The 10 pieces i'd buy first if I was starting my wardrobe from scratch

(Knowing what I know now) *PLUS* a mix of DUPES & what's on my radar

I get a lot of questions from people who are just beginning to build a wardrobe they love, one with less pieces but without compromising on outfit options. One of the most common questions I get is where do I start first? I wrote a while back about where I prioritize my spend in my wardrobe, but today I thought it might be helpful to share what I would buy first in my wardrobe if I was starting from scratch, knowing what I know now.

These are the pieces I would run out to buy first if my wardrobe was destroyed/stolen etc. They are the building blocks of most of my favorite outfits, and I think each item deserves some serious consideration for any wardrobe.

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1. A pair of black pants

Aka my version of jeans. I like jeans, I wear them a lot, but after a year long no buy I wore my beloved Aritzia Effortless pants over 50 times! These are my black pant of choice because they go with everything and anything. I size up in mine for a little extra slouch. The only time I don’t wear them is when the weather really heats up, but other than that, these are a year round essential in my wardrobe.

One - Two - Three

Notes on the edit - I was kindly gifted the Le Set margo tapered pocket pant (I wear the XL) and I have to say, i’ve been so impressed by these. I spoke about them here. If you want to feel like wearing pyjamas but you still want a nice cut, then I would opt for these. These are also 100% cotton so great for spring/summer too. I haven’t tried on the Everlane everywhere pants but I think these would be great for someone who wants a more playful take on the black pant. The madewell ones look like quite similar to my Aritzia ones which is what drew me to these, and these have the word ‘slouchy’ in the title, enough said.

2. A pair of straight leg jeans

Of all the styles and cuts of jeans i’ve ever owned, a high rise straight leg cut has proved to be the most useful, and easiest to style. My jean of choice is still the Abercrombie curve love jeans, but i’d like to test out some other brands because I know not every country has the best stock of the curve love denim. A straight leg jean to me feels very timeless, and it’s the cut I always return to. It’s the ultimate denim palette cleanser.

One -Two - Three

Notes on the edit - After a year long no buy, I’m as surprised as anyone to realise Gap would be one the places i’d find trousers and jeans that fit me really well. My mum bought me a pair of linen trousers for my birthday from Gap and while I was there I made a mental note to go back at a later date and try these on. The Levis ribcage are always getting love from some of my favorite mid size and plus size bloggers so I also made a mental note that I want to try these on. The reformation one’s go up to a W34 and this shade of denim has been on my wishlist forever, so will keep you posted once I get to try these on.

3. A leather belt

If I only had a t-shirt, my black Aritzia Effortless Pants and a great leather belt, i‘d be more than happy to repeat this same ensemble until my last day on earth. (The one above is by Andersons) A good leather belt is a non negotiable in my wardrobe, and always comes with me when I travel, irrelevant of what time of year it is or where i’m going. There’s something about a belt that seems to signify so perfectly that an outfit is complete, and when something feels like it’s missing from an outfit, my first port of call is often a belt.

Notes on the edit - One of my most worn belts is a black leather belt with a silver buckle that is no longer available, so if I was starting from scratch I would go with the one from Ezra Arthur. The burgundy merlot belt from Mango is such a lovely color combination especially with the gold buckle, this is definitely going on my wishlist (also very similar to my Andersons belt). The Dehanche belt looks like it could be Loewe. I love the contrast stitching on this and one of my friends always raves about the quality of her Dehanche belts so I would love to try this one.