Reader S has a question about which wardrobe items become surprise basics for the working woman…
Would love to hear you and readers share which pieces have unexpectedly come into your regular wardrobe rotation. For example, I know that you’ve found purple pumps to be quite versatile. Now that many of us have found the classic basics, what are some pieces that you have found to be surprise basics?
Great question! Personally, I find that there is little way to predict what will be a favorite — it depends on how an item wears, what surprises it holds (how low does that neckline go if you lean forward?), and how it fits after you’ve laundered it at least once. Still — there have been a few unexpected basics in my working wardrobe, including purple pumps, as reader S correctly points out. (Pictured: Surprise, South Lambeth, SW8, originally uploaded to Flickr by Ewan-M.) Other things that might not be on every woman’s must-have list of items, but are items I’ve never regretted purchasing:
- Colored purses. I find that really any color of purse works perfectly with my style — I have white, black, yellow, blue, green, red, purple — even multi-colored bags. I have found that I don’t carry brown bags as often, but that’s me. Personally, I find colored purses to be more versatile than colored shoes — I’ve had some bad experiences with teal-colored shoes (my pale legs looked positively sick) and other lighter-colored shoes (hello, smudges and scrapes). I wear my kelly green purse a surprising amount — it’s a fun, happy color that doesn’t make it into much else in my wardrobe.
- Olive-colored pants. I’ve always found this particular color of pants to be surprisingly versatile. I wear them with black tops, gray tops, even purple tops. A few years ago I even had a pair of olive green pants and an olive cardigan that matched almost perfectly, so I wore them together (with, I think, a purple tank beneath) — it’s more fun than wearing all-black, but not quite as matchy-matchy as wearing, say, all red or all gray.
- A good watch. Hey, no one wears watches anymore, right? We have our cell-phones and our computers and Outlook alarms to tell us what to do, when. Still: next time you’re at a big networking lunch, take a look around — and you’ll be surprised by how many high-quality watches surround you on other wrists, of both men and women. It makes a statement about personality (are you a Cartier or Rolex person?), and it also has a subconscious trigger that shows reliability and attention to detail. It also has a slight “I’m a member of the club” effect, which can be useful when networking. This shouldn’t be a splurge but, rather, a planned purchase. (I “bought” my watch for my 30th birthday — but it took me a year and a half of researching and deciding before I actually plunked down my credit card.)
- A good set of pearls. Or even a good set of fake pearls. But talk about surprisingly versatile — I wear mine to almost every big networking event like a conference, as well as to interviews. Pearls are also great for “stodging” up a hip look — after all, they are white and basic and go with everything. I’ve also used mine to “raise the neckline” of sometimes questionable tops — the bright white of pearls tends to bring the focus up to your face. Mine are around 7.5MM or so, I think, and I prefer the slightly longer 18″ length (but 16″ is also classic). Look for pearls that are as close to round and symmetrical as possible.
I think that’s about everything that might be a “surprise” basic for me — but I’ll keep thinking. Meanwhile, things that have been disappointments include:
- some bags that I bought because I really, really wanted to own something from that designer — and not so much because I liked the bag itself. I have a brown Bulga and a red Kate Spade that I never wear, and they make me sad.
- some “must-have” basics — the white blouse, for example. I’m just not a person who wears white that often, plus I hate ironing. Similarly, you have to know your own body — a boxy Chanel-type jacket is probably never going to look right on my hourglassy figure, and any pant with a tapered ankle just looks out of balance with my hips.
Readers, what are your surprise workwear basics? Which items surprised you by NOT being worn as much as you’d have thought?
Orange (muted – not neon) kitten heels. They go with gray, blue, black, and olive, and add a splash to an otherwise neutral outfit. I bought them for a steal to go with a particular outfit but ended up wearing them out and have never been able to find a good replacement. Maybe with orange being a current trend, I’ll have luck soon.
I have these orange heels and I LOVE them: http://www.scarpasa.com/product/buy/3173/p/
I don’t know if they are like your old ones.
I saw a GORGEOUS pair of suede orange peep toe heels at Banana Republic yesterday. Can’t find a link but they’re available in store.
