I still enjoy this blog and have some good material buried in the archives; therefore it makes sense to me to re-post some previously written articles. My writing energy has primarily been going toward school (read the 10 page paper I did for Art History Research: chronocentrismincostumes.doc , if you are really bored. lol).
Originally posted December 10, 2007:
Inspired by The Fashionable Kiffen, whose list I’m glad I didn’t read until I had done my own, (and my friend who is reading It’s All Too Much, by Peter Walsh
- dark jeans. I realize it’s boring and on everyone’s list, that’s why I’m glad I didn’t read the kiffen’s post thoroughly before doing my own. Presently I am shopping for a modern looking tapered pair (is that an oxymoron?).
- fitted t-shirts. I prefer scoop necks. Jewel necks and square necks are also good. If you ever see me in a v-neck, know that it is a compromise of some kind. Oh, and I consider pullover sweaters t-shirts.
- sleeveless sheath dresses. Never short, but knee-length or mid-calf both work for me. Since I don’t wear dresses often, this style is a personal staple because it can be worn year round.
- athletic-inspired flats.
- wool or linen trousers. For summer, this bends a little to include short-sleeved pants in cotton sheeting (but no wool!).
- pencil skirts. With my silhouette and style personality, this has always been my skirt shape. Did I mention I’ve never favored short skirts?
- fitted jackets/blazers. Even my favorite coats have this flavor, being tailored and wool.
- Button-front, collared shirts. Sleeveless and long-sleeve are perrennial wardrobe staples, and currently I am sick to death of three-quarter sleeves and craving short sleeves. I especially love a semi-drapy natural fabric like very light-weight cotton or silk. Functionally in my wardrobe, these may serve as a combination scarf and skivvies.
- Cordovan leather. One of the most colorful and versatile neutrals, cordovan is technically a brown that appears almost burgundy or plum. Like black, it can be worn with black or brown.
- Suede, especially in colors. It’s just soft and friendly. What can I say?
(I considered listing skirt suits, but decided #6 & #7 covered that. Actually, I’ve been sort of looking for a new suit for several years, without success.) I have two skirt suits I am enjoying wearing these days: a brown wool birdseye tweed and a black and white silk tweed. Item number 9 is the only look on the list I am currently reconsidering.
Well, there it is. What are your top 10 wardrobe staples?
I came up with eleven.
1. olive green shoes and bag, particularly with crisper colors like red or red, white and blue
2. my nifty cheetah coat in particular but (brown tone) animal print as a neutral.
Shoes, scarf, blouse, top, skirt.. one piece at a time. Particularly like it with burgundy.
3. love black and white prints but I do best in a white ground with less black proportionally, so a black on white. Otherwise paisley (I snuck that in)
4. metallics as neutrals, in most cases matte. Bronze, matte silver, pale gold, pinky copper. Favorite fallback blouse is pale gold satin.
5. love hoods so much (and will wear them up, too!) that I will sometimes wear two at a time.
6. pieces that have double-ended zippers that I like to unzip at both ends.
7. airwalk pvc thong sandals (like the croc ones) that I wear for super-mobility.
And only thong style sandals. Only ones that don’t give me blisters or pinch the skin and blister at the top of my large toe joint.
8. purses with as few organizational features as possible. Modified tote/hobo style, mostly crushable, straps that can be carried in hand or will tuck under arm, some chain strap and those clad pieces at the shoulder point, else they fall off. I have matte silver, dusky red and black all in the same exact style and would wish all the rest of my purses were the same. Am paring down the number of purses and now have 9 total for summer and winter together. I would love to wear only green purses or purse but I still love purses too much.
9. something cream near my face whenever possible, a kind of magnolia color
10. flat shoes or 2 inch heels at most. For mobility. I want to be able to stride.
Love boots for that. And to sneak something else in: no straight skirts unless a wrap or able to be partially unbuttoned, for that reason, even though I look very good in sheaths.
11. Sweaterdresses. I’ve just got some that are maternity and they’re perfect.
A non-clingy sweater dress, longer length. Can dress ’em up, down, put a shirt under, sleep in ’em.
I always enjoy checking out other people’s lists about this kind of thing, thanks for posting yours!
Mine are jeans, jeans, jeans, t-shirts, cashmere sweaters, jeans, jeans, jeans, and dress slacks. Oh, is that only 9? Hm. Jeans. There ya go! Ha.
1. Jeans! Mid-rise with moderate bootcut or straight leg; mostly dark, but also washed down ones for casual wear. I usually buy them at thrift stores. I have to discipline myself to make sure they are really long enough for me–32-33″ inseam. I think I have 6-7 pairs right now, but a couple of them are arguably too short.
2. Sleek dress pants with a mid-rise and slightly flared or wide leg. Right now, I have a brown heather pair and a black pair.
