The Art of Wardrobe Building Part II: Top Ten Essentials

 (photo via deadfleurette.com)

I am assuming these are Emmanuelle Alt's Ten Wardrobe Essentials, and while her essentials may be a lot different from each one of ours, I think the lesson here is for us to sit down and really think about the top ten pieces in our wardrobe that we can't live without. 

Why? Well, because it helps streamline our wardrobe. It allows us come to terms with which items we really get the most use from, and which ones are worth investing in again.

My Top Ten changes depending on where I am and the weather of course. Now that we live in tropical Singapore, my basics have definitely changed. I am sharing with you a rundown, in no particular order:

1 - Current/Elliott boyfriend denims. So soft, I love the faded wash, plus it's really comfortable.

2 - J Brand black skinny jeans. When I want to feel a bit dressed up than usual, I pair it with a soft, silk top and pretty flats. Or heels on the rare occasion that I do wear them.

3 - cream silk top from Madewell. When I'm stumped about what to wear and I don't know if the dress code is casual or whatever, it's a no fail piece when worn with black skinny jeans or trouser-style denims.

4 - silver Lanvin ballet flats. Can be dressed up or dressed down, and is truly versatile. I've worn them so much I ran the soles down, I had to have them resoled at The Leather Spa. Now 

5 - Simple 85 Louboutins in black. I like how it can be worn with jeans, and is also perfect for cocktail dresses. After watching a bunch of royals wear nude pumps with various colored dresses during Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding, I think a nude version is great to have as well.

6 - striped button down shirt from +J Uniqlo. Looks crisp, fits well, makes my...

7 - favorite J.Crew cargos look a wee bit more dressy.

8 - men's striped Breton shirt from APC. It has the loose, boxy fit of Saint James, but in a more lightweight cotton

9 - Gotta agree with Emmanuelle, a Rolex, an oyster perpetual datejust in my case, has to be part of this. Hey, it's a classic watch.

10 - K. Jacques Picon Pul sandals in natural. Goes with everything, from dresses to shorts to denims. I don't even have to worry if it goes with my outfit, because oh hey, it always does!

Of course, I have other favorites that are in constant rotation. But when forced to limit to just ten pieces, these are the items that made my cut, simply because they are perfect for my lifestyle. I can pretty much live with just these I think. Like a  capsule wardrobe.

How about you, what are your top ten essentials? Write it down, keep it as a personal guide or better yet, feel free to share it in the comments section, or in your own blogs! =)

The Art of Wardrobe Building Part I: Bare Necessities

The introductory post to to our "The Art of Wardrobe Building" project struck a chord among many of you dear readers. I enjoyed reading your comments and emails and like yourselves, I am all the more convinced that this is something we should really explore further. Here's the first installment:

The first step to building a wardrobe starts with the "unmentionables" or intimates, aka underwear. When building your wardrobe, begin by investing in underwear that is comfortable and fits well. After all, great-fitting, seamless underwear is the foundation of a perfect wardrobe. Clothes look and fall better when worn without unsightly bumps, lumps and visible panty lines.

While it would be nice to invest in pretty lingerie from La Perla, Kiki de Montparnasse or Agent Provocateur, there's no need to spend a fortune, unless the agenda is seduction. Hahaha! Personally, I am happy with department store brands like Wonderbra and Jockey. 

After 2 years of wearing nursing bras (Bravado Maternity is the best!) I recently just started wearing regular brassieres. I started shopping around for regular bras about a month ago now that Berry is pretty much weaned off. But having been used to comfortable nursing bras, I can't seem to go back to underwire bras and had trouble looking for wireless ones. Luckily, I stumbled upon Wonderbra's Full of Wonder Wire Free Bra (see photo above) in Robinsons. It comes in two colors, black and nude, and of course I had to get both. The bra is pretty, fits well and is so comfortable, with enough padding so there's enough coverage for when it gets chilly, if you know what I mean, ahaha!  

I have been using Jockey's No Panty Line Promise for almost ten years now. I hate the sight of VPL (Visible Panty Line, in case you didn't know) on other girls, I have to stop myself from tapping them on the shoulder and telling them - "Jockey. No Panty Line Promise". This is one versatile piece. Whether you wear one under a formal dress or jeans, it just works like a charm. Since I can never bring myself to wear butt floss, seamless underwear  is my salvation and cure to VPL. Take my advice, get a couple in black and nude. Nude is especially perfect for when you're wearing white jeans or a white dress.

