Girl Next Door / February 2012 / Wardrobe Essentials: Outwear

Feb 16, 201212:23 PMGirl Next Door

Wardrobe Essentials: Outwear

 

I feel like at this time of the year, I should be giving you advice on reinventing yourself, tips on what to wear to your newly-joined gym and telling you how to streamline your wardrobe. I don't know what it is about January that gives people the insatiable urge to throw clothes away and spring clean their wardrobe, but I'm really sorry if you came here looking for tips on how to do that. When it comes to cleaning out my wardrobe, I suck. I could tell you all about how other people say you should do it, but I definitely don't feel okay with giving you advice that I definitely cannot take! You see, when it comes to clothes, I am definitely a hoarder. But in my defence, I have good reasons for this. I have lost count of the number of times in which I have thrown something away only to find that I want it again a few weeks/months/years later. So now I am decidedly picky about what I do and don't throw away. You just can't be too careful!

So instead of telling you what to get rid of, over the next few weeks I will be going through the pieces that every wardrobe needs. Some of these you might have, some of them you may not have. You don't have to buy them all, but I believe these additions are a good foundation for an easy wardrobe. And by an easy wardrobe, I mean one in which everything goes together while avoiding 'I have nothing to wear' syndrome. You can definitely get by with only these items in your arsenal, as my plan is to chose pieces which will all co-ordinate well, but as I've said, these don't have to be the only things in your wardrobe. A small, organised wardrobe may be a happy wardrobe, but for me, I like a wardrobe busting with colour and print and fun. Most of these items are quite basic, so you might want to mix and match for different colours and prints, or have fun with accessories. The choice is entirely yours.

 

Today we're looking at outwear.

 

I am a bit of an outwear junkie- I own 10 coats, 6 blazers in various colours, three leather jackets and over 30 cardigans. Living in the UK, you need a cardigan or jacket all year around, so I have a mix of light jackets and cardigans for summer and warmer coats for winter and fall. What I love about outwear is it's ability to completely change an outfit, whether it's the tough edge of a leather jacket or the fancy feeling of a fur coat. While I'm not going to suggest you have anywhere near as many coats and jackets as I do, I think there are a few that all wardrobes need. I've tried to keep this quite basic, because I know outwear is quite dependable on the person- while I couldn't live without my leather jacket, some people just hate the look of them! Outwear is quite expensive, so I've just picked my key basics for go-with-everything outwear.

 

1. The perfect black blazer

   A blazer is a perfect addition to any wardrobe- from smartening up jeans and a tshirt, to adding an androgynous touch to a pretty dress to creating that perfect interview outfit. I recommend black because it's so classic and goes with everything, but grey and navy are also good options if your wardrobe is more in line with those colours. While they're a little pricey, I swear by Zara blazers for a gorgeous cut, but H&M also have some great ones from time to time.

 

2. The casual hoodie

   Yep, you read that right. I actually recommended something casual. Every girl needs a hoodie, whether it's a big cuddly one stolen from your man for lounging on the sofa, or a cute American Apparel one for sportswear luxe. They look great in bright colours and give a real cool edge to a simple outfit.

 

3. The denim jacket

   I toyed with whether to put this on the list, wondering if it was a little restrictive and in the same vein as a leather jacket, but then I realised that a denim jacket is the perfect wear-with-everything piece. Ignore the old double denim rule- it's been a huge trend for a few seasons now, and works best if your denim pieces are both slightly different colours. Great for layering winter (especially over the aforementioned hoodie), or with florals or a maxi dress for summer.

4. A collection of cardigans

   Okay, I know this is vague, but cardigans are fairly cheap and you really need a variety! However, your first post of call is a plain black one- which will of course go with everything, and then you can move onto different colours, prints and styles. I adore H&M for cardigans and have them in a range of colours. For variety try them buttoned, belted or worn backwards (my new favourite!).

5. The everyday coat

   The everyday coat needs to be a neutral colour- black or grey preferably- and a little bit smart. The kind of coat you could wear to a job interview. Not always exciting, but kind of a grown-up coat. Of course, you don't have to wear it everyday.

6. The Classic Trench

   I swear by my trench coat. It gets me from a cool summer all the way until a mild fall and always looks stylish. I have two, but my most worn one is a classic beige and is from Zara. I seriously love Zara for long-lasting outwear.

7. The fun coat

   Faux fur, bright coloured, duffel, plaid... everyone needs a fun coat to brighten up any outfit. This is a coat for the weekend. Feel free to buy a couple of cheaper options and spend a bit less than on a trench or everyday coat. Something to throw on and feel cute in!

8. The “you” jacket

   For me, it's my leather jacket. Something that you can throw on with everything and just feel you in. For others it might a fur vest or a leopard print jacket or a bright blazer. This is kinda a wildcard, but something that can brighten up a simple outfit and make it a little more interesting. The choice is yours!