Hmmm, it’s interesting that the link popped up automatically.
Plum-red colored stack heel 4″ pumps with squarish toe and self colored buckle [Picture them this way: if they were flats, and black, and the buckle were silver, they'd look like pilgrim shoes]. They’re amazingly stable and comfortable, jazz up the black suit/ivory blouse thing, go with my gray, pinstripe and camel colored slacks and just about everything else, work-wise, in my closet. The 4″ heel gives my 5’2″ self some much-needed height without being teeter-y. Best of all, despite being an I’ll-pay-what-I-have-to-to-get-my-Donald Pliners/Stuart Weitzmans sort of girl, despite being a government worker with a strict budget, these are Nine Wests that I got at a discounter for $19.99. I got them last fall and bet I’m already down to pennies per wear.
Surprise basic – dresses! I used to be a separates only buyer but have embraced the dress as a go-to on the ‘what the heck do I wear?’ mornings. My favorites include
1. black shirt dress (which I pop with a colorful belt)
2. boat neck sleeveless green sheath dress
I also love red and purple accents (shoes or handbag).
Seconded! Once I purchased a few cardigans, boots and a large stash of stockings, dresses have turned out to be the easiest thing to put on in the morning.
I have a light gray knit blazer that goes with 90% of my wardrobe. I bought in on a whim when I was shopping in Canada (I think I got it from Mexx). It adds structure to a more casual outfit without looking too formal and it tones down more formal outfits. I usually don’t wear gray because it washes out my skin color and it’s nice to have a way to incorporate it into my wardrobe.
Agree on the white shirt. I wear mine once in awhile but it spends way too much time in the ironing pile.
Surprise go-tos for me include a big yellow leather purse on clearance from Aldo and a yellow ruffled tank that I wear to work under a black or navy cardigan. I’m not a big yellow person but both pieces have made a huge difference in my wardrobe. I also got a shrunken black and white houndstooth blazer on uber-sale from the JCrew outlet near me YEARS ago, and man do I wear the heck out of that thing!
A year ago I bought a silver and black-ish necklace from Stephen Webster on a splurge. Turns out I wear it almost every day, since it goes with everything and is sort of my version of pearls.
Orange cardigan. I got one years ago and literally wore it out — it’s a great color with khaki, gray, or certain shades of green.
A big surprise for me is a long silver chain necklace that I bought in New Orleans for almost nothing. It is just gorgeous and works with all kinds of things.
Oh, do visit Raymond’s – India’s best known men’s suitings shop (get address from concierge). You’ll get great fabric (the kind i wish people would make dresses in for women) in tropical /lightweight wool or wool blends. they can make it up OR get it done in the States. Great Prices & wonderful quality.
ok, this was for the ‘rette asking for chennai tips. not sure why it posted here – sorry!
Thanks, very helpful! I am liking the idea of getting a dress made while there. Maybe I can buy fabric from this store.
On a related note to the watch discussion…anyone else have this problem? I asked hubby for a watch for Christmas, and pointed out a few that I liked, some had a few “diamonds” lining the side of the watch but still very conservative. Instead I got a full-on bling watch from a very young brand (Esprit)…I wear it as much as I can bear but it is so…flashy and not me! I should have had him return it right away but I thought maybe I would grow to like it…nope. Plus I hate returning gifts…but I also don’t like wearing this kind of a watch. Any suggestions?
Do you have niece or young cousin who might like it assuming your husband is ok with that? You can say you outgrew the watch.
My husband never gets my gifts right either. :(
I would wait awhile, pretending to like it, and then one day after achieving something difficult at work, tell him you feel you deserve to splurge on yourself and you need to upgrade to a more grown-up watch.
I have traded many of my husband’s gifts. He’s told me that he would rather have me exchange it than to hold on to something I don’t love.
Medium sized mixed white and yellow gold hoops (yellow with a thin rope of white in the middle). My aunt gave them to me for college graduation and I was annoyed (ungrateful brat) because I never wore gold anything and she knew that. Fast forward 10+ years and they’re my go-to earrings for work. They’re lovely, classy, elegant, just like my aunt, and I am so glad she bought them knowing I’d love them when I grew up a bit more.