Style Staples Debate
So today, I wanted to talk about something that I see all the time on social media and in fashion magazines. I see it every season after season “x amount of staples every woman should have in her closet”. As a stylist, I actually don’t agree with these headlines.
What is a staple piece anyway? For me, I look at staple pieces as those pieces that are signature to you. It’s those workhorse wardrobe pieces you wear almost all the time, that you love wearing and need these specific pieces day-to-day lifestyle.
For me, it’s statement earrings, colorful blazers, fun yet comfortable shoes, poofy skirts good jean
But most of these articles label staple pieces as the pieces that every woman should have if she wants to consider herself stylish.
It’s always this generic list like a little black dress, a trench coat, a button down or pair of navy trousers.
My thing is, okay yes these are great pieces to have in your wardrobe, there’s no denying that BUT these pieces are going to look different for each woman.
For me I may want a button down with big poofy sleeves while Zoe may want her button down to be simple and crisp
Samantha may want printed wide leg navy trousers instead of just basic navy trousers, but Tracee wants black trousers that are high waist because it makes her feel like her midsection is supported and slim.
Angelique may want her little black dress to be body con while Eva wants to have a little mahogany dress because it compliments her skin tone better.
You see where I’m going with this. There is no one list of wardrobe staples that’s going to fit every single woman on this planet.
Because every woman is unique with different preferences, different body shapes, different skin tones, different ways they want to dress.
Out of all the closets I’ve been in and even just looking at my own, I’ve never seen one woman have the same staples. And that’s how it should be.
Our style is personal to us. That’s what makes style so unique, every woman is going to express herself differently through her clothes and every woman is going to need different pieces to suit her lifestyle
I think my biggest pet peeve with this style staples debate is: why do you want us to all dress the same? We shouldn’t be carbon copies of each other.
Our style should represent who we are and our individuality.
Dressing like everyone else is boring and I feel like these articles slowly create everyone’s wardrobe to look exactly the same. That’s a nightmare!
It’s not that I think these staples lists are awful, I just don’t agree w/ them. So for any of the ladies watching, here’s my two cents as a stylist, make the list work for you. Find the items on the list that make sense for you and your style.
Don’t take it as these are the must-haves in order for me to look stylish. These generic lists aren’t what make you stylish, it’s your confidence and how you were your signature staple pieces that make you stylish. So just remember that when you see these headlines.