BASICS

I remember the first time I was mistaken for a child but I was an adult. I was travelling on a bus to job at the time, and the bus driver asked me what school trip I was going on, assuming I was part of the gaggle of kids on the same bus. Reader, I was 21. For that reason for a long time, I bemoaned my 5’3” height. I hated that I had to ask people to reach things for me in shops and that I’d still get ID’d well into my 20s. And that’s before I’ve even discussed issues with clothes and finding the right pieces to fit my frame. Now I’m in my mid-30s, not only do I love it if I get asked for proof I’m over 18 but I’ve managed to hone down the ultimate items that are ideal for those of us who are a little more petite. The staples ...

Shopping for basics is admittedly not the most exciting thing in the world, but they’re some of the most important wardrobe purchases you can make. And since you wear them so often, you also are likely to need to replace them more often than other items in your wardrobe, which means that you might not want to spend a lot of money on them either. Enter H&M. You may first think of H&M as a source for trend-led pieces, but we’re here to tell you that the brand also stocks amazing basics. We love the selection of denim, T-shirts, blazers and tanks, in particular, but there’s something to fulfill any and every wardrobe need. It’s typically easier to find expensive-looking basics than it is trend pieces, as solids neutral colors and simple silhouett...

Anyone who is a regular Who What Wear reader will know that I am a vintage fanatic, and while I will always champion the preloved cause, I also believe that to make our shopping habits more sustainable, we must also change the way we approach our preexisting clothes. By making your basics the centres of gravity, from a fashion perspective, you allow everything else to fall into place around them and, in turn, help create a cohesive whole. The result? A capsule that operates like a well-oiled machine and doesn’t rely on “newness” to feel fresh.  This week, I’ve spent some time thinking about which items constitute my own basics capsule, and in the end, I came up with seven pieces that never let me down. I’ve styled each one to show you ...

The four things I look for in a good basic are as follows: Fit, quality of the material, colour and versatility, and from my extensive shopping experience, I can safely say that Arket ticks all the boxes every time. For example, I searched high and low for the perfect white tee and, unexpectedly, Arket’s £15 crewneck came up trumps (my husband finds the same with the men’s iterations, FYI). It’s the ideal amount of fitted on the shoulders and loose, but not baggy, around the hips, and I also seriously rate the crewneck collar. Before I get carried away with my ode to the Arket white T-shirt, let me present you with the 19 other basics that the brand has totally nailed. From the sharp tailored trousers and the softest roll-neck knit to the oversized white shirt and th...

Working in fashion is like playing a constant game of Goldilocks. You’re always looking for ‘just the right’ piece. Of course, however you view a perfect item depends on your own personal tastes but sometimes there are pieces that are universal in their appeal. One such item is the vest top. This staple becomes part of our wardrobes from our teen years and then never leaves it. But like many before me, I’ve struggled to discover the ideal fit and shape. Last year I spotted Brittany Bathgate wearing a pretty perfect version of a white vest top by Theory. However, it was slightly out of my price range.  You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to ...

Basics could easily be considered the backbones of a wardrobe. It’s these simple pieces that are highly versatile and more or less act as the building blocks to help balance out the perfect outfit. We routinely share with you some of the key basics fashion people rely on. And today, we thought we’d focus on those spring basics that pair flawlessly with any pair of jeans you own. In reality, just about any basic top, sweater, or jacket could team well with denim, but the edit coming your way specifically features those trend-forward basics that are particularly noteworthy for the season. With all that in mind, keep scrolling to check out the knits, shirts, and more that work well with skinny jeans, straight-leg cuts, and wide-leg silhouettes. Oh, there’s also a range of ...

Breton stripes never go out of fashion. They are far too classic and essential an item to be relegated on a whim, but it’s true that they do go through moments where popularity surges and they become noticeably more on-trend than a season or moment before. Now is one such time. Everywhere I look, there are Breton stripes, and they’re being worn in such a variety of new ways that it’s the perfect time to gather inspiration. A nautical trend to spring fashion is like butter to bread—the two are so much more delicious together and are inextricably linked. Although a simple item, you will find that a well-chosen striped knit or tee is the kind of clever item you’ll pull out at this time every year without fail, making it an investment to no...

I don’t want to bore you to tears with yet another “staple” to have in your wardrobe but I can’t talk about great versatile pieces without mentioning the striped shirt. Usually discarded in favour of the classic white version or a Breton, this top meets somewhere in the middle. I think people are often put off by it because it can appear quite corporate—unless that’s the vibe you’re going for of course. But I want to change your mind on that front and convince you that the striped shirt is actually very effortless and far more versatile than you realise.  You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautiful people, ch...

It’s somewhat of an urban legend nowadays that you need to spend a lot of money to be considered chic. In the past decade, the high-low trend has emerged, vintage shopping has reached peak popularity, and gushing to your friends about something affordable you just scored is no longer considered low-brow. In fact, it’s said cheap thrills that can actually make your entire outfit feel more on-trend and expensive. Whether it’s the addition of a great blouse or cool sandals, sometimes low-cost basics are what end up standing out most in your outfit (and nobody would ever guess was actually affordable). There are a few affordable essentials that almost always fall into this category—from the jumper style that makes your jeans-and–a-...