Reader, we must confess – at heart, we are basic bitches. Or rather, bitches with a love for basics. Sure, every couple of months, we, traipse on a seasonal pilgrimage through the world’s citadels of style, seeking out the waspiest-waisted suits in inky silk-wools; architectural confections in high-sheen duchess satins and the frothiest of tulles; shimmers of rich embroidery, cascades of beads… but really, at heart, we are simple folk, more drawn to a cosy knit, a well worn-in pair of jeans and a sensible shoe than the threadbare bits of vintage Galliano we’ve been haggling for on Vestiaire for the sake of frow cred alone.
As such, it is with open arms that we have welcomed the much-publicised turn towards wardrobe-focused dressing – at long last, we can finally freely share what we really have in ours. OK, well, what we wish we did, anyway – there isn’t quite as much Celine in our closets as you’re about to see here. Still, read on if you’re ready to join us in shirking off that cultivated air of esoteric cool, and embrace your inner basic (embrasic!) – to swap out your archival Comme bubble skirt for a COS wool coat; your Maison Margiela Tabis for Adidas Sambas. Here’s our guide to buying the very best basics.
T-shirts
A plain jersey tee may seem like a pretty, well, plain garment, but finding your Cinderella-fit is a trying task — and really depends on the results you’re after. A high crew neck number in a lightweight stretch cotton is ideal if you’re trying to flaunt a gym-honed bod, whereas, if the foundation of your sex appeal is an give-no-fucks insouciance, then a boxier fit in a heavier fabric is the way to go. Our ultimate go-to is Sunspel’s crisp pima cotton Classic T-shirt, which cuts an architectural frame while also being generous and pliable enough to pull off a French tuck, if that’s your thing. A close runner-up comes from Swedish essentials purveyors CDLP, whose lyocell-blend offering has a hint of stretch, with another (and rather more budget-friendly) option being this generously-proportioned option from Christophe Lemaire-designed UNIQLO U – très chic, très cheap!
Shirts
From crisp poplin oxfords to slouchy boyfriend smocks, rugged cargos to debonair billowing blouses — figuring out which button-downs to bring to your wardrobe rotation can be overwhelming! This isn’t really the place to come for tips on where to find a classic City boy shirt, so we’ll let you figure that out solo, but if you’re looking for a relaxed riff on a classic collared fit, look no further than this poplin piece from Our Legacy. For even more of a boyfriend-style fit (or if you, reader, are the boyfriend) Japanese workwear-inspired Needles has our vote. If you need something for a more formal affair but want to give more Bowie than banker, then look no further than this femme-but-not-too-flouncy pussybow blouse from Saint Laurent, the ultimate purveyors of CHIC!
Hoodies
No closet is worth much without due consideration for comfort, and the uncontested cornerstone of any cosy look is the hoodie. With the slouchy staples having long since entered the luxury conversation, there’s now a wide array of capuche-d sweaters crafted from the finest fibres, like this pure cashmere option from London babes-who-barre go-to, Alex Eagle Sporting Club. If you’re after something a little less sporty – and more of a wearable emotional support blanket – then turn your attention towards this oversized hoodie from haute-staples label Wardrobe.NYC or Balenciaga — the force many would say are responsible for catalysing the fashion set’s en-masse adoption of the oh-so-ordinary item of clothing. That said, if ‘ordinary’ is really what you’re after, LA Apparel and Russell Athletic are well worth a shout-out for their easy-wearing, clean-cut hoodies that any tech bro — or any bro for that matter — would go spare for.
Knits
Though it may be socially acceptable to dial up the thermostat at this of year, do your wallet — and the environment! — a solid and put the exorbitant amount of money you’d spend on your heating bill towards some decent knits. Of course, natural fibres are the go-to here but even with that as your only filter, there’s still a world of choice at hand. If you’re keen to invest, look no further than Italian kings of cashmere, Brunello Cucinelli and Loro Piana — go-tos for the sort of people who were doing ‘quiet luxury’ long before it became an internet fad. If your budget won’t stretch quite that far, but you’re still in the market for a bit of self-care spending, then i-D office faves Begg x Co and Extreme Cashmere are heartfelt recommendations — with the latter, it’s not just about sweaters and scarves that make you feel like you’re swaddled in a goat fluff cocoon, but also their unexpected (extreme, even!) pieces like cropped tank tops and asymmetrical poncho tops. For something with a more fashion-y flair, consider this autumnal Dries Van Noten bouclé sweater, this wispy mohair piece from textile geniuses Eckhaus Latta, or this alt bumble bee pullover from Zankov, a name on the tongues of all the New York fashion girlies — and with the winters they deal with, they sure know a thing or two about a good knit.
