5 Style Basics That Are Always In My Closet

5 Style basics that are always in my closet

I am, admittedly, not terribly stylish! I also hate shopping and find keeping up with trends exhausting.

My idea of style is built around simplicity, versatility, and comfort, which works well for my lifestyle as a working mom.

With the exception of a few of my college years when I spent more time and money in Forever 21 than I care to admit, I have always opted for a smaller wardrobe comprised of a lot of basics.

I have even toyed with the idea of creating a capsule wardrobe, but I can’t quite fully commit to cutting down on my graphic t-shirts and sweats. I consider what I have a quasi-capsule with pieces that transcend time and seasons, can easily be dressed up or down, and work well with a majority of other pieces in my closet, but it’s not quite as narrowed down as a traditional capsule.

Regardless, some of the items in my wardrobe are “classic” and have been staples of mine for a long time. Here are five style basics that are always in my closet:

Basic tees

A good, basic t-shirt can be so versatile! As I got older, I started to add more plain Ts to my closet for layering versus ones with graphic designs. I have been able to easily dress up basic t-shirts for work with trousers or a skirt and a sweater or some fun accessories, but I can also dress them down with jeans, sneakers, and a flannel or leather jacket.

This summer I found Amazon Essentials 2-Pack Slim-Fit Short-Sleeve Crewneck T-shirt and LOVE them! I bought a few sets to replace other styles of basic tees that I had, and I’m happy I did. They are really soft and comfortable!

I originally bought a size small that fit fine, but I later opted to buy the sets in size medium for a little extra room.

jeans you love

Jeans you love are imperative! I feel so much more confident when I have on a great pair of jeans that fit well, feel good, and flatter my figure. Buying jeans tends to be a trial and error thing for me, mostly because I am really self-conscious, but I have been having a lot of success with Old Navy jeans recently. I like to always have an awesome pair of jeans that can easily go from day to night or work to casual, which, for me, is a non-distressed dark wash.

I work in a professional office that allows us to wear jeans on Fridays. I love this pair of Old Navy High-Waisted Rockstar Super Skinny Jeans because the dark wash looks nice for the office, but they also look great when I’m in mom-mode.

I am typically a size 6 but have tried both a 4 and 6 in this particular style. The 6 is definitely more comfortable, and I’m able to put them in the dryer without fear of them becoming too snug.

A pair of chucks

I. LOVE. CHUCKS. Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Low Tops are my go-to casual shoes. I even got married in custom Chucks! I think this shoe design is perfect with a variety of looks, from jeans and a graphic tee to a cute spring/summer dress.

Converse offers so many colors and even allows custom designs through their website. With that being said, to help with versatility, I recommend a pair in a color that compliments your wardrobe color scheme or sticking to the basic black or classic white.

In my experience, this shoe fits true-to-size; I’m an 8.5 (US).

cozy cardigans

Who doesn’t love a cozy sweater?! In particular, I adore comfy cardigans. Keeping with the theme of versatility, a longer cardigan in a neutral color has the ability to be dressed up or down, making it perfect for a chill evening on the couch or to transform an outfit built with basics (i.e. over a classic tee with jeans or button-up shirt with trousers).

I have a few different brands of long cardigans currently in my closet, but this Long-Line Open-Front Sweater from Old Navy is by far my favorite. It’s so soft!

I usually wear size medium in tops, but with the open front I felt good about sizing down to a small because I have narrow shoulders. The small fits me really well!

basic black leggings

For about ten years now, a simple pair of black cotton leggings has been part of my wardrobe. I absolutely use these more so for lounging paired with my favorite crewneck sweatshirts, but leggings are also perfect with a tunic shirt or sweater and flats or booties at the office or when I’m running errands. For leggings with more weight, simply check out different fabrics. Regardless, everyone should have some leggings in their life!

I replaced my black leggings in the Spring with new ones from Old Navy — the Mid-Rise Jersey Leggings. Now, I’m not necessarily going to write home about the quality of these leggings. These are simple, cotton-blend black leggings that I primarily use to veg out around the house. These are great for what I’m looking for in my day-to-day life.

I usually wear size medium in bottoms, which is what I went with in this brand.

I am obviously not a fashion guru, but these five style basics that are always in my closet can be staples in anyone’s wardrobe regardless of lifestyle or budget.

To me, the important thing to remember about style is that it should reflect who you are. Society, especially social media right now, can make you feel pressured to dress a certain way or buy a specific brand. Wear what you love. Spend as much or as little as you want. Buy new or second hand. Just do you!

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Discussion

Let’s chat! What are some style basics you can’t live without? Do you have any pieces from your wardrobe that have been staples for years?