In today’s article, I wanted to reflect on those understated essentials: the pieces we slip into almost without thinking, especially on mornings when it feels as though there is nothing to wear (and if you’re anything like me, that happens more often than we care to admit). These are the simplest of tops, short- or long-sleeved, that pair effortlessly with jeans, trousers, or skirts already waiting in your wardrobe. The quiet layers that disappear beneath a blazer or a slightly dressier jacket, yet elevate everything with the lightest of touches.
As I wrote in a previous piece, these are often the garments we overlook when shopping, or buy almost by accident. And yet, they are the ones we return to the most. I realised this about a year ago, and it completely reshaped the way I think about my wardrobe. Since then, I’ve followed the Pareto principle (the 80/20 rule) building my closet around 80% foundational basics and 20% statement pieces.
My everyday uniform rests on these quiet foundations: a simple, well-cut top, a pair of jeans (the cut, rise, or wash shifting with the day), and a beautiful pair of shoes: loafers, ballet flats, or heeled ankle boots. Then come the layers: a soft cashmere knit, a tailored jacket, or, in the colder months, a long coat. It is a balance that allows for both comfort and polish, clothes I feel at ease in at home, yet that transform instantly the moment I step outside with the addition of an elegant coat, a timeless bag, a refined shoe.
As I’ve been curating a capsule wardrobe for la rentrée, I’ve come across a number of these quiet basics, pieces that slip seamlessly into an autumn wardrobe and quietly hold it together. I hope this selection inspires you, too, to revisit the foundation of your dressing with both intention and ease.
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