Part 2: Fashion Tips from Sartorially Savvy- Basic not Boring!

Basic DOES NOT equal Boring

In sticking with our housing analogies, here’s another: Every home must have a foundation, something on which it stands, the base on which it is built, likewise is true for one’s wardrobe. Basics are the staple pieces that we build our wardrobe upon, those things that never go out of style, look great with everything, and we keep for years. Ladies, your little black dress, wide leg trousers, trouser cut denim jeans, pencil skirts, camisoles, polo shirts, cardigan sweaters, blouses, leather jackets, and the like. Gentlemen your cable knit crew neck sweaters, v-neck sweaters, polo shirts, button down oxfords, leather jackets blazers, khaki pants, wool slacks, and dark wash denim jeans. Basics are the quintessential starting point for efficient and well built wardrobe. Basics should also be your investment pieces (more on that in a sec!) Imagine if you will, if you only bought what was in each season, and constantly shopping to stay current and replace what you had just purchased the season before. And in this economy, I don’t know too many people who can afford such habits.

Another example of this that probably hits a little closer to home is the phenomena of purchasing something new to wear every time a social engagement occurs. Throughout our respective high school and perhaps college, I’m sure we’ve all had friends, or perhaps even done it ourselves: The day of the party, concert, gathering, etc., said friend (or you are) is at the mall, running through every store, trying to find something to wear. And it’s been my experience that if it’s a young lady, she’s buying something that she’ll never wear again. Here’s where your basics come into play: instead of going out and buying something that perhaps you’ll never wear again, if you have a wardrobe that is aptly stocked with basics, you can pull something that perhaps you’ve worn before, combine it with something that maybe you’ve also worn before, but haven’t worn them not together, and spend the money you were going to on an entire new outfit, on a hot pair of shoes, a trendy scarf, hat, piece of jewelry or some other accessory to make your ensemble POP in a way that it hadn’t before. That way, now you have something new to add to your closet artillery and you’ve saved a few dollars you can spend on drinks or something else! Now, in terms of basics being your investment pieces: Basics are things you want to be able to wear repeatedly, and will stand the test of time. That being said, it is wise to invest a little bit more into quality pieces that you will have for years to come, and that won’t show signs of wear and tear like some cheaper things will.

So, if you only take away 2 things from Part 1 and 2 remember this: FIT is everything, and build your wardrobe with BASICS, and you’ll be well on your way to sartorially “Keeping Up!” And if anyone has any fashion/style questions they’d like answered, please, leave comments and I’ll do my best to answer as many as possible!!

“Fashions fade, but STYLE is eternal” (Yves St. Laurent)
~Sartorially Savvy