Upgrading Wardrobe Style Staples

Ten years ago, a huge focus of my style journey was on upgrading my closet. Switching from fast fashion or poorly made items to ones which at the time, I would have called an investment. Recently I’ve shifted away from that language, but I still think the principle stands; quality over quantity. Spending a little more on certain style staples where you’ll get bang for your buck.

Wearing Uniqlo white tee; Arket jeans; Stella McCartney blazer; Saint Laurent slides; Quince camera bag; Oscar Wylee sunglasses; Mejuri earrings & necklace

If you’re curious to know where I generally spend and save on clothes, I talked about it a couple years back in this post. And with the exception of trousers – which can be worth spending on, if you find the right pair – this is still the way I approach shopping for wardrobe basics.

This outfit might look familiar, and that’s because it is. Just with a few small changes. I’ve switched out the shoes and bag for ones that felt more appropriate given the weather on this day. But the main upgrade? My oversized blazer. The H&M one which I’ve been reaching for a good few years now has really been serving me well, but the one, and I mean the one which I’d really been trying to track down, was Stella McCartney’s Milly blazer.

When you think about outfit planning, to me, the best looks are always transitional or cold weather ones. Anything that includes a “third” piece; the finishing touch – aside from accessories – which ties an outfit together. And that’s largely why I think outerwear, and tailoring in general, are worth spending on. They often get a lot more mileage than our other wardrobe staples, especially if you only have a handful you’re cycling between. I only have to look back at how frequently I wore my old Helmut Lang blazer to realise that.

Price-wise, quality-wise, and just overall appearance is a major step up from my H&M one. And it’s reinvigorated my excitement over basic outfits like this. Or just outfits wearing blazers in general. But the main thing I wanted to highlight here, is just how slow the process of upgrading our style staples can be. I think I’ve had this blazer on my wishlist for a good couple of years now, but I could never quite justify it at full price (well over $1K AUD). So I did the next best thing; I kept an eye on the pre-loved market, and waited. Patiently.

And I think this is why, when you’re rebuilding your wardrobe’s essentials, you shouldn’t be so quick to part ways with items that aren’t “perfect“. Hang on to them, as the road to seeking out perfection (which on a side note, doesn’t really exist within our closets) is a long one.

Next item on the list I’m hoping to upgrade? One of my coats. I’ve had my eye on both the Toteme annency coat, and the Nanushka Alamo coat. Both quite similar styles, but also a pretty serious step up from the robe-style coats I currently own. But knowing me, it probably won’t be for another year or two. Good thing I’ve got a lot of patience for my closet…