Trends come and go, but there are certain pieces that looked great 50 years ago and will look great in another 50. So, why is it that the classic button-down has stood the test of time, but we aren’t all still wearing JNCO jeans (or are they actually making a comeback)? If you want to bolster your wardrobe against the test of time, you want to choose your pieces carefully.
What to Consider When Creating a Timeless Wardrobe
Simplicity
This is the core of timeless style. Busy and loud patterns just don’t hold up over time, but simple stylings will always have a place in the fashion world. The same goes for accessories. Simple, everyday jewelry is just that: simple and everyday. Because of those features, the cyclical waves of fashion never wash it away. If nothing else, it’s a good investment!
If you’re building a timeless wardrobe, you want to err on the side of solid colors and simple patterns. When you’re looking to create a timeless wardrobe, you should learn about the foundations of timeless style first.
Multi-functionality
This is as much function as it is fashion (quite literally). If your pieces can be dressed up or down, you don’t need as many. This frees up space in your closet and allows you to invest in fewer, nicer pieces that you’ll want to wear for years to come.
Avoid Trends (Mostly)
If you don’t mind refreshing your closet from time to time, you can add in some trendy pieces. They can be! If you see a trend you really like, there’s no reason you can’t hop on the wave. Just know that in a couple of years, it may have fallen out of fashion. If you want to build a truly timeless wardrobe, you’re best served to avoid trends altogether.
Timeless Clothes and Accessories
Classic Formalwear
Formalwear has its own trends, but the core pieces always stay the same. You know the ones. Classic black dress, navy suit, anything like that. Formal and semi-formal attire tends to be simple and unchanging. Dresses and suits in classic colors and relatively conservative styles stand the test of time better than anything else and always look good.
Solitaire Rings
Solitaire rings (and their counterparts, the plain wedding band) always look good. If you choose a simple band with a center stone, that’s a style that will never fall out of vogue. Even as ring trends come and go, a unique oval solitaire engagement ring, for example, will be an eye-catching piece without looking dated.
Leather Jacket
It’s not something that finds a place in everyone’s closet, but it’s something everyone looks good wearing. Whether you go black or brown, the leather jacket just makes you look cool. This is best reserved for casual outings, but you can dress it up a bit for date night.
Classic Sunglasses
A good pair of sunglasses, like a leather jacket, just looks good on everyone. Wayfarer, clubmaster or aviator styles are the best starting points for most people. The beauty of these is that you can get away with a cheap pair (if you choose carefully) and no one will know you got them from a mall kiosk.
White Button-Down
You probably want two of these: one casual and one formal. The white button-down has so many styles and formality levels. As far as fashion pieces go, it’s pretty much unkillable. If you want to invest in a nice button-down, a casual and formal white button-down is a starting point you can always work from.
Canvas Sneakers
As long as the silhouette is simple, a classic canvas sneaker is a go-to. They pair with all sorts of casual outfits and still look good when they’ve been worn in. Still, you should clean them from time to time. If canvas isn’t your thing, the same principles apply for a white leather sneaker.
Light Denim
Really, any blue denim stands the test of time, but light denim is a great starting point. It’s an easy starting point for any casual outfit, and you can’t go wrong putting it in your rotation when the first day of spring comes around each year.
Classically-styled Dress Shoe
Think simple heels or oxfords with minimal brogue design. Having both is also an option, of course. Regardless, picking one of these goes a long way to having your business casual and business semi-formal covered.
Casual Boots
If you invest in one piece from this list, make it your boots. When it comes to boots, you get what you pay for. While you can get a good boot on the lower end, you should invest in higher-cost boots. Choose these carefully and look for something that can be resoled by a cobbler to make these the last pair of boots you ever need to buy.
These aren’t the full extent of all timeless clothing pieces, but they’re definitely the pieces you should start from when building a timeless wardrobe. Invest in the nicest versions of these you can afford, and you’ll have pieces that’ll look great for years.
