The six wardrobe items I cannot be without
The key pieces in my capsule wardrobe that work for me year after year
This week on the blog, I'm going to share with you the six pieces in my wardrobe I just could not be without. I always have these pieces in my wardrobe and I always, always go back to them. They have saved me from many a wardrobe crisis! I really think at this time of year, we all need a bit of a boost and one of the easiest ways to do that is simply by wearing a banging outfit that makes you feel great!
Before I get into it - I have recorded a podcast episode with all this content so if you’d rather listen when you’re having a run or in the car you can hear it here.
I wrote this blog because a wardrobe shake-up can really cheer you up. Christmas is a distant memory, we've had weeks and weeks of darkness and cold. You get up in the morning and it's like getting up in the middle of the night. It's still pitch black, you know? It's dark at 4:00 PM. It's just bloody miserable! Blue Monday was a couple of weeks ago, probably the most depressing day of the year. I’m just saying, at this point we're all desperate for spring, yearning for a bit of warmth and sunshine. Put a spring back in your step by simply changing up your wardrobe a bit and focussing on the pieces you go back to time and time again.
Item #1 - A pair of faux or real leather leggings
So, number one is a pair of faux leather, or, if you could afford it, real leather trousers. Now I have not been able to afford it to date, so I always go for faux leather trousers. I'm talking skinny leggings, but in the shops at the moment there are also looser, straight cut styles that I really like a lot. Straight-cut leg leather, faux leather, trousers or leggings.
M&S straight leg real leather trousers
I have the above M&S straight-cut leather trousers on my wish list. They look fab with that simple silk blouse and a pair of strappy sandals. A really cool and elegant outfit.
To date, skinny faux leggings have been an absolute wardrobe go-to piece for me are because in the winter I love wearing them with chunky boots and a big cozy, chunky jumper. When you add the faux leather or the leather trousers (usually replacing jeans) it really elevates the outfit and adds polish. You know, when you get over 40... I've talked about this on my podcast many times before, it's nicer to really look and pay attention to fabrics and upgrade your fabrics to make a big visual difference to your look. I am aiming to get a pair of real leather trousers at some point, but I've always managed with my faux leather trousers.
If you want to see me wearing the NEXT faux trousers above, go to my Instagram, which is @LisegillbeStylist.
Piece #2 - A cashmere jumper
I've mentioned above about upgrading your fabrics as you get older, it’s a really simple change that makes a really big difference and you can’t beat cashmere. I don't know about you, but I can't bear to wear anything itchy. I have quite a few clients, actually, that really can't wear wool and things like that because they can't stand that kind of itchy fabric on their skin. You know, with cashmere, cashmere is the softest, most pleasant thing to wear, and it just looks... Obviously, it looks quite expensive, it looks stylish, and it doesn't have to be really expensive either.
A lot of department stores now have really, good cashmere options. In the UK, I would suggest John Lewis., they've got a huge range of cashmere jumpers in all colors of the rainbow. I would suggest getting one in a brighter color than you normally would because that is really cheering at this time of year. While writing this (start of Feb), we're still weeks away from spring, so this is a little something that can give you that nice boost and feels gorgeous to wear - and looks gorgeous as well! Always having a cashmere jumper in my wardrobe has served me well.
Item #3 - A great pair of jeans
This is a basic, definitely a wardrobe basic but still worth a mention so I can share where I love to get my jeans because most of us live and die in them! A core, casual wardrobe item, we all need jeans.
For me, my two go-to’s are Topshop’s straight leg jeans or a pair of black skinny jeans. I like my skinny jeans in a high-rise so I don’t get muffin top. I tend to wear my black skinnies a lot in Winter with my beloved big chunky boots and sometimes dress them-up with a nice blouse. The straight cut jeans I like are called ‘The Editor’ and they are the style that all the fashion editors wear. That cut doesn't suit everyone's body shape because the straight cut is quite a difficult on some body shapes like pear shapes. It’s really important to work out which cut is best for you and stick to that.
