Category / Wardrobe

5-piece-french-wardrobe-update
By On In Wardrobe603 Comments

*I wrote this post before my London trip but I was so busy at work that I didn’t get the chance to actually post it.

Let’s do a small update on my 5 piece French wardrobe adventure before I head to London in a few days. I’ve been doing surprisingly well. At the beginning of the season, when all the new look books showed up online, I almost had a moment of weakness. Everything seemed to be my style and as usual it all looked so good on those tall, skinny models. So after a few try-outs, I quickly came to the conclusions that most of it didn’t suit my body or didn’t look quite as nice in person as it did on the interwebz. So basically, shitty fabrics and short legs saved my bank account.

So far I’ve only bought a camel knit and a light blue blouse by H&M. Truthfully, I don’t really know how long both will last, but a couple of somewhat trendy seasonal pieces are fine, in my opinion. I want to spend the other three open spots on a few pieces that will last me longer than this winter. First of all, I hope to find a striped Comme des Garcons shirt in London. I tried finding one in Amsterdam and Paris, but no luck so far. So that makes three purchases. We’ll have to see if I even make it to five items this season.

Next to those two purchases I also bought a black T-shirt at H&M to replace my old one. I like the rolled up sleeves and the fit was almost perfect (mind you, I like my shirts a little oversized, not fitted). It’s holding up nicely, so definitely two thumbs up. Now if they would only release a discount code so I can stock up on those high-waisted black skinny jeans again. Although I suspect my co-workers think I only own one pair of jeans. Oh well… Stay tuned for my London purchases!

zara-shoes-cashmere-knit
By On In Shopping, Wardrobe5,191 Comments

Oops! I already bought two new basics for this season. A new oversized cashmere sweater by Zara and a pair of pointed chelsea boots, which are quite similar to Acne’s Jensen boots. I contemplated those Acne boots for a short while but ultimately decided to pass on them because of their hefty price tag and my current sushi addiction. If these Zara boots end up on my feet every single day, I may have to rethink that decision though, but for now I’m happy with these. The sweater feels amazingly soft and will surely become a wardrobe staple. I love the oversized slouchy fit and the slightly longer back. Unfortunately it’s no longer available in blue, but you can still get yourself a pretty red or cream jumper here. I think that covers my basics for the season. I might have to replace my black highwaisted jeans but other than that, I’m good to go.

weekday-uniqlo-cashmere
By On In Shopping, Wardrobe2,512 Comments

zara-hm-cashmereFour relatively affordable cashmere sweaters for those looking to stay warm during fall. Now I know that when it comes to cashmere, you usually get what you pay for. The quality of cashmere depends on the thickness and length of the fibers. The longer the fiber, the better the quality but also the more expensive. But let’s be honest, not everyone can or wants to pay €400 for a sweater. And although I don’t mind investing some money in quality basics, I personally have some really good experiences with cashmere from Weekday and Zara. I’ve had both sweaters for over a year and they still look great. Now we only have to wait for temperatures to drop!

Top: Uniqlo (€55,40) , Weekday (€100) Bottom: H&M (€69,99), Zara (€139)

5-piece-wardrobe-basics
By On In Shopping, Wardrobe4,210 Comments

Before I present to you my wish list of five for this season, let’s discuss basics first. Last week I wrote about the 5 piece French wardrobe and how a high quality, well-chosen selection of basics is key to making this work. Over the years I’ve read a lot about this shopping method and some people seem to wonder what qualifies as a basic. For instance, I hardly ever wear skirts or dresses, so I don’t consider them basics but they might be for you. What’s important to keep in mind is that your basics are the items that hold your wardrobe together and make it easy to mix and match with your investment pieces (aka those 5 items you’re spending your money on).

So here is my list of wardrobe essentials:

Tops
– T-shirts in black, grey and white
– A white and black long sleeve
– A cashmere sweater or cardigan
– A white (preferably silk) shirt

Bottoms
– Black skinny jeans
– Grey skinny jeans
– Blue skinny jeans
– A pair of black trousers

Shoes
– Black ankle boots
– A pair of black flats or loafers
– Sandals
– Converse sneakers

Jackets/coats
– A trenchcoat
– Black leather jacket
– Oversized winter coat
– A black blazer

Accessories
– Medium sized black bag
– Small black/navy bag
– A delicate bracelet or necklace
– Silver watch

Pretty basic right? I could throw some of these items on and be done for the day. Admittedly, it wouldn’t be the most exciting outfit, but since I made sure I bought the best basics suited for my body, I would feel 100% comfortable, put together and myself. And to me, knowing that I look my best and not having to worry about anything, is the most important thing. Now tell me, what would your list of wardrobe basics look like? Would it be very different from mine?