It’s the part of the year a true shopper (like me) likes to call the doldrums. Summer is in full effect and you are working your gear, hopefully liking your look. But in the distance you hear it. Like a faint echo fall is coming. Now you are not exactly ready to acknowledge it full on. You’re still enjoying summer! Yet you can’t deny the itch to shop. Do you run out and buy more summer gear on sale? Nope. You go back to basics.
I call basics those things that are wardrobe staples. Those things that flesh out your existing wardrobe and make that garish Cavalli shirt or those zebra print Trina Turk pants make sense. They are also the things that you can pull out practically all year round and not even think twice about wearing. So without further ado, the Fab Five pieces everyone should own:
1) Flat front, light weight trousers in solid colors like khaki, navy or black. You can dress them up or down and go with everything. They also calm down prints and bright colors. Try J. Lindeberg, Theory and Trina Turk.
2) A pair of dark denim jeans with rips. Now I don’t mean crazy jeans with huge holes. I once owned a pair that had the crotch torn out (oh the 90s). I’m talking about a casual worn in pair that are meant for the weekend lounging or shopping in Soho or on Melrose Place or in Hillcrest. Just that cool pair of well worn comfy jeans that are still hot Like Civil Smith jeans that have incredible leather buttons & luxe details.
3) White collared shirts. They look easily chic and effortless with anything from shorts to jeans to trousers. The white shirt is a wardrobe staple and there are a million ways to wear it. You can do a tuxedo shirt which works great untucked and a bit wrinkled for a chic, cosmopolitan look.
4) A cool hoodie. It can be a true hoodie like the amazing ones at Bishop of Seventh. You can also go with a classic pullover from my new faves Spindle and Canister. It’s a stylishly hip alternative to a sweater but only if it’s a solid color. Look for cool variations from Literarure Noir also.
5) Tennies. I call them tennies because they are not trainers. The don’t say Nike or Adidas. They have names like Jack Purcell or John Varvatos for Converse. It’s a gym shoe in cotton or maybe leather that is sleeker and nicer than it’s ‘going for a run or to the gym counterpart!’
And that is how to shop this summer to transition stylishly into fall. Next month people it is so on! Fall/Winter 2009 is smashing!
M*