularly then these key items are worth the spend. They must be well made to last and trends should not be confused with fashionable. Celebrating fashion in a unique way does not have to be here today and gone tomorrow. If we invest it is worth looking after our clothing and accessories with regular maintenance.
Redefining our essentials is as much about knowing who we are as it is about looking inside our wardrobes.
If we know us then the choices become easy; choosing is fast and furious when our self-awareness and self-confidence are intact. xv
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image, patrick demarchelier
