Wardrobe Basics

[kaitlinnegan]

I've been thinking a bit lately on the topic of wardrobe basics -- you know, the items that you come back to again and again because they seem to go with everything. I am very much lacking in this area. I'm contemplating a short list of basics that I would like to sew or buy in the near future - here's what I have so far:

1. Jean skirt - I don't currently have one that fits me, and it's always a nice "dressier" option than jeans when you don't want to dress up too much
2. White fitted button down shirt
3. Black dress pants
4. Black dress - I've been contemplating this one for a while, and I think this pattern will be it: New Look 6643, probably the V-neck version, making sure the V isn't too low. I'm not aiming for "little" black dress, but rather conservative and versatile black dress. Something I could wear to a funeral, a professional conference, a wedding (with accessories to brighten it up), whatever.

So, what are your wardrobe basics? Anything I should add to the list?

[Magot]

You need a jacket or shrug in there Kaitlin

[Bama]

Cute dress Kaitlin.

Khaki pants or a khaki skirt are a good wardrobe basic.

[LeapFrog Libby]

I stick to the old 3 pc. (weekender) they used to call it.. Jacket, skirt, and pants of a basic -and several tops usually prints that co-ordinate, and at least one of the tops that has a matching skirt. (translates into a dress, if needed.) They always added a sweater in case it was needed. I used a stretch lace bolero shrug instead. I had 2, 1 tan, and 1 lavender.

[DorothyL]

To quote someone but I can't remember who "You can never have too many white tops."
I feel the same way about black shirts, black pants and khaki pants.
Then you add tons of color with every thing else.
I make sure everything I make will work as part of three different outfits using my existing wardrobe.
What you are talking about is a "little black dress," I think. Be sure to use a versatile fabric. A crepe comes to mind. I love rayon but poly doesn't wrinkle as much. And line it!
Dorothy

[MartySews2]

I prefer navy, purple, plum and gray as basic colors along with black and red. I don't wear pastels very well. I cannot wear white very well. To me, a basic wardrobe would consist of several pairs of slacks, some skirts, tops and two jackets - one solid and one in a print that will go with the skirts and slacks. Check out the wardrobe plan sewing on artisan stitcher's guild for some inspiration.
Marty

[kaitlinnegan]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone - keep em coming! As for a jacket, I have something in mind - something in a black ottoman knit, but I haven't found the right pattern just yet. I have a jacket in the fabric (RTW) right now that is falling apart because I have worn it so much. I also have fabric for a tan pair of pants.

I guess my thoughts on these particular pieces is that they will be "constants" that I'll wear for many years, while the other parts of my wardrobe might be more trendy/casual/whatever. I don't need to dress up on a day-to-day basis, but when I do need to dress up it's kind of a fashion crisis right now. Hopefully I can change that soon..

[ninifav]

Shoes!! No matter what you make, the right shoes and/or heels can pull it all together....My second addiction after fabric collecting..Oh, and I didn't see any problem with Imelda Marcos and her shoe collection...hehe

[Sancin]

A classic blazer can be used to dress up or dress down and always looks good - in the ottoman knit?

Use a colour/design that will go with all - I tend to sway towards grey or navy. I like the colours Marty mentions and also do not wear white well, but do wear off whites. I think I just don't like bright white after a lifetime of wearing white uniforms. I absolutely refuse to wear white nylons when they were fashionable!! However, I do wear pastels well, year round as I am very fair skinned and have white hair. Dark, while striking, is just too harsh a contrast for me. I never wear any red. I may have dark skirts or pants, but the tops near my face are best in a lighter colour - some may find them dull.

I think when looking at a basic wardrobe you should consider, not just colours, but tones. eg. when I look at the classics and well worn items in my wardrobe I find I grab the the clothes that have grey/blue tones. I am comfortable in them. I have a few brown items and I rarely wear them, but I do wear taupe, not khaki or beige.

Consider texture of fabrics you like as well when planning your basics - what goes with what, what is soft and what is stark and what look are you going for and most importantly comfortable with. ..... comfortable in your own skin. I once had a very pricey and stylish winter leather coat. I found I wasn't comfortable wearing it even though told I looked smashing. Smooth leather just felt wrong in cold weather. I gave it to someone who adored it, tho it had looked better on me.

Shoes - sigh!

[Shellymoon]

I have several pairs of simple dress pants (two of them black) and several shirts that I can mix around with them.

You are right Kaitlin, black pants are an important part of any wardrobe. I also wear navy and chocolate brown dress pants as some of my core basics.

I'm also a big fan of the black skirt (I've got two). They work with most of the blouses I wear with my dress pants.

One thing that most people have in their wardrobe that I don't have much use for is a blazer type of jacket. First, it's too stinking hot where I live to consider a blazer most of the time. Second, I am large busted and blazers just look awful and third, I work in an office where we are allowed to dress business casual, more on the casual side than the business side, so my blazers are collecting dust in my closet. I do have a simple black, collarless knit jacket that works for me in place of the blazer.

The one basic I am missing right now from my basics wardrobe is a denim jacket! I bought one for my daughter a few years ago and had to order it directly from Levis. They are impossible to find in the stores, but my girl wanted one, so I sucked it up and ordered it online. She loves that thing, and it dawned on me that she'll be able to wear that jacket most of her life. Now that's a good investment