10 Classic Pieces of Clothing That Should Be In Your Closet Right Now
I love any time I get to talk about a classic wardrobe because I’ve spent a lot time — and continue to spend time — cultivating my own wardrobe, equipped with all the classic pieces I could ever need. It’s taken me a long time to even begin to get rid of all the pieces I had in my closet that didn’t work for me to find pieces that did work — and for multiple purposes.
I’ve looked towards bloggers, influencers, and guides to help me along the way, so here is my turn to share. Below I’ve curated a list of some of my favourite classic pieces, sure to be versatile, timeless, and and long-lasting.
1. White Button-Down Shirt
I have this exact shirt and LOVE it. I’ve struggled finding a perfect white button-down that is comfortable in all areas (i.e. no tightness around the arm or elbow) yet still proportional to my size. In other words, whenever I wanted to make sure I had enough room around my arms/on the sleeves, it became too loose around my waist. If I wanted the shirt snugger around the waist (i.e. slimmer fitting), it would be too tight around my arms.
However, I have found the answer in this beautiful white linen shirt from Reformation. Not only is it made sustainably and, thus, a low impact on your carbon footprint, but it’s flattering AF. Currently, I am wearing it with linen shorts with only two or three buttons done up and the sleeves rolled to about 3/4 length. For an even more classic look, you can wear them with high-waisted jeans or black trousers for more office attire, like you next co-op assignment.
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2. Black Mules
For the sake of these beautiful shoes, I’m including them as an article of ‘clothing’ because, in my eyes, they are entirely necessary to round out your classic wardrobe. Mules of any kind — heels or flats — are probably my favourite footwear. What’s even better about these beautiful shoes from Everlane is that they are Choose What You Pay right now, meaning you get to choose the markdown price you pay. I recommend these pointed toe flat mules because they are as versatile as they are sleek. You can pretty much pair them with anything and instant classiness.
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3. Strappy Sandals
The same sentiment above goes for these babies! Formal strappy sandals are very much in right now but these sandals, also from Everlane are like the little, more sensible sister of the sexy scrappy sandals with the same square toe. These are great, versatile shoes, perfect for any occasion. I would wear them with a blazer and mini skirt combo, a midi dress, boyfriend jeans, etc. The possibilities are endless!
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4. High-Waisted Jeans
You can’t go wrong with a pair of high-waisted jeans. Those below are the famous Levi’s Wedgie Icon fit, which hug in all the right places. Pair them with your white linen shirt, a simple white or black tee, or colourful top. You can’t go wrong with these jeans. I find that many jeans don’t fit my body type, but these ones are extremely flattering.
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5. White Blazer
I love a good white blazer; it’s sleek, modern and classic. The blazer below is from Zara and has rolled sleeves, making it look less formal and more casual, with a lapel collar and front flap pockets. I had never really liked wearing blazers because I had the same problem with comfortable fit, like with my linen shirt above, and because I thought they were only for the office, but blazers have really come back into everyday use. And I absolutely love it. You can play with the proportions or your hemlines with blazers very easily (i.e. a blazer-mini skirt combo vs. a blazer-cigarette pant combo), which can be really fun to do. Pair it with sneakers for more causal look, or heels for a sleek business casual look.
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6. Neutral Trench Coat
I’ve always believed that if you have a coat that you love, you could pretty much wear anything underneath and feel confident. With this coat from Babaton, you can look no further because this is a perfect trench coat. The colour is not entirely white but an almost stone colour that works well with any outfit. It’s a perfect length and cut so that you won’t look like a detective, yet there’s still an air of mystery about it for the wearer. 😉
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7. Black Wide-Leg Pants
Sophisticated, yet made casual with the sweatpants drawstring, these black wide-leg culottes are such a perfect addition to your wardrobe and such a classic piece. They come in the colours Bone, Black, Pure Indigo, and Pearl Grey and are on sale at the moment! I am a major proponent of wide-leg pants and I love the casual look of these pants with the drawstring; it takes the pressure off of feeling as if I have to wear them with heels and a dressy shirt. On the contrary, wear them with Kids or Vans for an effortlessly cool look.
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8. Black Jumpsuit
A.K.A. the new LBD! The little black dress have moved over to make room for the little black romper. The cool thing about this VETTA jumpsuit in particular is that it is a piece that transforms to make it more versatile and for you to get the best bang for your buck. You have the option of wearing it like in the photo below, or reversed, or you can even unbutton the top from the pants and wear the pants exclusively. VETTA is so thoughtful with their collections because they design pieces that can be transformed and used for multiple purposes, in various ways. Now that’s what I call the ultimate classic piece!
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9. Notch Shirt
Another goodie from Everylane is this Clean Silk Short-Sleeve Notch Shirt. It comes in a bunch of beautiful colours and is a perfect addition to your classic wardrobe. With the slight lapel and true to size fit, this top can be worn in multiple ways. I like to wear my notch shirt tucked into a midi skirt or high-waisted jeans, paired with sneakers or some scrappy sandals. What’s even better is that this is made with eco-conscious Clean Silk, so it’s less harmful on the environment.
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10. Notch Dress
What’s better than a notch shirt but a notch mini dress?? I love this dress because it’s perfect for the summer and when it gets chillier out, you can wear a chunky knit overtop with tights and black boots. The perfect classic piece is one that is versatile and can be worn many ways, and this notch mini dress fits the bill!
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