After a while, buying items that only are in trend for a month gets tiring and expensive. Buying clothing items that can seamlessly be part of any outfit is more reasonable.
A capsule wardrobe is the concept of buying only pieces that can rotate between multiple outfits. The pieces are interchangeable and can be paired together in any arrangement. While accomplishing a full capsule wardrobe can be difficult, shifting to buying more basics is a good start.\
Students who spoke with The Willistonian said that the most important basics include a good pair of jeans, solid colored tank tops for layering, sweaters, a pair of black leggings, and basic long sleeves.
Junior Isabel Sorkin-Camacho opts for buying basic tanks from cheaper brands since she rotates through them fast.
“I think that the cheapest places are where you can actually find good tank tops, like H&M,” she said. “Because I feel like those are something you cycle through quickly, so if you are buying them from high end places, you are just going to be spending a lot more money than you actually need to.”
While buying trendy items from cheap brands can just feel like buying into fast fashion, buying basics is not the same as falling victim to micro trends where you will only wear the piece maximum five times.
According to students who spoke to The Willistonian, the ideal number of tank tops falls around five, ensuring a diverse selection of color.
Alicia Lindinger, a junior from Passau, Germany, agrees that H&M has good basic tanks and tees and adds that ZARA, Subdued, and Brandy do as well.
The “MICROFIBER TANK TOP” ($9.99) from H&M is a cute tank that comes in three colors: powder pink, black, and dark taupe.
ZARA has a top called the “POLYAMIDE SPAGHETTI STRAP CAMISOLE”($12.90) that comes in seven different colors.
As for jeans, finding that perfect pair can be difficult. They have to be the right length, fit your waist, and not gap weirdly, while also making you feel confident.
Alicia is often confronted with this issue but finds that ZARA is her solution.
ZARA has a variety of options including the “FULL LENGTH TRF MID-RISE WIDE LEG JEANS”($49.90), “TRF LOW-RISE WIDE LEG JEANS”($49.90), and the “Z1975 HIGH WAIST LONG LENGTH REGULAR FIT JEANS”($49.90).
Isabel believes that Aritzia, while expensive, has the best jeans. She validates her expensive purchase rule, knowing she “would rather spend money on jeans because they last so much longer.”
Two popular pairs are “The ’90s Iggy Lo-Rise Jean”($110) and “The Farrah Hi-Rise Wide Jean”($110).
Basic sweaters are a must have for any wardrobe, especially in the wardrobes of those with a cold, snowy winter.
Isabel’s favorite is the “Clara Merino Wool Sweater” in color “Drk Nt Navy/Avorio” from Aritzia.
Alicia says, “most of [her] sweaters are from a like a lot of European brands but also a lot from ZARA, H&M, Brandy [Melville], and Aritzia.”
An outfit is not complete without a good pair of shoes and a chic bag.
For shoes, Isabel recommends Vejas and Adidas Gazelles.
Alicia agrees that Gazelles are a must and adds that having a pair of Uggs is something she could not go without, including that “they keep you so warm.”
When it comes to bags, sometimes investing in something of good quality really does pay off.
“I think that Chanel bags in particular are so simple and I love them,” Isabel said.
There are multiple versions of the “SMALL CLASSICAL HANDBAG” from Chanel that are simple and could go with pretty much any outfit.
“I feel like I love mini bags from like Prada or Louis Vuitton; they have a lot of cute ones,” Alicia said. “Also, ami has a lot of cute purses.”
The brand ami, Alexandre Mattiussi, has a bag called the “PARIS PARIS BAG” that comes in multiple different colors. The gold heart in the center of the bag really is the perfect touch. The “Prada Re-Edition 2005 Re-Nylon and Saffiano mini bag” is another basic, yet chic, bag that truly can go with any outfit. Both bags are listed at high price points of $1,180 and $1,390, but to some the abundant usage outweighs the cost.
Living at boarding school, having a wardrobe can be made easier. According to students who spoke to The Willistonian, in the dorm, sharing clothes often reaches past roommates. Frequently students around the dorm borrow each other’s clothing, making one wardrobe expand instantly; this can make finding a basic for an outfit much easier.
For example, Julianna Tatar, an EMV resident, says she always borrows from her friends, including seniors Sadie Crampton, Tess Legere, Mina Sugiyama, and her roommate Sasha Gerhard.
Julianna adds that a benefit of this shared wardrobe is that “you don’t have to spend much money, you just borrow your friends clothes.” She even notes her and her friends do a “closet cleanout” where they each go through their closet and give whatever they don’t wear to one another.
