Go-to “Style” Essentials

That cool change I’ve been hanging out for finally seems to have happened, and I’ve been making the most of every moment. The knitwear is out, and jeans are on, and I’m an inch away from layering on a jacket. I thought today I could touch on three basic go-to style essentials.

Wearing H&M black/white striped tee; Everlane skinny jeans; Oliver Cabell flats (review here); Quince crossbody bag (review here)

This iteration of outfit is something I’ve worn over and over, with subtle changes. A different colour stripe; a slightly different denim silhouette; and maybe a pointed toe shoe. So let’s talk about these three elements which I can’t help but wear on repeat.

the striped top

The mariniere. A Parisian style staple, and a go-to of my own when I want to look effortlessly chic. I don’t add too many prints to my wardrobe, but I have a certain soft spot for stripes. Safe to say, there’s an abundance of bretons stashed away in my drawers. Whether it’s a knit or a simple short/long-sleeved tee, I like the fit to be relaxed. This adds to that effortless vibe, and I’ll almost always do a full or French tuck. If you’re stuck trying to hunt down the “perfect” one, I’d recommend scouring the men’s section for a relaxed/oversized fit.

slim fitting jeans

I’ve shied away from exclusively wearing skinny jeans; most days I’m wearing more of a slim fit. Something that isn’t too tight, and is easy to crawl around on the floor in (or bend over almost constantly to pick up our boy!). Denim is a long-standing staple of mine, and I’d hazard a guess would be considered a go-to style essential for most. I tend to favour ivory/ecru, mid-blue, and faded black washes the most. I love the extra bit of visual “texture”, and find that the slight gradience in colour to be more interesting to look at.

the closed toe flat

You’re probably as surprised as I am to see I’m not in my beloved slides; something I tend to reach for even in the winter. Thank goodness ours are mild here in Sydney. But when it starts to cool down, a good closed toe flat is my usual go-to. I love something with a pointed toe, but realistically find that they don’t wear as well. The toe can get quite creased, and I almost always seem to scuff it on one of the first few wears. I especially love this pair from Oliver Cabell which are the epitome of the classic ballet flat. A rounded toe; a vamp which covers the toe but doesn’t extend too high up the foot; and a grained leather which makes them more durable than you’d expect.