Clothing essentials
I love lists like this, I can’t help it.**
According to Real Simple, the clothing essentials are:
- black tank
- crewneck sweater - thin knit in cotton or wool
- jeans that fit well, with a bit of lycra
- long-sleeve white t-shirt
- khakis (sorry, I don’t agree that these are essential)
- black turtleneck (cashmere if possible)
- white fitted buttondown
- long-sleeve black t-shirt
- neutral-color cardigan
- short-sleeve white t-shirt (buy cheap and replace often)
- black pants in all-season fabric
- denim jacket in slim fit, dark wash
- short sleeve black t-shirt
the “staples” (slightly less-necessary):
- wool skirt (probably A-line)
- black (pants) suit
- pin-striped oxford (update occasionally with a new color)
- Black shirtdress
- Silk blouse in a jewel tone
- Charcoal gray trousers
- Fitted jacket
- Unembellished camisole
statement pieces:
- printed dress
- patterned jacket
- bold blouse
- graphic sweater
- tweed pants
evening:
- velvet jacket
- party (cocktail) dress
- ruffled shirt
- cocktail skirt
- sparkly top (or satin/metallic)
- velvet pants (um, not for me)
Of these, I have 1 pair of jeans that fit these criteria, the short-sleeved black and white t-shirts (Target! Mossimo, I love you), the black pants (my favorite pair are about to wear out though), and a cocktail skirt.
And, their 4 colors that flatter everyone are: eggplant, true red, Indian teal, and a sort of light-pink/peach (Pantone 15-1515 TC). Hmmm.
O Magazine gives a different (and older, more conservative - although the article is titled “How Not To Look Old”) list of essentials in the January 2008 issue:
First, you should have a skirt suit that you can “unmatch” - something “modern, feminine, and superbly cut” in a “pepper-and-salt tweed that goes with everything, yet is far kinder to the skin than black or gray.” I love the suit but I hate all the things they choose to “unmatch” it with. So the idea is good, the details, not for me.
Their wardrobe essentials are:
- fitted trench coat in a wow color or fabric
- fitted winter and summer jackets
- crisp white ruffled blouse
- delicate camisoles in black, white, and cream
- black and white cashmere turtlenecks
- black and white cashmere cardigans
- cashmere v-neck sweaters in colors
- black sheath dresses for winter and summer
- tailored trousers in brown, gray, beige or cream, and black
- black straight skirt
- dark denim jeans
- black heels
- nude heels
- black and brown knee-high boots
- black and brown ankle boots
- classic watch with gold and silver chain links (nope)
- chunky chain necklace (yuck, this looks like my mom running for office circa 1988)
- chunky bangle bracelets (can’t see myself wearing these)
- diamond (real or fake) studs (hmm, Oprah/Africa/buy diamonds??)
- gold hoop earrings (silver is more my style)
- black, brown, gold and silver belts (I hate belts, they look bad on me)
- quality tote bag for books, magazines, newspapers
- quality leather bag for day
- sparkly evening clutch
Of these, I have the black heels, the black ankle boots, the (silver) hoops, plus the jeans I mentioned above.
Perhaps I will see if I can find some of these things that I actually would/could buy and wear… to be continued.
**Sassy magazine had a list like this way back in about, oh, 1991 that actually contained lots of things I did wear and want to wear, and was of course much less conventional than these lists. I would love to see it again.