Ultimate Basics

Everyday, at least once a day we stand in front of our wardrobe and choose an outfit. Whatever your day brings you have to make a decision about what to wear.

Do you stand in front of your wardrobe with ease? Can you grab a top, bottom, jacket and shoes in a few moments and then wear that outfit with comfort and confidence?

Or do you stand in front of a wardrobe full of clothes, looking blankly into it and find you have nothing to wear. You pull out that new top, look at it confused as you have nothing to wear with it and put it back? 

Like every great house, it all starts with strong foundations. In this case knowing your best colours is key.

You will recognise neutrals as black or beige. But not everyone looks good in black or beige. When I work on a ladies colours we look at her neutral colours.

These colours range from Brown, Navy, Light Navy, Taupe, Mink, Chocolate, soft white, white, cream and of course Black (to name a few examples).

Once you understand the best light and dark neutrals for your colour type, the next step is to understand your body shape. Do you look better in a high rise skinny jean or a mid rise boot cut? Are you best in a v neck t-shirt or round sleeve capped t-shirt?

Now it’s time to see what you have in your wardrobe and fill the gaps. 

Here are the key items you should invest more time and money in. Because you wouldn’t fill the foundations of a house with mud or clay? You’d opt for steel and concrete to build a solid foundation.

Top Basics every wardrobe needs:

Good Jeans that flatter your shape, Pair of trousers, these could be straight leg, cigarette pants or palazzo again whatever suits your body shape.  

Skirt pencil for smart or A-line if it suits your shape better. Wrap or pleated skirts are a good alternative for more casual day to day wear.

Black Basics look well on a Deep, Cool and Bright

T shirt, consider arm length, neck line or if you want fitted or loose fit. These options are based on body shape but also requirement. Do you need to be smart for work or are you in more casual day to day clothes?

Vest or cami. Good for layering but also on their own or under see through fabrics.

Taupe Basics look good on Lights, Softs and Warms

Simple dress. A shift or bodycon dress ill be a great basic if you work in an office or a shirt dress or wrap dress make great overall basics when it comes to dresses.

Shirt. Consider cut again but also think about fabric choice. Do you need a crisp structured smart shirt or a more soft cotton casual shirt?

Navy Basics suit all colour types. Consider if you need a light navy or dark navy.

Blazer, Jumper and cardi’s are easy to go to but are not as stylish as a blazer and these days you can get fitted and tailored or relaxed and ruched. 

Jacket you may have a winter and summer alternative here. Just make sure it's a great neutral for your colours and in your best fit.

Cardi or jumper top. Consider the weight of the fabric. If you are curvy thing flowing fabrics. If you are more rectanguler thing structure.

White Basics are good for Light, Bright and Cool

Having a few pairs of shoes, bags and belts in your neutral are also a good idea. Once you have a good basic foundation in 2 or 3 of your neutral shades you can play with other colours in you colour fan. It will be easier to play with green trousers, a pink top or an orange jacket.

Here in my final image I have used taupe and white for a light/cool/soft colourway to create a capsual wardrobe.

I’ve taken a few key pieces from each neutral boards and added a ‘fashion colour’ in this case light blue. Using 10 items of clothing and a few accesories have created 20 looks.

If you'd like to know your colours and style in order to create ease, harmony and sustainability in your wardrobe, get in touch for Personal Style Breakthrough call today.

Thanks for reading. Let us know you thoughts below.