with black friday/cyber monday deals still lingering (and many more holiday sales to come!) and christmas lists still being penned, i thought it might be fun to share some of my closet mainstays. the holidays are always a good time to stock up on classic pieces since so many of them are offered at a discount. below are the items i’m constantly reaching for -both in creating my work and weekend outfits:

 

 

black dress pants || i’ve mentioned before that the last two years have seen my pants collection quadruple in size. since finding the wide-leg silhouette, non-denim pants have become part of my everyday style. the love affair all started with finding the perfect drapey black pant from madewell last year. i can’t tell you how much wear these pants get on a weekly basis. they’re perfect with everything from a simple black blouse to a chambray button-down. they’re what i would call a power player in my wardrobe -something i can always reach for and know that i’ll feel like my most confident self.

 

 

black leather pump || no matter if you have an office job or not, i think every woman needs a good pair of black pumps in their closet. it took me a long time to find the perfect pair, but these ones have become my go-to work shoe. the 4″ heel may seem quite tall, but they’re perfect for wearing with long pants (see the above item) as well with dresses to make your legs look a mile long (and who doesn’t want that?).

black long-sleeve t-shirt || i’m realizing now that this list is mostly composed of my favorite black pieces in my closet because this is my third item in a row, but c’est la vie, this is what i wear, so let’s roll with it. the older i get, the more i find myself simplifying my wardrobe. while i’ll never tire of a ruffled detail, i’m realizing that well-made basics (in natural fabrics) are what i’m drawn to these days. case in point –this black long-sleeve t-shirt from gap (from literally five, six, seven? years ago). even in the summer (on a rogue june gloom day) it gets worn once a week. it’s my version of sharon stone’s famous black turtleneck that she wore to the 1996 oscars (ironically her turtleneck was also from gap). though just a humble cotton crewneck, i pair this baby with most everything -from black pants (love a monochromatic look) to this skirt, to layered beneath vests and cardigans. and of course, nothing beats a good t-shirt and jeans. if you’re in the market for some new cotton tees to get you through the cooler months, i highly suggest snagging a few from the gap. unlike other brands, they’re err on the thicker side which make them hearty enough to withstand weekly washes.

 

 

jogger pants || so maybe i haven’t worn them a zillion times seeing as i just got them this past summer, but since being gifted these jogger pants from cindy karen before our honeymoon, and then recently being gifted a second pair, i’ve definitely worked them into my regular rotation. regardless if you snag a pair  that’s on the fancier side (like these) or opt for a casual cotton pair to throw on for a sunday morning coffee run, i’m a huge proponent of everyone having a pair of joggers in their closet. they can be dressed up or down, and worn throughout all four seasons.

 

cashmere crew sweater|| you know my thoughts about everlane’s cashmere crew. oh how i love thee, let me count the ways. i’ve spoken about this sweater ad nauseum so i’ll keep it brief and simply offer this counsel -treat yoself to a cashmere sweater at some point of your life. thanks to companies like everlane and j.crew (who launched their $98 cashmere this year), this luxurious fabric is so much more affordable than it once was. not only is cashmere among the softest fabrics you could ever put on your body, it holds up well season after season (with a few trips to the dry cleaners for good measure).

 

layering tanks || i consider myself a pretty modest person (the only skin i’ll really show is a sliver of my stomach or occasionally, my back), so when i notice that a shirt is semi-sheer or possibly showing off a bit more than what i’d deem appropriate (especially for work), i always grab one of my cotton layering tanks to throw on underneath it. i scooped up two of these h&m tanks (they’re $5.99 so you really can’t be that!) before my trip to australia nearly four years ago and they’ve come in handy hundreds of times since then. as i mentioned, they’re perfect for layering beneath a sheer or eyelet top to make it suitable for the office but are also great for wearing alone with a simple pair of jeans or tucked into a high-waisted midi skirt. this time of year, they’re also a great way to add warmth if layered beneath a button-down and/or sweater.

 

 

high-waisted skinny jeans || and last but certainly not least -perhaps the most worn item in my closet, especially on the weekends are one of my three pairs of high-waisted skinny jeans, compliments of my favorite favorite place to buy denim: madewell (duh). after i converted my jeans to exclusively high-waisted styles, i don’t know how i ever wore anything else! madewell’s denim is hands down some of the best (and affordable) in the biz. they nip and tuck you in all the right places and come in a rainbow of washes. i love pairing mine with sweaters (front tuck), sliding them into boots, cuffing them with lace-up flats, and pairing them with slightly-cropped tees. i recently snagged this pair and they are nothing short of unicorn pants (more on them soon). because at the end of the day, a gal can never own too many pairs of good-fitting jeans, right?!

tell me, what are your closet heroes?

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