Creating A Basics Wardrobe That Works for You

Article by Maddison McKinley, in collaboration with Nicole Leachman. The products featured in this article were sourced independently and chosen for the benefit of the reader. Daily Inspirato doesn’t financially benefit if you buy any of these products.

 I’ve interviewed my dear friend Nicole Leachman for this article and together we bring you a new outlook on the wardrobe “basics,” or the pieces every wardrobe would benefit from having. We take it beyond the cardigan and introduce you to new ways to think about these basics through the lens of your personal preference. In the end, you’ll walk away with an idea of what you need in your wardrobe to go from “I have nothing to wear” to “think of the combinations!”

Basics For You

It is a fundamental belief of mine that every person is capable of putting together an outfit they love, and with practice, can do it regularly. It is also true that putting together an outfit is easier when you have a collection of basics to work from, so you’re not always starting from scratch each time you create an outfit. 

With the help of my good friend, Nicole, we’re going to show you some basics that are useful for any wardrobe but are adaptable to the context of you. 

Nicole is an expert on what it means to have a timeless piece. She works in a high-end department store as a buyer for expensive clothing lines for women of a stately age (think St. John). She knows what she’s talking about when it comes to classic pieces because she caters to an audience that spends a lot of money to look classic and timeless. 

We’re going to task you with figuring out what style of basic you’d like to incorporate into your wardrobe. 

Sure, you could buy a black shirt, but will you go for a button-down, a buttonless shirt, a v-neck, or a turtle? It’s up to you.

Of course, you’re going to have denim, but what is your cut? High-waisted with a tapered leg? A nod to the 70s flare? A 90s straight cut? Or 2020 denim, aka the SPANX legging? Those are the options before we even consider denim color! 

The beauty of this exercise is that it’s the most stripped-down version of understanding your best 4Cs - Cut, Color, Cloth, and Comfort Level. Figure out the best basics for your 4C’s and you’ve just made putting together your future 100 outfit combinations so much simpler (& you’ll feel more confident). 

We’re going to show you options, variety, and most importantly, we’re going to remind you that you have to find the right style that works for your unique 4Cs (Cut, Color, Cloth, and Comfort Level).

Keep reading if you’ve been saying: 

• “I have nothing to wear.”

• “Nothing I have goes together.”

• “I feel that I’ve run out of options to wear.”

“The main reason why people say they ‘have nothing to wear’ is because they don’t have enough basics. They have prints, and statement pieces, but nothing to wear [them] with.”

Nicole’s Basics

Below, check out each basic in more detail and see the breadth of options :)

THE BASIC SHIRT: T-Shirt, Button-Down Shirt, Collared Shirt

The shirt, it’s as basic as a basic comes. I know people who buy Hane’s V-neck and pair them with the most magical outfits (high-waisted dark wash jeans and a nice duster, for example). The plain shirt is the supporting actor in any Oscar-nominated outfit.

THE BASIC TURTLENECK

A turtle can be paired with anything -– you can wear it under a blazer, under a button down, or on its own. It’s a good layering basic anyone should have at the ready.

THE BASIC LIGHTWEIGHT SWEATER/CARDIGAN

Oh the comfort. You can layer sweaters on top of turtlenecks, collared shirts, and more. What sweater will you go for? 

THE BASIC LAYERS: Jacket, Blazer, Duster

What do you see your base layer being? That is, what kind of top and pants will you choose? Then imagine how the top layer will look.

Play with the length! Do you want this layer hitting your hips, just below your butt, your knees, or your ankles? All of these different styles come in different silhouettes. I prefer lengths that end right at my waist (high), or below my booty.

THE BASIC JEANS (or WFH SPANX Leggings)

I can hear the shudder from people hearing me request that they wear a button (heaven forbid), but that’s why I quickly also offered the SPANX leggings. This is about your comfort level. Fortunately for those that aren’t afraid of a jean, jeans come in so many different shapes and sizes that will be sure to wow your body. The question is skinny, straight, boot, bellbottom? High waisted, mid waisted, low? What color wash?

THE BASIC SHOE (Plain comfy boot, classic slides, or Athletic Shoe) 

I know some of you may be vegan reading this, but if you can stomach it, go for a leather shoe. It will last a long time, and the longer you have it, the more you can condition the leather and give it a patina look. Leather can also be more easily mended in the future should you want to have the shoe worked on. If you are uninterested in contributing to the trafficking of new leather goods, consider shopping vintage leather. 

Considerations: Where are you wearing these? Do you need to consider the salt, if so, go for high quality. Consider the bottom of the shoe, do you need good grip? 

Consider the height, do you want an athletic shoe for running around and a nice, high boot for different occasions?

THE BASIC ACCESSORIES

This is where personal preference really comes into play, though it’s difficult to go wrong with a scarf design you love and some basic gold jewelry.

Basics & 4C’s

My biggest gripe about previous “basics” lists I’ve read is that they assume all people have the same figure as the people creating the list. Don’t make this mistake. Basics are only as good as they are worn and felt confident in, and to feel confident, you need to pick the ones that flatter your figure best.

