The everyday wardrobe essentials everyone needs in their wardrobe #capsule
It’s a new season and it’s time to think about what you need for spring summer.
But as I pondered on what to include in the spring wardrobe checklist it occurred to me that it would be best to start at the beginning. The basics. The staples. The core pieces you should have. The building blocks.
Only then when you are sorted with updated classics ( that will work across the seasons) can you think about adding a few the extra stand out, jooshy pieces for summer.
These are not the new pieces in your wardrobe but rather what you should already have !
After all the FiFi philosophy is about updating classics right? So let’s start there.
Here’s the 10 key core pieces every wardrobe should include ( probably should call this a capsule wardrobe ??!!)
Blazer:
What you need: A camel or brown and a black blazer. It should be oversized (that’s normal now right?). It should be big enough to sit across the ( muffin) situation when it’s UNDONE. Slouchy cut means you can wear it like a cardigan almost on your shoulders. It looks low key casual ( as opposed to a tailored tight corporate blazer)( will look silly with jeans on the weekend right?) It might have serious shoulder pads.. It might have a nipped in waist. Camel or brown is your first choice then black is good with jeans. Buy here and here.
Jeans:
Where do I start? So many jeans shapes, so little time. Haha. This is what you should have if you love jeans:
A straight leg ( the new style after years of wide leg, it looks new now.) , mid rise but not tight. These. Or Here.
But don’t worry wide leg are not going anywhere. These are good and on sale .
Don’t talk to me about skinny jeans haha ( my take? Yes, they are slowly coming back but if you wear them now you will look like you never stopped wearing them . This is not good).
Barrel leg , which to me are the best. Because they are best a bit shorter , good in summer ( Not pooling over shoes like the long long wide jeans) but they are baggy but not too wide leg but skim over the hips. Yes ! Buy here. ( go up a size)
Loving dark denim ( with turn up like this)(I’ve ordered, I’l let you know) as it’s a little more polished.
I have jeans in white, light blue, brown and grey and I wear them all on rotation.
A white T shirt :
A classic that always needs updating. Right now it’s about baggy roomy tee.. A round neck. Which you can wear tucked in , and on its own without a jacket it should look good. Of course with all the baggy jeans and pants around a tighter neater tee like this ( I have so many!) works well too but I usually wear those under a jacket . Also look for a shoulder pad or extended shoulder white tee which is perfect in summer.
SHOP Boxy tee and this is fab and shoulder pad tee.
The updated trench :
Obsessed with trenchcoats. A long, slouchy double breasted trench is almost normal now and what you should have (You should: I have been going on about that for about 7 years) . You want beige or camel or delicious chocolate brown. What’s new is the white or cream trench. (I haven’t worn a black trench for years !) Remember it doesn’t have to be raining to wear a trench. It can be summer coat. A shorter single breasted car coat is coming back like this but I’d invest in a long trench first. Buy here, here and here.
A crop/casual jacket ;
Jackets and shoes maketh the outfit. SO don’t stop at one jacket. You have the black pants/jeans and white tee but it’s the jacket that will take the oufit to the next level right?? It might a crop trench , it might be a denim jacket, it might be a barn jacket. It might be leather or suede. It might be a sporty track jacket with a funnel neck like this (Yes !)( I have).
It’s definitely not a blazer but it’s just thing going into summer when you want to look more laidback. And cool. Great for travel too. When a coat is too much, a blazer to0 chic, this is the one.
Black pants :
Again they are a core piece that need updating every few years. Handy.com. Black pants are such a wardrobe essential. One of my favourites I have wearing for about 5 years are from Oroton and still so right : High waist, pleat front with (almost) a barrel leg so they go in tapered at the ankle like this . Invest in fabrics that works across seasons. Light weight wool is great. Wide leg baggy black pants are great too. That’s because you can wear with sneakers and denim shirt for casual or with strappy heels and a pretty blouse for evening. These are great. , lululemon (YES!) have the best ones. Perfect for travel too.
Camel chinos:
These are PIVOTAL to your wardrobe. Camel pants are de rigueur.WHY? Because they are totally versatile working with all your black tops/jackets, all your white tops, all your brown tops. Sure you might have slouchy chic camel pants but I love cotton chinos because they look so laid back, like a denim jean only a bit jooshier. Wear on weekends with a white tee and white birks, with sneakers and cream oversized knit. BUT you also wear them for smart casual with a chic blouse and white strappy kitten heels. It’s the freshness of the cotton that is what you want. Can be wide leg or barrel leg like thes faaabulous ones from Uniqlo . Or these are fab.
The pretty blouse /shirt:
I am not really a fan of a white shirt per se. If they are cotton, only look good for a minute then look crushed. I never looked polished in a straight up white cotton shirt. I’ll go for a light blue/stripe. They always look good and the best way to get colour (!) into your wardrobe. A blouse like this however is another thing. It might be cotton with big poèts sleeves or it might be in a flouncy fabric with a high neck. A blouse works with jeans and chinos, under a blazer or trench, day to evening ….just by swapping shoes.
The cream knit :
It’s something I wear every day in winter, into spring/summer on a chilly summer night. White, cream or neutral is the way to go, looks so fresh, chic. Most importantly those non colours will slip so easily back with ALL your neutrals. It should be slouchy ( the new normal ), it might be poloneck, round neck. I have a few cream knits on rotation but I am finding a shorter length at the moment looks right with high waist pants and jeans. Less bulk to tuck in. Love this and this.
Black dress:
News flash: A black dress looks best in summer. Which is why I am including it here. There is something about a flash of skin with black in summer that works and looks so fresh and chic. Love a midi dress in a fit and flare shape , it will skim over the lumps and bumps ( I should know!) and yes look flattering ( which here actually means slimming)(which is not the end game but a by product.) this is great. If not a little black dress then a black midi skirt is totally versatile and will take you from day to evening, winter to summer .Here and here.
The bag:
You need two bags ( at the least !): a small chic cross body and a bigger tote style bag. Definitely in tan or choc brown. It will add a third colour to black and white. Add a contrast to denim, work with neutrals. White is chic. Black is always right but not as versatile. Might be in suede, might be in leather. I love a slouchy bag at the moment but in a big tote it can have some structure. Love this , this and this.
The shoes;
TBH White shoes are all I wear. Have you invested in white shoes? Then you know what I mean. They completely change the outfit. Lighten the look, add a sneaky fashion edge and add a contrast third colour. They are an instant wardrobe updater : Wear all your old clothes from last season then put on white shoes: It’s a bloody miracle ! Everything suddenly looks cool. Go on try it and tell me I am right ! I have on rotation : white mules, white pointy kitten heels, white ballets flats. For summer I have white strappy flats and heels. Also did you nab a pair of tan mules last summer? They are a fabulous alternative if you can’t do white. The black shoes I will wear? Toe thongs, flat sandals, and strappy heels. My picks here.
The sunglasses;
They can your look . I have these: Love them and I bought a second pair they are affordable. I keep one pair to wear to beach and another pair I keep pristine for every day.( I’m alway losing them) Go for a brown or tortoiseshell frame and lens. Black is great with all black outfits of course. I am hankering after these huge wrap around like these Bottega or similar. They’re an instant wardrobe updater.
Coming soon: All new pieces you can add to this list to joosh up your summer wardrobe. Because it’s about building a wardrobe of great pieces you can wear again and again. You’ll great mileage and great cost per wear. Better for your wallet, better for the planet.
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