The Best Wardrobe Basics

Sometimes the most difficult pieces to find are basics.  A couple of weeks ago, I did a post all about the best basic t-shirts and I got so much positive feedback about it, and I realized that I must not be the only one that has a hard time finding good, comfortable basics.  So today I wanted to share all of my favorite wardrobe basics with you!  Hopefully you can find some new pieces to incorporate into your everyday wardrobe!

Free People High Waist Ankle Skinny Jeans

These Free People jeans have been my favorite for a while now (I even included them in my April favorites post)!  They have the best stretch and are just the right amount of high rise.  You can wear cropped tops and sweaters without showing your stomach at all.  They are also the BEST for travel!  I typically don’t like wearing denim when I travel because they can be uncomfortable, but not these.  They seriously feel like leggings but definitely don’t look it.  Definitely one of my pet peeves, and grateful we are past the “jegging” trend…haha!  I get tons of compliments on these every single time I wear them.  I also own this washed black pair, and really need to pull the trigger on the white pair.  But heads up: these run one full size small!  I wear a 26 and am typically a 24-25.  And, the length is perfect on me without any hemming required (I’m 5′ 1″ so they are longer than the model here, but not too long)!

Vince ‘Blair’ Slip-On Sneakers

I finally got myself to splurge on these white sneakers that I had been eyeing for months right before our Italy trip.  I knew that I was going to need a good pair of sneakers that I could do a lot of walking in, and wanted a pair that I could wear with everything.  These look so cute with everything from jeans, to shorts, to dresses and I wore them almost every day while we were on our trip.  when I started my search, but didn’t want to splurge on them.  I wear mine with a no show sock because I don’t like to wear sneakers without socks, but if you could definitely go either way with these.  They are the ultimate Summer shoe, and an absolute must if you are headed on a trip where you’ll be doing a lot of walking!

Leith Rouched Body-Con Tank Dress

If I could recommend one item in my closet to you guys, this would be it.  I mean, it probably is the only single piece of clothing that I own in FIVE colors, so that is saying something in itself.  Literally, this dress is a game changer on everyone.  My mom owns it, my sisters own it, and basically every other girl I have convinced to try it on has bought at least one.  The ruching (or gathers) makes it flattering on every body type.  I’ve seen this dress on women of every size, from xs-xl and it makes every girl look amazing! This year I added the “red tannin” color to my closet (it’s like a Burgundy color).  It looks cute dressed up or down, and I love pairing them with a denim jacket or kimono!  It has almost 2,000 reviews on Nordstrom’s site, and it averages 5 stars!!

AGOLDE Parker Distressed Denim Shorts

I don’t really know why I even buy other denim shorts because every time I want to wear a pair, I reach for these.  They are the perfect cutoff for Summer.  I bought them last year and thought that they were kind of a splurge, but trust me, for the amount of times that you will wear them it is super reasonable!  originally I ordered my true size (a 25) and ended up exchanging them for a size down.  If you are between sizes, go with the smaller and if you prefer a tighter fit, size down as well!

Hinge Jersey Tank

Finding a good tank top to wear under things can be as difficult as finding a good t-shirt if you ask me.  I have probably bought 50 different tanks over the years and have never stuck with one because I never really found one that I loved.  One day while I was shopping at Nordstrom, I tried on a shirt that needed a tank underneath so the saleswoman brought me this one. Let’s just say that I ended up leaving the store that day with one in every color!  They do run pretty tight, so I sized up to a small, but they are the comfiest tank tops EVER.  Finding good basics like this is a must because it can make all the difference in the comfort of your outfit.  My most worn color is the nude color because I love that it doesn’t show up under white tops but it does make them less sheer.

Raw Edge Side Slit Tee

I did a whole post on t-shirts a little while back, but wasn’t able to include this one because it was out of stock.  It is one of my favorite wardrobe basics and one of my favorite t-shirts of all time.  I bought it in a few colors last year and have worn them regularly ever since.  It is a little bit oversized, and my true size (xs) fits just like it does here on the model.  The bit of extra room and the small side slits make it super easy to “front tuck” into a pair of jeans.  Definitely snag as many of these as you can while they are in stock and on sale!  You really can’t beat $15 for a t-shirt and I have no idea how long they will last at that price!

Abercrombie Lace Trim Cami

This lace trim tank is one of the most worn pieces in my closet.  I own it in multiple colors because it is the perfect item to pair with jeans and a cardigan for a more casual look, but it can be dressed up under a blazer for a more office appropriate outfits as well!  I actually just wore it last weekend by itself with the denim shorts I talked about above for a simple outfit made up of just basics (see it HERE!).  As far as sizing goes, this runs pretty true to size, but if you are fuller chested, definitely size up because the lace doesn’t allow for much stretch.

Aerie Lightly Lined Bra

Kind of random to include a bra, but what classify more as a “wardrobe basic” than a bra, right?!  Up until last year I had been buying Victoria’s Secret bras that in my personal opinion were overpriced for the quality.  I stumbled upon this bra on the Aerie site one day while I was shopping for something completely different and decided to just try it since it was only $25.  It is hands down the most comfortable and best fitting bra I have ever owned!  Being pretty small chested, I don’t need the support of a high-end bra, so I never really wanted to spend the money on one.  This bra is perfect and I now own 7.  Literally I just don’t want them to discontinue it, and I can buy 3 for the price of 1 expensive bra.  As far as sizing goes, I bought my true size!

What are your favorite wardrobe basics that you can’t live without?  Share in the comments below!