Cut

• Just because the type of clothing is a “basic,” doesn’t mean it will automatically work with your specific Cut requirements. Basics come in all silhouettes, and you need to find the silhouette that’s best for your figure.

• The “Cut” is how the piece compliments, hugs, and accentuates your figure when you’re wearing it … think which jean silhouettes work best on your figure: skinny, wide leg, high waisted, etc.

• Bigger-busted women, I know the pain of a button-down. Opt for tape or an oversized version. Also, consider trading in the button-down for a classic tee. 

• Ask yourself what you want to accentuate, and look for those silhouettes.

Color

• Dark or light color? I always go black with basics because, well, coffee stains. Consider your palette, is white a better basic? How about splitting the difference and choosing a shade of gray?

• When you buy basics, try to go for neutral colors that will not tire and will go with one another. Which neutrals look best on your skin tone? Which make your skin look healthy?

• You don’t have to pick neutrals — but the point is to pick pieces that work together. You can still pick a baby blue duster, why not? But a full-on Cheetah and neon coat ... Maybe save that for a statement piece. Consider that you want these pieces to go with the rest of the pieces in your wardrobe and that’s much easier to do if they are neutrals or at least share a color palette.

Cloth

• What are your favorite cloths? Cotton? Linen? Figure that out before investing in basics.

• Cotton is my go-to, especially for pieces that lie directly on my skin. Silk fabrics are a dressier option. Avoid synthetic fabrics (polyester, rayon) that irritate or make you perspire. 

Comfort

• Do you want to show your arms? Are you more comfortable in long or short-sleeved tops?

• You may have some jeans that when you wear them, you’re silently cursing yourself for having purchased them in the first place. Consider what’s comfortable and what you will realistically wear before you commit to a piece. Also, consider what you’re comfortable showing off! I give a big “no thank you” to low rise jeans because there’s nothing comfortable about them, to me.

Maddison And Moto Not Get Along-o

I’ll give you a real Basic + 4Cs example. I love moto-leather jackets, I always have. They’re a superb, stylish layering piece, however, I know that on me, they make my upper body look like a triangle. My shoulders are much too broad to allow for a tapered waist with a bulky piece like this. 

So, instead, I opt for leather jackets that look more like blazers because they can hang open comfortably and create the lines I’d much rather see on my figure.

Trends with Basics

“Look at something and if you like it, make it work.”

Sage advice from Nicole. Don’t get so caught up with the trends. They can be fun to follow, but they’re not meant to be overthought. If you like them, try them on for size.

Trends will be easier to incorporate into your looks when you have your basics figured out. 

Here are some fun trends from Nicole:

Shacket

“It’s a casual layering piece. Sometimes I struggle with going to get a coffee or meet a friend and I don’t want to wear a full on leather jacket. The shacket is nice because I can pair it with leggings, or dress it up with jeans or a dress”

Sweatshirt + Collar or Turtle

Layer a sweatshirt with a collared shirt and or a turtleneck for that perfect Gen Z look :)

A “Trendy” Basic 

Any of the above basics silhouettes can be turned into a trendy piece just by purchasing something a little different about them. For example, check out this Free People Beach Boys Tee –– it’s a tee, but it’s more trendy than a basic white one. 

Or, buy a layering piece in a “hot” color, say a sky blue duster (MER SEA: Baby Blue Duster).

But My Age!

“Wear what makes you happiest and your most authentic self. At the end of the day, it’s just clothes, it doesn’t matter what’s age-appropriate.” 

Thank you, Nicole, I couldn’t agree more. If you’re so caught up wondering if what you’re wearing is age-appropriate or not, you’re not asking the important question — do I like this on me? That’s really all that matters!

Basics and Sustainability

Nicole is passionate about sustainability, particularly given that she works in an industry that has a bad reputation when it comes to looking after the environment. 

“Eight to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions comes from the fashion industry, which is more than the aviation and maritime shipping industries combined.” — Source: vox.com

Nicole likes working in the high-end space of fashion, as opposed to a typical fast fashion company because her company focuses on selling high quality pieces. At Nicole’s company, women buy a few outfits a year, which they keep for years to come. They invest in their clothing, thereby investing in reducing the number of garments thrown into the landfill each year.

Sustainability means being picky with the pieces you do buy. It means you have a discerning eye to pick out the pieces that will last the longest (materials and style). This is why having basics that work for your figure and for the months and years to come is the sustainable choice.

Nicole’s not recommending that you have to shop at a high end store to be sustainable, but that you consider your options at any price point.

“Garments with mostly cotton, wool, cashmere … or natural fibers, will last longer and are better for the environment. I’ve had some pieces from Forever 21 that have lasted 10+ years. Thrifting is also a great alternative to buying at expensive high end stores.'“

There are OPTIONS. 

You can thrift these pieces, buy them second hand, or go through your mom’s closet.

“Investment” isn’t synonymous with “expensive,” and thrift and second-hand stores demonstrate that. 

A big thank you to Nicole for collaborating with me on this article! I hope y’all enjoyed it.