Thirteen, YES, ONLY thirteen basics to build your wardrobe.

April 11, 2014

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I remember how it was when I started working after graduation. I was on a starter salary with hardly any money to buy clothes, yet I needed to look smart for the office and hip when I went out with friends.

But how?

So I started by purchasing a few basics for my wardrobe, then mixing and matching them to create infinite outfits. Now you’re probably wondering what were these basics. I’ll get to that, in a minute.

I've read many posts and articles {and I’m sure you have, too} on basic items for your wardrobe. They go on to give you a list of 3,046 items you absolutely need in your wardrobe. “A tribal print silk dress… A sequinned mini skirt with gold stripes… A white collarless blazer made from the hair of angels… You NEED these in your wardrobe!”

Heck, if I bought all those things with a starter salary I’d probably have to eat them too because who can afford food?! When you have enough money you can get all that and more too, but you certainly don’t need them to start building a wardrobe.

So here’s my list of absolute basics you need in your wardrobe. This is a list of the skinny on the skinny- the absolute basics of the basics. Only 13 items!

Here they are:

1. White button-down shirt

2. Solid colour top

3. Black pencil skirt

4. Black A line skirt

5. Dark wash skinny jeans

6. Black pants

7. Black blazer

8. Coloured cardigan

9. Black dress

10. Printed scarf

11. Black handbag

12. Nude heels

13. Black heels

Now you'll notice that there’s a lot of black in there. That's because black is the most basic colour, it suits everyone, and goes with everything. {Not to mention it makes you look slimmer. Bonus!} If you hate heels, substitute them with ballet flats.

I have chosen these items very carefully, keeping in mind that you should be able to use them in multiple ways- to work or for socializing, seguing from day to night very easily. Using only these 13 items, you can create a myriad of outfits and looks going from formal, to semi-formal, to completely casual.

Here are a few examples:

Remember, these are basics. Now that you have these in your wardrobe, you should find it easy to add more clothes, accessories and shoes which are more ‘you’. NOW you can buy the white collarless blazer made from the hair of angels, and wear it with your solid coloured top and dark wash jeans, and look frikkin’gorgeous.

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