I’ve crashed out more times than I care to admit in the morning. It’s not because I’m not a morning person (though I’m really not), but actually because I get up early, I am ahead of schedule, everything is looking bright, and then bam: I have no idea what to wear. After throwing every single piece of clothing I own onto the floor in a fit of rage, I always seem to gravitate towards creating an outfit with the same few items.
So, here is a list of my top 10 staple items every woman needs in her closet to help save money, time, and frustration.
- A Plain white tee: Not talking about the “Hey There Delilah” music group here. Rather, I’m talking about your basic, simple, plain white T-shirt. I have an issue with buying loud, colorful pants and then have no shirts to style them with. You know what comes in handy then? You guessed it, my plain white tee; it’s probably the most worn top I own.
But, be warned, not all plain white tees are created equal. I would steer away from shirts on Amazon or other mass selling websites. In my experience, shirts bought from there, though cheap, tend to be sheer and thin. I recommend investing in a high quality T-shirt, since you’re going to be wearing it non-stop. - A black mini skirt: Night out to the bars? Black mini skirt. Going on a dinner date? Black mini skirt. Day trip to NYC? Black mini skirt. A black mini skirt is a classic and timeless piece that will surely never go out of style. It’s the perfect base to layer on an eclectic-inspired outfit – like a 70s faux-fur, oversized coat or 90s grunge ripped tank. Regardless of the occasion or dress code, a black mini skirt always has your back.
- A Colorful blouse: If you’re feeling like your outfits are giving a sad beige baby, purchase one colorful layering item like a blouse or cardigan. Keep it solid: a solid color is so much easier to style over a crazy pattern. I love throwing on my yellow (my favorite color) blouse on top of a black-on-black outfit to give less funeral and more sunshine.
- Knee-high, heeled boots: Knee-high heeled boots are the perfect way to make any outfit go from casual to elevated with no effort. You can pair these boots with dresses, skirts, or even layer them under super wide leg jeans (I do this all the time because my jeans are always too long on me). I recommend keeping the color of these boots in the neutral range – beige, brown, black, or white – to ensure you can pair them with virtually every outfit you put on.
- Tights: It’s cool to wear tights! In the 2010s there was a weird stigma that arose around tights for some reason. Luckily, tights are coming back in style which is great news for us east coast girlies. Not only do tights keep you warm, but they can also provide an outfit with a much needed solid or basic, especially when we are layering tons of clothes and accessories in the winter months.
My favorite “going out outfit” to recreate is with tights, my black mini skirt, and knee-high boots. I love mixing these three staples with different jacks, scarves, and tops to make unique outfits every time I go out without breaking the bank. - Blue jeans (not ripped): I reminisce on the days before I owned my favorite pair of non-ripped blue jeans when I would freak out because I had nothing to wear to a casual, yet classy event. I wear my non-ripped blue jeans all the time; they are another staple item that will go with anything in my closet and fit the vibes for a plethora of occasions. Blue jeans are the most classic, all-American fashion item that will absolutely never go away.
A quick note: make sure your staple pair of non-ripped blue jeans don’t teeter on the side of micro-trends. Stay away from any patterns on the pockets, anything super oversize or extremely low waisted; make sure they are basic and timeless as can be. - Neutral ballet flats: You cannot wear sneakers to all events. In the past, I remember having to borrow “professional” shoes from my friends and family because all I had was a pair of scuffed-up sneakers to wear to a job interview. Rather than taking everyone else’s shoes, invest in a pair of everyday ballet flats. Again, stay neutral to ensure you will never have to go shoeless to any professional networking event or interview again.
- A skin toned tank: When my aunt gave me a skin toned tank top in middle school I was really confused on why I needed it. This is my formal apology to my aunt. In all honesty, the quality of clothing items nowadays has decreased tremendously. I’ve ordered countless dresses, shirts, and skirts off of websites that are internet viral, but end up disappointed in the sheer quality of the clothing.
My skin toned tank saved me big time when I bought what I thought was the perfect 21st birthday dress. When I received the bright yellow mini dress in the mail, it turned out to be totally see through. So, I slipped on my skin tone tank and pulled it down to cover my entire body from chest to thighs. When I say this simple act took my 21st birthday dress disaster to an absolute home run, I mean it. - An oversized scarf: Living in the tri-state area means the winters are cold. But, being cold isn’t an excuse to not be fashionable. An oversized scarf, whether it’s colorful, neutral, patterned, or basic, will elevate your outfit beyond just a puffer coat. I love throwing on an oversized scarf before running out the door and even keeping it on to zhuzh up my outfit after I take my other layers off.
- A large tote bag: If your like me and carry around way too much stuff, you need an everyday tote bag that you can bring on a casual day running errands but also to a professional setting. Make sure to get a bag that is large enough to fit your laptop, but not so big that people will be wondering where you are going for the weekend. Bonus tip: look for a bag with a zipper closure, especially if you carry your whole life around in that tote.
