The Classic Five
All my life, I’ve always been surrounded by fashion. From the magazines that always covered the coffee table, to the images flashing by on the TV, I have always been influenced by the diverse world of fashion. It has always been hard for me to conform to any one fashion style; I always find myself mixing pieces and styles. On Monday, I could be rocking a pair of faux leather boots with a cut up concert tee, on Tuesday a girly, floral dress. However, my top five all time, quintessential, fashion pieces are very classic and very easy to switch up and incorporate into any fashion style. Here are my top five fashion pieces, in no particular order.
In my opinion, a piece every fashion forward girl should have is a classic trench coat. Any color would work, but my personal favorite is a neutral tan. Unlike other winter coats, the classic trench is fitted at the waist, which makes even wearing four plus layers flattering. I also adore the bold collar and even bolder buttons. My only issue with wearing a trench is that you don’t have a lot of wiggle room to add a necklace because the bold collar and buttons will overpower any other accessories you add to the outfit.
Another equally flattering piece is the straight leg jean. For someone like me who may be a little heavier under the waist, straight leg jeans slim out the lower part of your body. Many people believe that the skinny jean does the best job at that, but it's truly the straight leg jean. The straight leg jean is also a very versatile piece. It does by speak to only one style. From country to rock, the straight leg always comes through and can compliment any accessory.
No closet is complete without flats. They are the perfect shoe to wear with any outfit because they are so versatile. Flats are a very basic piece, which means you can pair them up with any pattern or style and they will still work. I would recommend having two pairs, one in a very basic, neutral color with no embellishments, and one that has a color, pattern, or embellishment. One of my favorite flats right now is the suede colorblock flat from Go Jane (www.gojane.com). I love the classic shape mixed in with bold colors.
Another bold accessory I cannot live without is patterned tights. I mostly wear these in the fall and winter, but I have found a few patterns that work year round. I love wearing tights in a pattern that totally contradicts what I’m wearing, like a plaid dress with floral tights. But for those of you who are not that bold, wearing a solid top with patterned tights adds just enough flair and creativity. Opaque tights in loud colors also work very well, like the neon green tights from We Love Color (www.welovecolor.com).
To round off my top 5 fashion pieces, each wardrobe should have a striped tank top. Personally, I prefer the classic black and white stripes, but a more nautical navy blue and white is very cute as well. Paired up with dark wash jeans and flats (here they come again!), and you’ve got yourself a very French outfit. With black and white stripes, it is also very easy to add bold color with your accessories, like a belt or necklace.
I hope my top five list has inspired your creative fashion. All five of these pieces are very versatile and can work with any fashion sense, making them the five essential, classic pieces every girl should own.
I am a sucker for Free People. Their clothes are always so comfortable and cute, which is why I was so excited to see their new winter line. Their Fitted With Daisies Dress in the color merlot is one of the best oxblood colored dresses I’ve seen this season. And at only $128, it’s a great buy that will last you for many years.
One of my favorite ways to express color and style is through my accessories, namely my handbags. And with Target’s affordable price of $20, its easy to stock up on purses in every color, even bold colors.