Item #4 - A lace blouse
I had a really good think about these six pieces before recording the podcast episode and writing this blog, What were the absolute go-to pieces that I just couldn't be without, and what have I always had in my wardrobe for years and still wear now, so even though fashions change, trends and I had to include a lace blouse in this edit. They look so good worn with denim or leather - mixing texture and adding polish and sexiness too!
My ‘starter’ lace blouse was from my lovely friend Naomi, I got it in her boutique in Wandsworth in London called Anthology. It was a really gorgeous, neon-pink lace blouse and I wore it to death. I wore it with ripped jeans, I wore it with skinny jeans and trousers, a leather skirt and just with everything really, and it looked and felt so brilliant - I loved it! It’s that high-low balance of an outfit - something quite polished and smart worn together with something very casual.
I would never be without a lace blouse because I know there are so many occasions when I would reach for it solving many a wardrobe crisis and getting me my money’s worth! I would wear it if I was going maybe out for drinks with the mums or today, for example, I've got to go into Harvey Nichols. I've got a client tomorrow, a guy, so I need to go into the men's department at Harvey Nichols to pull together everything I want him to try on tomorrow at the shopping day and I want to look a bit smarter, so I don't want to wear a tee-shirt or another very casual item, a lace blouse does it every time. It’s an absolute winning piece. I would highly recommend getting a really nice pretty lace blouse and I assure you it will give good cost-per-wear.
Isabel Marant New Season Lace Blouse at Harvey Nichols
Item #5 - A leather skirt
The next item... Now THIS is the most worn item without fail... Not including jeans actually because they're so day-to-day, but the next, I guess, most worn item is a leather skirt. In particular this leather skirt that I bought from Whistles about five years ago. It’s so popular that Whistles re-release it every season and it always sells out.
It's quite a short leather skirt, but I like my legs. So, you know, one thing I say is try to accentuate the bits about yourself that you really like, and I don't mind getting my legs out because in the winter you can wear tights so it's comfortable and warm. I just reach for this item all the time.
If I've got any event going on at the pub, you know, someone's 40th birthday or, again, drinks with mums , Christmas drinks, date night, a party, or going to the neighbor's house for dinner… It's just the most wearable piece in my wardrobe.
Like I've said, I wear it in winter with tights, a jumper and boots. I also wear it in the summer with tanned legs, because leather looks really nice with bare skin. I think I love it so much because it really suits my personal style - it’s a little bit edgy but still grown-up. A-line and short might not be the right leather skirt for you but maybe midi-length and a-line or a pencil skirt is the right shape for you. - it’s important to work out which shape suits your shape and go for that one.
My beloved leather mini skirt from Whistles
Item #6 - A great dress
Number six is a to always have a great dress. My mantra is, - "If in doubt, wear a dress." Forget about faffing around matching separates, having THAT headache. For example, last night I went to a book launch with lots of potential clients I needed to impress but I only had 15 minutes to get ready!!!
So, I grabbed a dress! Works every time. A lot of people at the event had the same idea as me because there were a lot of dresses in the room.
Having a great dress in your wardrobe is a Godsend. The dress I wore to the book launch was from Topshop’s Idol range, it's a bit rock chick with a 70’s style pattern on it - right up my street. It’s nice and long, almost to my own ankles and I wore it with a pair of black, heeled ankle boots. It’s old so not available in the shops now - If you look at my Instagram, at @LiseGillbeStylist, you'll see it on there at the book launch in London. I felt good in it, like I was dressed appropriately but still in my personal style and I got three compliments! Because that one isn’t available, I’ve found one from another favorite dress brand of mine, RIXO London.
You need these go-to pieces in your wardrobe to make life easier so I hope this was helpful! Stop the headache when you're looking in your wardrobe in the morning so you can get on with your life, get on with your job, look good, have a boost in this miserable time of year. And come on... Roll on spring. I cannot wait for spring. I'm going to be very excited on my podcast when spring finally rolls around - don’t forget to subscribe and review! I have noticed in the shops there are lots of spring clothes in there now, so it is around the corner guys!
Lisa Gillbe is a personal stylist based in London UK. Get in touch if you want to work with her on your wardrobe in 2020.
