Who What Wear Feature: We’re in Our 50’s and Use These 10 Basics to Stay Chic!

“With good basics, you’ll have endless options.” As I head toward my mid-fifties, that quote has become my mantra. Not only does a closet filled with well-chosen basics make getting dressed easier, but they also act as the perfect foundation to play with seasonal up-to-the-minute fashion without going head-to-toe trendy. I always like to start with basic pieces as the canvas and pair them with the latest cat-walk inspo. My blogging bestie, Janet Gunn, and I wrote about this very basic subject in our latest feature for Who What Wear called, “We're in Our 50s and Rely on These 10 Basics to Look Chic.” Read on to see some of our favorite staples and how we style them to showcase our own individual looks.  

What do straight-leg jeans, a blazer, and a white button-down all have in common? They are the holy trinity of closet essentials! Being in our 50’s, both of us have definitely had our share of “what were we thinking” fashion moments. But through a lot of hit or miss over the years, and experimenting with different styles and trends, we have learned one crucial tip that we now swear by. Basics are your best friend. Thankfully, as we’ve gotten older our fashion choices have gotten wiser! We’ve each developed our own signature styles by anchoring with the basics and then adding accessories and seasonal trends to bring out our fashion personalities. Just as a house needs a solid foundation to build upon, so do our wardrobes.

In addition to a few other key pieces like a crew neck sweater, white t-shirt, leather jacket, trench coat, black boots, and a classic handbag, basics are the building blocks of an always put-together wardrobe. Oh, and let’s not forget our favorite animal print…leopard! This classic cat has definitely made its way to basics status in our fashion bibles!

Acting as the perfect canvas to experiment with trends, these staples can take you from casual to chic in a New York fashion week minute! And best of all, they don’t have to be expensive! See how we each style our unique looks starting with similar affordable basic pieces every woman should own.

The Blazer

A blazer is a non-negotiable essential and you can never have too many. Wear a black belted blazer with a denim skirt trend to add a level of chic off-duty style, or pair a boyfriend cut with other classic besties like a white t-shirt, and jeans or a silk midi.

The Power Suit

Technically a blazer with matching pants, every boss babe, aspiring and established, should own one of these.

The White Blouse

Nothing says crisp, clean and fresh like the perfect fitting white button down. Our motto- when you find one you like, buy a few!

The Straight Leg Denim

Straight leg denim paired with the right shoe - classic pump or boots- can amp up your business casual look, taking you from a lunch meeting to an evening of cocktails and brainstorming.

Bag shown above by Parker Thatch - medium mimi camo bold red

The Cozy Sweater

Whether you’re going for a classic crew or mock turtle-neck, everyone needs a cozy sweater they feel fabulous in.

The Classic Trench Coat

A trench coat is always tres chic! Especially when combined with a classic white t-shirt and on trend denim. Checks all the boxes!

The Leopard Print

Got a little leopard in our life! Remember how we said leopard was a basic for us? We weren’t kidding!

The Leather Jacket

A leather jacket is a no-brainer in our arsenal of basics. What other piece in your wardrobe can serve as classic and on-trend, retro and modern at the same time?

The Black Boot

High, low, or over the knee, boots are always made for walking…in style.

The Classic Bag

Every girl needs a classic handbag to finish off her look. A pop of red adds a little flair to a classic, structured shape.

“Trendy is the last stage before tacky.” -Karl Lagerfeld

Want to steal our looks? Shop the carousel below for even more great basics! And to read the full article on Who What Wear, click HERE!