“Closet staple” isn’t a term I throw around loosely. In order to be considered a true staple piece, the item has to be incredibly versatile but also be able to shine as the hero piece of the look. This look incorporates 5 true closet staples for me. Let’s look at each of those 5 pieces and why I consider each of them to fall under the “must buy” category.
The classic white button-down shirt. It’s a white button-down, duh. Every single person in the world probably owns one, right? Well, yes… But here’s the catch: it needs to be a fabulous white button-down shirt. What characterizes a shirt as fabulous, you may ask? Well it could be any (or several… or even all) of these characteristics: the fit is amazing, the fabric is lush, or there’s a twist on the classic style (such as fabulous detailed buttons, funky collar, etc.) The shirt I’m wearing in this post, I consider to be fabulous for two reasons: I adore the boyfriend fit and the fabric is incredibly lush (hello 100% silk!) This shirt is a staple piece because you could legitimately build about 1,000,000 different looks with it and never realize that it is in fact the exact same shirt in every outfit. Heck, just roll the sleeves up and it looks like a different top! I personally love a crisp white button-down shirt paired with a colorful skater skirt and a stylish updo… Timeless and always a chic look for so many different occasions.
Jeans that make your butt look great. This one is a must for every woman. There’s not much that’s less flattering than a pair of jeans with ill-placed rear pockets (you are picturing an unfortunate pair you’ve seen right now in your head, don’t lie!). They drag down (or even flatten) the appearance of any toosh, no matter how great it is. However, give a girl a great pair of jeans with the right fit, cut and pocket placement and she could seriously rule the world… Or at least turn a lot of heads on her way there! My one piece of advice when you’re jean shopping is: take your time. Don’t rush out with the first pair you try on just because you need a new pair. You know that feeling you get when you pull on your favorite pair of jeans? That feeling of confidence when you hear that little voice in your head that goes, “Yeah. Uh huh… I look good.” You should always have at least one pair of jeans in your wardrobe that gives you that feeling at all times. I don’t need to get into why great jeans are a staple piece because we already know the power of denim (am I right, or am I right?). PS- consider having a pair you love, that don’t fit perfectly, tailored. An extra $20 to have the perfect pair of jeans tailored to your body would be a game changer.
Nude heels. Now this one is important, so listen up. Nude heels are a must because there is no outfit on this planet that wouldn’t look fabulous paired with them. The most important reason to own a great pair of nude heels? Because they create the illusion of longer, slimmer legs. Again, there isn’t a universal pair that works for everyone (we’re all different skin tones). I recently saw this image from Christian Louboutin which I loved because it shows that there are other shades of nude out there, so your perfect tone is definitely available. PS- If you need a little help bronzing your gams before summer, this is my favorite way to fake a tan on my legs.
Beautiful handbag. In my opinion, every woman should have at least one beautiful handbag in her closet that she splurged on. A splurge isn’t a set amount. It should be a bag that when you look at it, you get the warm and fuzzies. When you see your splurge bag, you feel a tiny bit spoiled by yourself. That’s a great feeling… To feel as though you have this prized possession that you worked for and are proud to own. It should also be a versatile bag that can be carried every day, but also is pretty enough that it easily dresses up with your outfit.
A statement necklace. This doesn’t need to be a major investment piece, because jewelry trends tend to be just that… Trendy. Trends come and go with the wind, so I don’t like to invest big bucks in something that I wouldn’t consider to be a timeless style/piece. Bottom line is that you can splurge or save with a statement necklace and both will win every single time if you choose the right one. For this piece, I would suggest purchasing one in the basic (clear) crystal shade so it will go with everything. These necklaces are a staple because of their versatility. You can pair an amazing statement collar with a tee shirt and jeans and look so chic, then transition that same necklace to nighttime with a stunning cocktail dress.
What are you closet staples? I titled this post my Spring staples, but honestly these are staples for me all year long (duh).
What I’m Wearing:
IRIS AND INK Thea silk boyfriend shirt c/o // J. Crew Toothpick Jeans // JustFab Mavis Heels c/o; also have these heels and love them! // Zac Posen Eartha Leather Tote // Accessory Concierge Antoinette Crystal Collar c/o; also love this statement collar // Lauren Conrad Button Stud Earrings (ONLY $7!) c/o // Michael Kors Rose Gold Watch // Chloe Danae Sunglasses
Sizing Info: Wearing shirt in UK size 8, jeans in size 26 and heels in US size 7
Photography by Jana Williams.
Love your necklace!
http://thegirlfromconnecticut.com/