Emmanuelle Alt swears by Wolford tights, its in her Top 10 Wardrobe Essentials. But I didn't buy because she said so. I actually just found out about it recently, pinky swear. I bought a couple of Matte 80s back when we were living in the States, and they are totally worth it. Admittedly, they are bit pricey for hosiery, but I got mine from Bare Necessities because they offer free shipping and they're part of Ebates, so I got lucky there. With Wolfords, you don't have to worry about needing back ups since one pair can actually last you the whole winter, but that'll be gross so you have to buy more. They're just so warm and rubs so nicely against the skin.

You might also want to buy a couple of slips and camisoles for unlined silk dresses or sheer ones. I got most of mine from Target and Anthropologie. Marks & Spencer would have some nice ones. Of course, most department stores would have these as well.

Oh and add tank tops to wear under sheer tops and bandeaus for low neck tops. Zara and Mango carries these. Get a couple in nude, black and white. 

Lastly, if you need shapewear, then don't hesitate to get one. There are a host of brands to choose from - from Jockey to Assets and Spanx.

If you are working with a budget, you wouldn't want to spend a chunk of it on underwear. Just start with good quality pieces in basic colors like nude and black. You can expand your lingerie repertoire in silk, satin and lace when you've got, errm, all the rest covered.

(Photos from net-a-porter.com, Wonderbra.com, Jockey.com, Wolford.com)

The Art of Wardrobe Building

 (photo via deadfleurette.com)

Personal style is a much neglected topic in this blog. That is why I have decided to devote more posts to it. You see, while I do tend to ramble on about stuff that I want, the fact of the matter is, I manage a very small wardrobe. Ok, fine, small is relative, but believe me when I say, all my clothes fit in 2 small cabinets.

I do not have a walk-in closet, and if I did, I would have trouble filling it. 

Simply put, my philosophy when it comes to shopping is very Parisian or shall I say Parisienne, ala "A Guide to Elegance".

"One of the most striking differences between a well-dressed American and a well-dressed Parisienne is in the size of their respective wardrobes. The American would probably be astonished by the very limited number of garments hanging from the Frenchwoman's closet, but she would also be bound to observe that each one is of excellent quality, expensive perhaps by American standards, and perfectly adapted to the life that the Frenchwoman leads...Americans are often shocked by the high prices in the Paris shops, and they wonder how a young career girl, who earns half the salary of her American counterpart can afford to carry an alligator handbag and to wear a suit from the Balmain boutique. The answer is that she buys very few garments; her goal is to possess a single perfect ensemble for each of the different occasions in her life, rather than a wide choice of clothes to suit her every passing mood."   

Growing up, I had a very limited shopping budget, which I found to be well, limiting. But on the bright side of things, it eventually trained me to think all purchases through. I only buy what I love. I buy things that last. Now that I can afford to splurge at times, I do not settle for second best. I would rather have one classic piece or wait until I can buy the item I really want, than spend on ten trendy or "pwede na" items I would end up giving away.

When I was in college, I was worried about repeating outfits and thought it necessary to buy a lot of cheap stuff. Looking back, while I did have a some great buys, I wish I just spent my allowance wisely on pieces I can use up to now. Such as my first "designer bag", a Burberry satchel I bought for £60 (which was a lot for a 19 year old me at the time) at the Burberry factory outlet in East London, and a pair of Patrick Cox loafers. In fairness, the bag is still alive up to now. The Patrick Cox loafers, I have given those away years ago. While the leather and construction was great, the style wasn't timeless enough. Lesson learned? If you're gonna spend on quality, then make sure it's going to be a classic that can withstand the test of time. Otherwise, its not a good buy.

Sure, the drawback to having a small wardrobe is I tend to repeat items a lot. I have a pretty uniform look. But everything is in a style that works for me and my lifestyle. I can dress up in five minutes, because everything in my closet is true to my style and they all work together. And because I value fit, proportion and quality materials, even if I keep on wearing the same items, they will never look tired.

In this age and time where people seem to be obsessed about acquiring, hunting for deals, substituting and other fleeting fancies, I think the focus should be on building the perfect wardrobe. On a collection that "tells the story of your life". On quality, not quantity.

Watch out for more posts on this subject. If there is one thing I would like for all of you dear readers to learn from this blog, it would be a mind towards thoughtful consumption.