Before you go on, no, this is not a story about jeans, white T-shirts, and tote bags. While those are all wardrobe staples, today, I am here to chat with you about pieces that once were wardrobe basics but somehow became trendy. These pieces then managed to make themselves right at home again in the basics section of our wardrobes.
Last year, we saw the rise of minimalist, expensive-looking style (some would even describe it as “bourgeoisie”), which ended up altering the way women viewed style and outfit composition in its entirety. What used to be a severe focus on trends shifted to a rampant acquisition of quality basics (i.e., relaxed suiting, nice knits, and practical accessories).
In a way, this major sartorial shift kind of is the trend. Suddenly, we look in our wardrobe and it’s filled with neutral hues and tailored separates, and the trend section has been replaced solely with basics, which brings me to my main point: The re-identification of basic wardrobe staples as “cool” shifted our closets entirely, and after a couple of years and multiple seasons, the eight items below have officially been deemed trend-proof.
To me, this means that basics were able to come back to life and find their home once again in the “wardrobe staples” section of our closets again. The eight pieces ahead have done exactly that, having passed the test of trendiness and timelessness entirely.
Here, I’ll walk you through the eight wardrobe staples I am deeming trend-proof this year—including mules, cardigans, and more.
Mules have reached peak “slip on and go without thinking twice” status. If that isn’t the definition of a wardrobe staple, I don’t know what is. Whether mules as a general shoe style shift and adapt to the current season at hand (i.e. square toes, mesh, kitten heel, etc.), they will always be “in,” and that’s a fact.
It seems as though women are slipping into wide-leg tailored trousers more than their everyday denim, further proving the versatility of this wardrobe staple. When this basic became “cool” again a couple of years ago, we weren’t sure how long the shelf life would be, but It girls have proven this trouser style has evolved from basic to cool to officially trend-proof.
Whether the cardigan is currently all over your Instagram feeds or is draped over your desk chair in case you ever need a light jacket, it will always be relevant. The ebb and flow of its hype is inevitable, but the wardrobe staple itself is here to stay, trend or not.
You don’t need to be reminded that button-down shirts are a wardrobe basic, but the fashion crowd set out to make them a “thing” again (and with great success, might I add). Well, the initial excitement of the button-down has lost a little of its lustre since its initial rebirth, but the item itself is still here to say as decades past have proven. Since we have yet to see a slow-down in this more practical way of dressing, we expect the button-down to stay along for the ride.
Can you remember a time when we weren’t talking about chain necklaces? I can’t. While the preferred widths and lengths have certainly changed over the years, the chain necklace has rarely gone out of style, and we don’t expect it to any time soon. Whether you wear one solo like in the picture here or layer them for a more statement-making moment, this necklace trend has surpassed the test of trends.
Chelsea boots, like mules, get tweaked every season just a tad, but at the end of the day, they are still the same Chelsea boots you know and love. This season, we saw exaggerated lug soles and higher legs, but that’s pretty much it as far as updates go, so if you’re looking for a boot to invest in, this style will give you years of style and practicality, hands-down.
It is so common to see big blazers now, but that’s because they have officially weaseled their way into the basics section of our wardrobe. Just today, actually, I was getting dressed and had to purposefully try not to wear a blazer. Well, guess what I ended up wearing? A blazer. There was definitely a time when blazers just weren’t as cool and didn’t feel as practical. Thankfully, the slightly oversized and structured nature of the ones we wear now have proven they are here to stay, trend or not.
I started acquiring a handful of pretty weird-looking bags that certainly read more “modern” than “heritage.” I predicted these peculiar shapes and sizes would diminish in popularity as time went on, but thanks to brands like Danse Lente, Yuzefi, and The Sant (just to name a few), these odd little fellas have done nothing but claimed their rightful place in our wardrobes as the cool bags you can grab—no matter what’s going on in the trend space.
Next up, the biggest spring/summer 2021 fashion trends to know. This post was originally published on an earlier date and has since been updated.
