The Best Basics Aren’t Actually Basic

How to build a wardrobe that makes getting dressed easier, not more boring…

From the Writer's Desk

I have a problem with the way we talk about basics.

Every few months, another “capsule wardrobe” tells us we need a(nother) white T-shirt, straight-leg jeans, a black blazer and a neutral handbag and suddenly we have everything we need!...Right??? It actually sounds great… until you stand in front of your wardrobe and realise you own twenty versions of the same outfit and still have absolutely nothing to wear.

I actually think the best basics have a little personality. A little pizzazz.

My white tops rarely look like a plain white top. Give me shirring, an interesting neckline, a little volume, an unusual hem-line. My everyday jeans might have a cuff at the bottom or a wide balloon shape. Suddenly, before I've even added anything, the outfit has somewhere to go.

Then comes the fun part.

A belt changes the proportions. A necklace draws attention up. A hat can completely change the mood. Add a statement bag or a pair of earrings and suddenly your “white top and jeans” outfit has become something you actually thought about.

And that is the whole point.

Stop Underestimating the Styling

Having “good clothes” is one thing. Knowing how to put them together is another.

One of the easiest ways to make your wardrobe feel new without actually buying anything new is to start playing with the pieces you already own.

Wear your button-down backwards. Tie your scarf around your waist instead of your neck.

Layer a fitted top underneath a dress. Wear your favourite necklace as a chain belt. Put a brooch on a blazer. Throw a baseball cap on with something you'd normally consider “dressy.”

And don't underestimate jewellery. A chunky necklace can absolutely be an everyday piece if that's what feels like you. You don't need to wait for an occasion to wear the thing that makes an outfit interesting.

The best stylists do this constantly. They take familiar pieces and put them together in ways you didn't immediately think of.

That's the difference between having clothes and actually having a wardrobe.

Buy the Interesting Version

I'm also going to make a case for buying the slightly more interesting version of your basics.

If you know you live in white tops, find a white top with a detail you love. If you're always wearing trousers, find a pair with an unusual cut or waist band. If you practically live in sandals, choose a pair with great hardware or an unexpected shape.

Take this white blouse from Locale, for example. 

At first glance, it’s just a white top; something you could wear with jeans, trousers, a skirt, basically anything. But the lace detail and adjustable straps give it just enough personality to make it feel intentional. It’s still a “basic”. It’s just a better one! V Neck Lace Adjustable Straps Blouse

And the same goes for this sequined mini. The colours are pretty neutral, but the texture and shine gives it a point of view. You can keep the rest of the outfit simple and let the skirt do the talking. Mini Skirt with Sequins

That’s really the sweet spot I’m talking about: pieces that are easy to wear, but never feel like you picked them on autopilot.

And you don't need every piece in your wardrobe to make a statement. You just need enough personality in the wardrobe that getting dressed gives you something to work with.

Honestly, that's what I want from my clothes.

I want them to make me want to get dressed.

So the next time you're shopping for a “basic,” ask yourself one more question:

What would make this feel like me?

Start there. And thank me later.. ;)