3. Corduroy pants (one pair) in the winter, and khaki pants in the summer.
4. Denim skirts all year long. I prefer longer, A-line skirts, but I also wear knee-length straight and flared ones, esp. in the summer. I pack away the shorter ones when it gets too cold to wear them with tights and tall boots (we live in upstate NY!).
5. Corduroy skirts in the winter and khaki skirts in the summer.
6. Long-sleeve, 3/4 sleeve, and short-sleeve knit tops–lots–in white and my favorite colors. I wear them under jackets year-round and under sweaters when it’s cold.
7. Crisp, menswear-style blouses (solid oxford and striped cotton), mostly Ralph Lauren and Brooks Brothers, which I buy secondhand.
8. Fitted cashmere and merino sweaters. Heavy sweaters that I knit myself!
9. Fitted jackets and blazers–no shoulder pads! I have a wonderful denim one that I wear all year, and a few others that rotate in and out with the seasons.
10. Born-brand boots (short and tall) in the winter and Born clogs/sandals/flipflops in the summer.
This was fun, Rebecca–thanks!
I need to revise my top-10 list! I somehow forgot to mention my crucial accessory:
11. Shawls. I have several wool jacquard stoles, a cashmere-silk pashmina, a gorgeous large wool square, a rayon-silk stole for summer, and a Faroe-pattern shawl that I knit from laceweight mohair-silk (never again). Love them. I wear one every day at some point: as a scarf over a coat, draped over a blazer or sweater, or while knitting or reading in the evening. I wouldn’t dream of traveling in any season without one.
I think this is the one thing that gives my neo-preppy style a bit of flair–the shawls and my geeky glasses! But my brother says the shawls reflect my inner fuddy-duddy. Hmm …
I just bought a sheath dress the other day.. it’s fab for my bust and in a good quality material it stretched even when I packed on 7 pounds! LOL
Well, I don’t know about staples, as I am now updating my wardrobe and attempting to establish a personal style after years ofjust buying whatever caught my eye, spending too much, and never feeling completely put together! But these are the top things I am shopping for/collecting now:
1. cardigans—cashmere and cotton mostly, but some merino wool
2. shorter skirters which, for me, means stopping just above, just below, or mid-knee
3. basic khaki and black pants, in plain front and simple, classic styles
4. wrap tops and/or dresses
5. dark wash jeans
6. basic cotton tees in numerous colors and neckline shapes, for layering
7. shoes, with several subcategories
(a) simple, stylish, or fun flats
(b) athletic flats, not sneakers but something with pizazz or a fun twist to it
(c) simple but beautiful wedges, for the times when higher heels are called for
(d) and in winter, lovelovelove boots
8. button-down shirts in solid colors, preferably three-quarter length
9. one or two really good ‘dress-up’ dresses, for weddings and parties and such, at least one a variation on the ‘little black dress’
10. accesories to add pizazz to the basics; such as scarfs and wide wrist bangles or cuffs
1. Cashmere v-neck sweaters, a fitted shape, with a fairly low v, so they look feminine. Worn without a shirt; they are my “winter tee shirts”. Colours range from mid-saturated colours to neutrals.
2. Black denim trouser jeans
3. Shawls and scarves: The shawls are mostly Indian, the scarves Hermes silk print
4. Blundstones, winter model. In Montreal winter lasts 5 months, and Blundstones are the one boot I can wear an and outdoors.
5. Arche shoes- for me the perfect blend of style and comfort
6. An assortment of black skirts, from tulle to leather to silk jersey, for winter
7. An assortment of knee to calf length silk and light cotton crinkle skirts, for summer; cooler than pants
8. Black leather jacket
9. Black duffle coat
10. Pearls: round, baroque, keshi. All genuine; from 18 to 75 inches.
I’m so glad you posted your stage costume paper. I’m off to read it now. Presentation of Self in Everyday Life is like my bible. He talks about backstage and on stage behavior in relation to real life. The kitchen staff in a restaurant has backstage behavior (when they’re spitting in your soup and making fun of you to each other, etc). My own style, I’ve come to realize, is very actressy.
I see everything as though cinematically. (I come by this dishonest behavior very honestly since my father was an actor in Yiddish theatre as a young man) My authenticity is being a (nicely styled) phony. 😉
Here’s an interesting article going around the net:
http://www.vanityfair.com/style/2012/01/prisoners-of-style-201201
“Moreover, tens of millions of Americans, the uncool as well as the supercool, have become amateur stylists—scrupulously attending, as never before, to the details and meanings of the design and décor of their homes, their clothes, their appliances, their meals, their hobbies, and more. The things we own are more than ever like props, the clothes we wear like costumes, the places where we live, dine, shop, and vacation like stage sets. And angry right-wingers even dress in 18th-century drag to perform their protests. Meanwhile, why are Republicans unexcited by Mitt Romney? Because he seems so artificial, because right now we all crave authenticity.”