Looking in your closet and seeing a bunch of things that are so distinct you only want to wear them twice a month is not a good feeling. On the other hand, I think we can all agree that going all normcore can feel pretty saltine-cracker bland—especially at this point, a year and a half post trend christening. So here I am, looking for a happy medium.
Bigger and more important projects have been launched in search of the perfect basic (The Row famously started from the quest for an ideal t-shirt), but it's a shopping project that's never completely resolved—one should always be looking for something that can be worn often with a myriad of other pieces. Because life is hard enough, dressing (especially as we crawl into August) should be easy.
Re/Done NO. 26HR110378 High Rise Jean : All the better-suited for wearing with those close-fitting tops you've been buying by the handful.
Trois Claudia Slip Dress : Equally perfect for sleeping in, wearing around the house, and wearing out. This is the kind of thing you won't get sick of, no matter how much you wear it. Also a good choice for the season—'90s vibes are perfect for when it's 98 degrees out.
Khoi Lee Swiss Dopp Kit SL : If you're anything like the 30-some people in our office, your summer is probably filled with a lot of hurrying out of the city on Friday afternoon and heading back late on Sunday night (or worse, Monday morning). Put everything you can't survive without in this sturdy case.
Valley of The Dolls : Julie Burchill said everything you need to know about this book: “About the most fun you can have without a prescription!” Add some sun and sand and you have something to experience for oneself, for sure.
T by Alexander Wang Triangle Bra and The Nude Label Basic Brief : This set isn't going to do too much in terms of coverage up top. But in certain situations, how important is that anyway?
—Claire Knebl
Photo courtesy of Jen Steele for Valentine NYC. A true basics collection isn't complete without the perfect button-down. Here are five options worthy of your consideration.
