The best basics

If you’re looking for piece to add to your capsule wardrobe, a great way to start is with basics.

As a former and recovering shopaholic (if you don’t already know, I am trying out a low-buy this year and have successfully completed a no-buy in January). Over the past few years, I have invested a lot of time and money trying and testing basics and have been able to find my absolute favourite items.

Here are a few of my favourite basics. Whether you are a minimalist with a capsule wardrobe or a maximalist shopaholic, basics are essential and it is so important to find pieces that work for you and your lifestyle.

Let me also just clarify that basics may look different for everyone, there is no one size fits all formula. Perhaps you are not a crewneck cut T-shirt girl and prefer v-necks or cannot stand bodysuits. However, hopefully you find some value in my research and suggestions. Perhaps I can inspire you to try something new or to find some new basics for your own wardrobe, if that is what you are looking for!

If you are washing and wearing an item over and over again, it may be something you may want to spend a little but more money on (or even purchase duplicates).

Anyway, now to my list:

1. The BEST Jeans – Levi’s 501 skinny

For context, am on the petite side, I am only 5 feet and I usually wear a size 26 in jeans. Also, I have a more rectangle shape (or athletic if thats what you want to call it).

I have tried jeans from several popular brands including American Eagle, Dynamite, and Abercrombie and none of these jeans were anywhere close to my favourite jeans from Levis. 

So my un-popular opinion is that I really enjoy non-stretch denim. I find it a lot more flattering and more “jean-like”, it doesn’t stretch out over time (which was a huge issue for me in the past) and it really does a good job of sucking everything in. The thing with these types of jeans is that you need to break them in a few times before they become comfortable.

With Levis jeans, they will usually be very tight at first but buy your normal size and after a few uses, you will LOVE them. I know everyone is different and perhaps 100% or almost 100% cotton jeans may not be for you – but I do encourage you to give it a try. 

My favourite cut are the 501 skinny. I have also tried the Wedgie but I find the 501 skinny more versatile. 

P.S. don’t let the name fool you, although these are labelled as skinnny jeans they are more of a slim fit. The Wedgie cut is more of a straight fit. Don’t worry ladies I know apmany are in a bit of distress over this side part skinny Jeans controversy haha!

2. T-shirts – U Crew neck from uniqlo

I have also tried many basic t-shirts and my absolute FAVOURITE is the U crew neck T-shirts from Uniqlo. The fabric of these shirts is very nice especially for the price. I have tried T-shirts from many different brands including Artizia and Abercrombie and the Uniqlo T-shirts are superior. They do not stretch out, fade or lose its shape. 

3. Bodysuits – Artizia bodysuits

Ok I was never really a bodysuit girl, but let me just say that with a good bodysuit you can easily create a nice, clean outfit. Nothing is more messy than tucking in a shirt only for it to shift around or, even worse, bunch up under your pants or jeans. This is why a good quality bodysuit is a must. 

I have tried and returned bodysuits from Abercrombie and have found that the best ones I’ve found are from Aritzia. The price on their bodysuits are pretty reasonable and the material is great quality and very thick. There are several different cuts and colours to choose from as well. I would size up or go with your normal size as these bodysuits tend to fit slightly smaller. 

4. Leggings

Last but not least, let’s talk tights. I am really just referring to regular black tights. My absolute favourite tights are the Lululemon aligns (so comfortable) and Aritzia’s Tna butter tights are a good alternative and are slightly cheaper. For a great budget friendly alternative, you may also want to check out Uniqlo’s Airism tights. The fabric is really nice and smooth. Another great place to check is Aerie – they usually have regular sales so I would keep an eye out for that before purchasing. 

5. Faux leather leggings – Commando leggings

Another basic is leather leggings, I purchased a pair last year from Nordstrom and they have quickly become a regular item in my closet. I have previously owned the Daria legging from Aritzia and I ended up selling it on Poshmark. The quality was just not up to par, it was thin and plastic-like, it did not help that I may not have purchased the correct size. Last year after debating on whether to get the Spanx or the Commando, I settled on the Commando after going into the store to examine (pre-lockdown).

I am glad I took a look in-person because the two are very different. The Spanx were more of a comfort legging and less of a “leather”-like material whereas the Commando was much more thick and felt like a more substantial legging. I think I will probably purchase the Spanx version in the future given how much use I’ve gotten out of the Commando so far. 

And that concludes my basics round-up. Let me know what you consider a “basic” in your wardrobe (I understand that may be different for each person) and whether there are any suggestions you are looking for!