Coats and jackets
Ok, so we’re just going to start by saying that when it comes to jackets — bomber or varsity, denim or tweed — few out there are doing it quite like Celine. That said, we are among the first to recognise that few out there can afford Celine — us broke basic bitches included — so, while little will make you feel like this impeccable lambskin biker would, if you’re still down to make a bit of an investment, this Acne Studios alternative will more than fit the bill. For bombers, Alpha Industries MA-1 is a pop (and sub!) cultural classic, with Schott’s classic shearling flight jackets garnering similar cult appeal. Of course, no wardrobe is complete without the sort of statement coat that makes eyes gawp at first glance — the tricky thing with these, though, is finding one that gives cool as opposed to total fucking clown; a coat that you wear, rather than one that wears you. For this, there are few better places to look than Maison Margiela, whose autumn-winter collections, in particular, are a seasonal repository of directional outerwear — with AW23’s standout being this intricately panelled trench. Though, if you’re a person of more classic tastes, there’s nowhere better for the army-officer’s staple than Burberry. If, after all that, all you really want is a long, silhouette-swallowiing woollen cloak, then get yourself to The Row — or, looking at our bank balances this close to Christmas, COS.
Jeans
Of course, the most ubiquitously worn trousers worn among the fashion fold are straight-leg, vintage wash blue denim jeans, and most will agree when we say that nothing compares to a well-worn-in pair Levi’s 501s. For good reason, too – sitting just above the hip, they give even the flattest pancake of ass a lil’ lift, without making you feel like you’re fully strapped in on account of a generously proportioned leg. That said, just because the trusty 501 is so highly regarded doesn’t mean you shouldn’t cast your search field a little wider. At the higher end, Celine and Acne Studios (yes, we know) offer some of the most flattering fits you’ll find on the market, while, for something with more of an eccentric flair, Eckhaus Latta’s painted wide-leg styles are musts, while also remaining surprisingly easy to style (just get another of their bizarro sweaters for a get-up that gives Dimes Square native). An honourable mention, of course, goes to Bottega Veneta for their internet-breaking ‘denim’ jeans, which, as you know by now, aren’t made of denim at all.
Shoes
Of course, an outfit is only worth as much as the shoe that grounds it, so if there’s anything worth shelling out on (lol yes, we know we’ve said this for every category, but we mean it this time!), it’s a sheux. A necessary staple in any wardrobe is, of course, a good stompy boot, and in our delulu dressing land — where ignoring your bills for fashion’s sake doesn’t impact your credit score — the greatest struggle is choosing between these Celine army boots, Prada Monolith Chelsea boots and Ann Demeulemeester back-laced Henrica. Of course, delulu dressing land is, sadly, not where any of us live, and if you’ve abided by our suggestions so far, you’re probably pretty close to bankruptcy. But fear not – Dr Martens 1460s are a shoe imbued with permanent relevance and, honestly, can be worn with basically anything other than drainpipe jeans – which, you may have noticed, are conspicuously absent from this list xo
While heels have long been a staple for the girlies, these days, expanded size ranges from most of the chicest stiletto peddlers mean they’re now fair game for any fab dresser. From a Saint Laurent Tribute sandal to a Jimmy Choo Romy, there are plenty of heels out there which are, by now, canon. If you aren’t quite ready to step into a spindly pair of six-inchers, though, a good place to start would be something like a comparatively sensible Manolo Blahnik BB pump (a fashion editors fave, from Carrie Bradshaw to Anna Wintour), a point-toe Louboutin boot with a Cuban lift at the back, or, for the more ambitious, Random Identities’ sturdy soled Worker Boot.
After you’ve almost collapsed your arches running around in those, your feet will no doubt be calling out for an ergonomically designed trainer. On this front, it’s all about the classics — your Nike Vomeros, Adidas Sambas and New Balance 327s — though for something a little more recherché, make sure to check out their respective collabs with some of the hottest independent designers out there. A name to watch from now on, is, well, On, the disruptive Swiss sports brand, whose precision-engineered running shoes and viral Loewe collaborations have put them well on the route to cult classic acclaim. The Swiss really do do it better!
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