Everything You Need To Know About Fall Wardrobe Basics #2

Pants & Dresses

You say tomato… I say tomatoe. Some call them “Wardrobe Basics” others a “Capsule Wardrobe” … it doesn’t matter what you call them, the key is knowing they are VERY important to the overall function of your wardrobe. If your house didn’t have a foundation, would it work? Would it still be standing. No, of course not. Your basics are like that foundation for your wardrobe. Without them, it just doesn’t work. When I was seeing clients, 99% of the time the issue was a lack of basics and in some cases, you need to take that a step further and think: are my basics flattering? Do they fit me the right way? Do I feel good wearing these basics?? If the answer is no, you don’t really have the right pieces and it’s time to add them to your shopping list.

If you haven’t gotten your wardrobe basics checklist, subscribe for the newsletter here. You should also check out the “Tops & Sweaters” post here.

Have You Done These Things?

Before you move forward you should have already finished the following:

 1) Download and Print the Wardrobe Basics Checklists
2) Reference your closet to see what you have and what you need
3) Read “Tops & Sweaters” blog post

Dark Wash Skinny Jeans

My life is so casual, I literally have a jean-drobe. I probably own 100 pairs of jeans which is excessive, but in fairness, it IS a huge part of my business. 😉 I don’t recommend having that many, but at the VERY least, you should own one pair of really flattering, dark wash, skinny jeans. When you’re shopping, find some that have a very slimming, dark wash, minimal whiskering and fading, and no distressing. My current favorites are these jeans by L’Agence.

Some other AWESOME denim brands are:

*High-End*

Rag & Bone
Citizens Of Humanity
7 For All Mankind
Good American

*Affordable*

Levi’s
Madewell
Blank NYC

*Curvy*

NYDJ
Wit & Wisdom
Good American

*Tall*

Citizens Of Humanity
Express

Dark Wash Bootcut or Flared Jeans

Flare jeans are making a HUGE comeback and I’m thrilled!

Flared jeans should fit you snugly through the hips, butt, and thighs, down to the knees and then start flaring out from the knee down to the floor. To make your legs look as long and lean as possible, you should tailor them (or wear shoes) so that the jeans are almost dusting the floor. Think 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch off the ground. That is really not much and may feel instinctively too long, but trust me on this one, it’s a very sophisticated, slimming, elongating look. If you are tall or have really long legs, this will be a challenge. Look at Citizens Of Humanity jeans and also for “Tall” or “Long” jeans.

The jeans I’m highlighting above have gold buttons at the top which is a really luxe-looking and modern detail, but it also impacts versatility. Look instead for a pair with minimal details.

Flattering Black Trousers (Wide Leg)

There are so many trouser styles. The most classic style is a straight or slightly wider leg. This style will balance out your hips, butt and thighs. You can find some that come in petite and tall but you may have to get your trousers altered. They should barely dust the floor. Again, 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch off the ground to make you look as long and tall as possible. If you have a very casual lifestyle and do not work in an office, you may not need either of these black pants.

Favorite Trouser Brands:

1) Ann Taylor
2) Banana Republic
3) White House Black Market

If you prefer higher-end options, I would look at:

1) Veronica Beard
2) Helmut Lang
3) Theory

Black Ankle Trousers (Tapered)

These trousers should hit between the calf and ankle bone. This is also a classic pant silhouette also referred to as the “cigarette pants”. Some styles will fit more slim to the leg than others. You have to find a pair that fits and flatters your body the best. This style will slightly exaggerate hips, butt and thighs so please take that into consideration. It will also shorten your legs. You can keep your line longer by wearing all one color including a pair of black pointed-toe pumps, flats or booties.

Favorite ankle pants brands:

1) Ann Taylor
2) Banana Republic
3) White House Black Market

See above for designer options.

Black Leggings

Black leggings can be worn with tunic tops, over-sized sweaters, long tops, and blazers, under dresses, etc. They’re very versatile. I personally like to find leggings that are high waisted and have some tummy control like this pair by Spanx. I have their leggings in multiple colors and prints. These faux leather leggings give your outfits a little more edge. They are a regular best-seller among bloggers.

Black Skirt

The pencil skirt silhouette is SO sexy, feminine and flattering! Even if you don’t work in an office, I love having one of these around to wear out on the town for a fancy dinner. But you don’t have to grab a pencil skirt. If a-line suits you better, go with a-line or a flared skirt. Find a piece that works for you!! This skirt will work beautifully for the office, dinners, dates, holidays and really any special occasions.

My go-to brands for basic black skirts is Ann Taylor and White House Black Market.

Black Denim

By black denim, I mean black jeans. The silhouette, rise, etc are up to you! Remember to try on a bunch of options and find the pair that really suits you best. And do not forget to check out the rear view. I talk about KEY pocket placement in this short IGTV video here.

For maximum versatility, again try to keep the jeans as plain and classic as possible, avoiding distressing (above).

*High-End*

Rag & Bone
Citizens Of Humanity
7 For All Mankind
Good American

*Affordable*

Levi’s
Madewell
Blank NYC

*Curvy*

NYDJ
Wit & Wisdom
Good American

*Tall*

Citizens Of Humanity
Express

2 Versatile Black Dresses

You have so much freedom here! But, here are some things to consider before buying your LBD:

1) For maximum versatility choose a simple neckline and minimal details
2)  The length matters. You may want to opt for a knee-length or midi dress so your dress will work for the most occasions
3) The dress silhouette doesn’t matter, but it should flatter your body

Find more information on dress silhouettes broken down by body type here.

When you’re shopping, think about how you’d like to wear it. Do you want to be able to layer a jacket over it? Wear it with tights in the winter? Keep these things in mind and don’t be afraid to try them out…you can always return what you don’t like!

This is a series, and you can find the other Basics posts here. Don’t forget to subscribe to my exclusive newsletter here. And, thank you for stopping by!