Good basics are the foundation of most of what we wear on a daily basis, but there's way to much polyester out there. These are my absolute favorite high-quality basics. And they are all secondhand because that's what we do here.
Sections
7
Better-than-Basic Tops
Workhorse Pants
Dress-Up-Or-Down Dresses
Timeless Accessories
Sets To Make Your Life Easier
Coats That Will Always Be Good
Better-than-Basic Tops
Great cuts and quality materials.
Economical and high quality and on trend.
Michael Kors Cashmere Striped Sweater
So much nicer when the basic is made of cashmere.
Cashmere Crew Neck Sweater
I love the shape on these Attersee vests.
Attersee Vest w/ Tags
My favorite pop of color this season is this blue.
St. John Scoop Neck Sleeveless Top
Everyone marks out hard for the Leset T's.
Bateau Neckline Short Sleeve Crop Top
Good length and neckline
A.L.C. Scoop Neck Sleeveless Top
Basic, high-quality shell.
St. John Scoop Neck Sleeveless Top
Good knit basic shell.
Crew Neck Sleeveless Top
The price is extremely right on this one and it has good utility.
Goop G. Label Linen Vest
Completely obsessed with this one. Like enough to want to spend this much on a polo.
Loewe 2024 Short Sleeve Polo
My favorite Attersee vest in another colorway.
Attersee Vest
Good for layering. Nowhere near as itchy as wool.
Michael Kors Cashmere Turtleneck Sweater
This poppy red/orange shade is my other fave this season.
COS Bateau Neckline Sleeveless Top
Iro makes great elevated basics with a little more of a cool-girl edge.
Iro Crew Neck Sleeveless Top
Great length on this crop for the over 30 crowd.
Leset Crew Neck Sleeveless Crop Top
People pay like $75 for a Leset T. This is an economical way to see if they're worth the hype for you.
Scoop Neck Short Sleeve T-Shirt
They say they're worth it.
Leset Crew Neck Short Sleeve T-Shirt
My second-favorite shade of the season in silk.
Tibi Silk Scoop Neck Top
Excellent staple for the right skin tone.
Theory Cashmere Turtleneck Sweater
Just look at this cute built-in tie. Obsessed.
Vintage Wool Tie-Neck Polo
Looks new and worth a shot to see if they're worth the hype.
Leset Bateau Neckline Short Sleeve Crop Top
Basics are better in cashmere.
Cashmere Scoop Neck Top
The cut and fit of this are spot-on.
Armani Camisole
Cut just low enough.
Reformation V-Neck Sleeveless Top
Perfectly fitted little cotton polo
Malo Short Sleeve Polo
Perfectly fitted little cotton polo pt. 2
A.L.C. Striped Short Sleeve Polo
Bustier, but comfortable
Square Neckline Sleeveless Top
For a bit of structure
Alice + Olivia Square Neckline Sleeveless Crop Top
The prettiest neckline.
Yigal Azrouel Silk Off-The-Shoulder Top
Ok, not technically a basic, but definitely a base.
Marni corset
Workhorse Pants
Like… for work, but also for life, if you style them right. Bring that price-per-wear right down.
This pant is basically always useful.
The Row - Straight Leg Pants
An easy forever pant.
The Row Straight Leg Pants
I will keep recommending The Row, especially sub-$100. They fit well.
The Row Straight Leg Pants
Max Mara's quality is fantastic. You can't go wrong with this for workwear and everyone sleeps on Max Mara outside of the coats.
Max Mara Virgin Wool Wide Leg Pants
One of my favorite workwear brands.
Akris Linen Wide Leg Pants
Brand to watch in a reasonable price.
Kallmeyer High-Rise Straight Leg Jeans
A pop of color in the pant is the literal easiest way to trick people into thinking your outfit is interesting.
Kallmeyer Wide Leg Pants
I'm very into these.
Ruadh High-Rise Wide Leg Jeans
Armani silk pants for sub $70. The price per wear on this one will come down to pennies.
Armani Silk Wide Leg Pants
Workhorse work pant for $65. Easy win.
Apiece Apart Wide Leg Pants
Dress-Up-Or-Down Dresses
Everything in the wardrobe should have more than one function. These dresses understand the assignment.
I hate spending on a formal dress because the price per wear is typically bad. This is SUCH a workhorse dress. Dress up or down so easily.
