You Only Need To Splurge On These 9 Style Essentials. That’s It.
by The Candidly Team
Our closets can be chaotic little caves of wonders. Those weird patterned culottes we know we’ll wear someday (not ever). Those paint-splattered sweatpants we keep in case we ever paint again (we will not).
No matter how organized they are (ours aren’t), it can be hard to retrieve the right mix of things to generate looks we love. It’s why we’ve created uniforms and templates and lists of absolutely essential basics. But the truth is sometimes it’s hard, because sometimes, our chaotic, over-crammed closets are missing something key.
I know. Seems doubtful. But think about it. We all have those “nicer” things that we’ve needed and longed for but would never allow ourselves to “splurge” on. The things we’ve been talking ourselves out of since we were 24 and could very well keep talking ourselves out of until we’re 84. Instead, we bought 17 subpar, cheaper versions of that thing which didn’t fill a hole in our wardrobes or our wishlists. And if we’re honest with ourselves, wound up costing us more.
The good news is that it doesn’t take a whole closetful of high-price items to make up for these gaps and completely elevate how we dress. We worked it out, and here’s what we came up with. Nine.
Nine true “investment” items that we believe to be, not just the essentials but the game-changers in making us look our absolute best. And we’re not saying they hold the key to undying chicness, but we’re not saying they don’t either.
1. The Timeless Leather Boots
Boots are probably the most transformative item we own. Pull them on and poof!! - our outfit is elevated to a whole new level. Which is why it kind of ruins it to have that plasticky effect that some budget pairs can give off. And look, we’re not saying there aren’t some excellent inexpensive boots out there. Believe me, we own them. But having that one (or two) extremely well-made pairs is sort of like owning a super-suit. You can rely on them to look instantly impeccable… and you won’t have to keep buying a new pair every time October comes around.
1. the eternal everyday handbag
We’ve made this case before. A handbag that we will love til death is arguably the most worthy investment in our closet. It’s our beloved sidekick - a thing that never fails us. It doesn’t bow to the whims of our changing size, shape, or age. It’s lasting, which means yes, we can spend on it, but it also needs to have a classic sensibility that makes it eternally chic.
3. The best Jeans you’ll ever own
Listen, there are a lot of wonderful jeans out there that hit at every price point. But if and when you find the perfect fit that accentuates every curve you throw at it, we’re very much of the mind that it’s a time to splurge. Otherwise, we just wind up spending an embarrassing percentage of our budget on one more pair, then another, then another. We keep chasing the dream. But we don’t have to anymore, because we found the best jeans you’ll ever own. And, actually, they’re less than $100.
4. The Leather Jacket
A leather jacket is just one of those stunning staple items that in a split second ups our entire outfit game. Plus, when tailored well, it’s probably the most flattering thing you’ll wear. Because a good one is designed to last, our investment pays off day after “incredible-street-style” day and night after “finally-feeling-glamorous” night. Although, we did happen to find one HERE for $170 that’s damn near impossible to find fault with.
5. The Live-In Luxury Sweater
Did it take Katie Holmes in an iconic, carefree moment to convince us that an oversized, luxury sweater is actually chic? No. We already knew its versatility was pretty much endless. But because it’s both an at-home staple (that should feel like a literal cloud) and a beautiful thing we wear e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e, we want to spend wisely and go for gold. We’re big believers in buying your dream sweater, because in real life, you will live in it more than anything else. There’s one brand known for specializing in dream sweaters. However, we also found an almost exact dupe for pretty much third of the price.
6. The Comfortable Heels
We admit, there have been days we’ve wanted to throw out every pair of heels in our closet. We didn’t really believe it was possible to find a stop-us-in-our-tracks, stunning heel, perfect in height and shape, that is also supremely comfortable. And, at this point, if it’s going to be worth it, it neeeeeds to be supremely comfortable.
But we found one, and it changed everything.
We yearn to wear them. We love to walk in them. Having them on makes us feel sophisticated, unconquerable, all the things we’re supposed to feel when we fall in love with a shoe but have never felt before, because it just wasn’t the real thing. Ok, maybe we sound crazy, but these shoes are that special.
7. The dream Coat
A really stunning coat has the power to make us want to walk out the door and wander the streets like some iconic movie star from… well, pretty much any decade in the past 100 years. Coats speak for themselves. They’re built to endure whatever elements and trends are thrown at us throughout the years. And this one definitely will.
8. The Perfect Fit Blazer
Blazers are not always easy. They pinch. They restrict. They bore. We want to rip them off and run to our favorite sweater. And look, we’ve found some fun, even gorgeous ones over the years. But when you find one that’s shapely, expertly tailored, a luxe fabric, and a fit that flatters beyond reason, it can easily become the most valuable piece in your wardrobe.
9. The lasting Loafers
In the world of flats, a loafer is the one we feel is most worthy of investment. Why? It’s classic. It's versatile. It’s comfortable. But it’s also a beast when it comes to durability. And that’s what we really need from something we literally clomp around in all day. A truly special loafer has all the elegance of a ballet flat but with a touch more character and some solid stamina. And, a bit of a plot twist… We LOVE it with a lug sole. You’ll see why.
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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