100 Stylish Basics Your Wardrobe Needs
It’s the first edit for 2023 and we’re going back to basics, quite literally. I was trying to differentiate wardrobe basics and classics in my head, and the best way I can describe it for you is to highlight that basics — the white tees and denim and functional underwear and plain separates et al — can be as trend-based as you like. They don’t need to stick to a certain silhouette or colour even, the just need to serve their purpose with minimal fuss, and work back with other items in your wardrobe with ease.
They’re the foundation pieces, the starting blocks, the layering gems, the hardworking, failsafe, reliable and essential items in your wardrobe that need to tick both function and form boxes. Here are my tips!
I update my white tees and tanks most season as even the most designer piece is prone to yellowing, stretching and getting those annoying little holes in them. As I’ve mentioned before, I don’t think you need to spend big bucks here. My favourite tanks and tees are all below by H&M, and always 100% cotton.
Buy your size, but also size up. Depending on what you’re wearing them with, T-shirts, singlets, and even jeans and shorts, can look just as good a size bigger, and even give an entirely different look altogether. If the price allows, I always buy two sizes and wear them in different ways, i.e. more slouchy tops go with streamlined bottoms, and vice versa.
Keep denim clean and simple. Personally, I’m over distressing, and I am wholeheartedly embracing the resurgence of clean denim, especially by the likes of old faithful Levi’s. Their 501 and 80s mom styles are so flattering.
Bye-bye logos. That relates to clothing as well as handbags. I really feel we’re (I’m?) moving past the hyped-up designer seasonal bags and moving towards simple styles that will last a lifetime. Shout out to brands like Demellier and Cuyana who make gorgeous designs at approachable price-points.
I’m evangelical about wearing the right underwear, borderline psychotic. My go-to smalls are the Flexifit non-wired bra by Marks & Spencer, the Caresse strapless bra by Simone Perele, I alternate between Skims, Nancy Ganz and Spanx for smoothing-underwear, and my everyday undies are always plain cotton G-strings and seamless briefs in nude and black. I can’t stand visible underwear lines and bra straps, but I know this is a totally personal preference, so as always, you do you!
White, black and cream are no-brainer colours for separates that work back with everything, but don’t dismiss grey! It’s been out of action for a few seasons now but is slowly making its comeback, and looks especially fresh when worn with denim.
Experiment with different necklines, especially when it comes to tanks and dresses. I’m a round-neck girl usually, but this season square-neck, and scoop-neck are having a moment and look sleek with a 90s twist.
Obviously, this edit reflects current season basics (Summer), and would be different for colder weather, but I’ve included some long-sleeved items that I thought were worth a click-through. Happy shopping!