Staud Dress w/ Tags
The neckline on this is great and it will basically never go out of style.
Staud Square Neckline Long Dress
Insanely easy to dress up or down. Bring the e price-per-wear of your eveningwear way down.
Solaqua Strapless Long Dress w/ Tags
The literal sweetest shirtdress. On my list for a spring Italy trip.
Co. V-Neck Midi Length Dress w/ Tags
Akris is great because it's easy for work, but cool enough you can bring it on vacation for dinners. etc.
Akris Punto Shirt Dress
The sleeve situation keeps it interesting, but the shape makes it useful for a lot of different occasions.
Greta Constantine Crew Neck Long Dress
Timeless Accessories
Picks that will never steer you wrong.
I will still always buy some Giuseppe Zanotti heels. They make you feel like a badass.
Giuseppe Zanotti Patent Leather Sandals
Classic. Not cheap, but less than half of retail.
Protocole Watch
Obsessed with this shape.
Saint Laurent Square Tinted Sunglasses
Sets To Make Your Life Easier
Just as described. These are airplane heroes.
Theory stuff lasts. This is the perfect airplane outfit.
Theory Wool Pant Set
Another perfect lounge/airplane outfit that still looks polished.
St. John Wool Pant Set
Perfect airplane outfit, version 4.
Max Mara Pant Set
Coats That Will Always Be Good
I will never make a clothing list that does not include coats because they are the most timeless item in any wardrobe.
Perfect vintage vibes and collar.
Andrew Marc 100% Leather Funnel Collar Jacket
Will fit over any sweater and look chic. The mohair makes it a little more special.
Vintage 1980's Wool-Mohair Coat
Insanely well priced. Pop the collar up for the perfect funnel collar. I may need this right now.
Harris Wharf London Coat
Like a chic bathrobe you can wear in public.
Attersee Cashmere Trench Coat
I like a classic shape with a twist.
Co. Coat
Here's the thing. Goop makes great clothes.
Goop G. Label Jacket
World's best denim jacket.
Dries Van Noten Denim Jacket
Sweaters & Jackets You Will Always Reach For
We're going for forever-quality here, both in materials and cut.
Very “she summers on the Cape” vibes.
Jenni Kayne Striped V-Neck Sweater
Their quality is EXCELLENT.
Max Mara Cashmere Scoop Neck Sweater
Chanel vibes. Excellent quality.
St. John Wool Blazer
Like a chic little Freddy Kreuger.
Barney's Cashmere Striped Cardigan
Proper lady vibes. Excellent quality. Easy to throw over jeans and look polished.
St. John Coat
Wear this without a tank/just a bra.
Cashmere V-Neck Cardigan
Look up close on this one. The color is gorgeous.
Officine Generale Wool Blazer
Truly cannot go wrong with this one and it's under $65.
Nadaam Cashmere V-Neck Sweater
Preppy country-club vibes.
Co. V-Neck Sweater
I'm generally off Reformation, but I think this is a good buy.
Reformation Cashmere V-Neck Sweatshirt
It's the easy shade of coastal blue for me on this one.
Max Mara Cashmere Scoop Neck Sweater
I will basically always buy these.
Co. Cashmere Cardigan
The nip in this WAIST.
Richard Tyler Vintage Blazer
These hold their value extremely well. People mark out for them.
Veronica Beard Blazer
Pick it up cheap for next holiday season
FRAME Velvet Blazer
I'm posting it in two sizes because it's good.
Veronica Beard Blazer
My absolute favorite.
Balmain Vintage Wool Plaid Print Blazer
Very horse girl. In a good way.
Veronica Beard Plaid Print Blazer
Veronica Beard just does really good blazers
Veronica Beard Plaid Print Blazer
The perfect camel shade
Veronica Beard Wool Blazer
The cut on this one is great.
Hakaan Wool Blazer
The Row tailoring is not cheap, but it's far less than retail here.
The Row Wool Blazer
You cannot go wrong with a well cut navy blazer. I prefer it to black.
Veronica Beard Blazer
Great sharp shoulder here.
Sergio Hudson Wool Blazer w/ Tags
You'll basically pass this down to your children.
Ralph Lauren Black Label Blazer
Larger size of the other one I posted. Also far more economical.
