In my last article I wrote about finding your stylish uniform.  I know it can be a daunting task, so I will share mine with you.  Keep in mind that what works for me may not work for you.  There are three things that I require of my basic wardrobe: I need to be able to layer my pieces, feel comfortable in them, and it is effortless to put together.

I love layering; if I’m out chasing my one year old son I need to be able to peel back a layer or two and still be comfortable and put together.  This is how I layer:  tank/T-shirt, cashmere sweater, blazer/sweater coat, and scarf.  From the moment leaves fall from trees until the snow melts and all is bright and green, I layer.

 

My tanks and t shirts are mostly black, white, grey, or navy. I usually buy James Perse, Alexander Wang, Splendid or Vince.   These are my favourite brands because of the cut, quality and softness of their fabric.

My cashmere sweaters vary in style and weight.  Some brands that live in my closet are by Vince, Club Monaco, and Banana Republic.  With almost every brand producing cashmere sweaters, I always wait for a sale to buy mine. 

I have two blazers that I wear.  The first is a black wool blazer by Diane Von Furstenberg.  I wear this blazer both dressy and casual.  The second is a red brushed cotton military style blazer by Gucci.  These are two instances where I splurged, but for sooo many good reasons.  The cut, fit, style, and fabric were worth every penny.  If I’m not wearing a blazer I wear a sweater coat.  The two I own are by Vince.  One is long and charcoal grey with a hood, the other is a three quarter length sweater coat.  Both are cashmere and wool blend.

To top it all off, I always wear a scarf.   Can you guess what my fabric of choice is? Cashmere! I prefer a light weight cashmere scarf versus a chunky knit for two reasons: the first is I want to feel warm not sweatyand the second reason is that there are endless ways to tie a lighter weight scarf.  The right scarf can brighten your face, add interest, and polish your outfit.

 

I rarely wear a dress or skirt; I live in jeans and leggings.  My jeans have to have a bit of stretch!  My favourite brands are J Brand and Hudson.  I have everything from skinny or straight to wide or boot cut.  Pictured below are my J Brand dark denim boot cut jeans that are currently my favourite!  My favourite black legging/jegging are from Joes Jeans -  I own two pairs.

 

On my feet I often wear lace up leather boots that have scuff marks or my grey leather ankle boot by Luxury Rebel.  The perfect grey colour, they look great with jeans and leggings.  They are also extremely comfortable.

 

With all the pieces above I play mix and match for the right look.  I don’t have to THINK when I pull my outfits together which is a good thing because after getting four kids dressed, I barely have five minutes to dress myself!  Each piece is soft to touch and comfortable to wear.  These are the basics in my wardrobe.  Yes, basics. I have barely touched upon accessories!  That is for another time.

Dear Readers, I would love to know what your stylish uniform is.  What do you love to wear?  Do you have any questions?  Please leave a comment, I would love to hear from you!

 

by Michele Bromley
Blogger at stilistaathome.com and Stimuli Magzine Contributor