Ever compliment your mom or grandma on a piece of clothing and receive a response like “ahh this old thing? I’ve had it since college.” This is the definition of collecting closet classics. Let’s leave the habit of spending $100s on poorly made clothes in 2022. 2023 is all about bringing back timeless clothing that keeps trending through every season.
Below you’ll find tips on how to style such classics, advice on collecting new quality items, and how to purge. But first, what are timeless classics and how to find them?
Defining Timeless Closet Classics
Allie’s Definition: Timeless classics focus on a combination of elevated basics, sophisticated statement pieces, and purposeful accessories that point to personal style. Such clothing items do not identify with a particular decade or fashion trend but instead, focus on versatility and elegant presentation.
💡Tip: Experiment to find what your personalized color wheel looks like. Then be consistent within a collection of the colors and patterns that best compliments your complexion and color preferences. I made a pigment wheel/flower in the iPad application Procreate—click below for a download you can color or digitally fill in.
While I stick to this color pallet 80% of the time, I also like to explore more out-of-the-wheel clothing. The 80-20 rule is often talked about in relation to healthy eating but can also be applied to fashion. My approach to fashion is 80% closet classics, and 20% experimentation with new trends and ideas. This style recipe reflects my personality and lends to the definition of timeless classics above.
Fashion that Won’t Expire
The first word that comes to mind when I think about finding classic clothing options is Vogue. Vogue Magazines encompass the timeless and the while effortless combining the old and new. A glaringly obvious notion that fashion is circular—what was once new, will undoubtedly feel old, and thus, will one day be highlighted as new again. There are a few ways to decipher what is a potentially fading fad and what will endure throughout time. Here are my tips:
- Stay away from gaudy patterns and excessive embellishments.
- Have a short list of items you want to purchase before shopping so you stay focused. When you shop without a clear direction, it’s like going to the grocery store hungry, you leave with a much longer receipt than you’d planned for.
- Think neutral tones—nothing says classic like the color white.
💡Tip: Here are a few ways I keep my whites, white…
- Treat stains as soon as they happen with products such as Spot Remover, On-the-go Pen, or a Detergent Bar
- Don’t over-use laundry products but do use a whitening booster
- Wash whites more frequently than other clothes and when you do, use the extra rinse cycle
Trying on the Classics
While most of these links will take you to online shopping options, I have also found Zara, H&M, and Walmart (yes, Walmart) to be great budget options for basics like the white T, V-neck, camisoles, scoop-neck tops, etc.
Outerwear
Shoes
Top Half
Bottom Half
💡Tip: Buy clothes that fit. This sounds obvious but studies show that 70% of women are wearing the incorrect size. More information on this is in the article, Clothing Sizes Are Broken, by the Wall Street Journal.
Accessorizing Closet Classics
A few things to remember while you think about adding accessories to closet classics:
- Always invest in quality pieces that will stand the test of time. Whichever metal you prefer, it’s always better to have quality over quantity. For me right now this means dainty gold pieces. I also love a mixed-metal look, so occasionally when I find unique silvers pieces, I incorporate those into my everyday jewelry lineup.
- Less is more when it comes to perfume. I was taught to spray one-two pumps of scent right in front of me and then walk toward it. This gives me an overall fresh scent without it being overbearing. It also adds an element of mystery when someone must get a little closer to smell the scent you’ve chosen for the day.
- Keep your jewelry box and perfume in an easy-to-see place close to where you get ready for the day. This is a great way to never forget to add an extra element to your outfit—all it takes are a simple pair of pearl earrings, a statement necklace, or a fresh scent to look and feel effortlessly classic.
Favorite Accessories
Favorite Jewelry
Favorite Perfumes
Using What You Already Have
I know I just listed and linked many clothing items you can buy, but before you grab your purse or run to the store, here are a few ways to use what you already have, to achieve an effortlessly classic look.
- Find a few influencers, models, or anyone’s style you are drawn to online, and save their outfit images to an album on your phone. This isn’t creepy—it’s homework.
- Once this idea album is started, ask yourself “Why do I like these clothing combinations?” and “What stands out to me in this image?”
- Check your closet to see if you have any similar pieces can help you recreate the images
Chef Allie’s Kitchen Tip of the Week
Let’s talk about organizing the classic recipes scattered on random pieces of paper in the everything drawer, between the pages of barely used cookbooks, or randomly in a photo box. This year, I am getting organized when it comes to all things kitchen. This includes writing recipes down as I develop them, collecting family member favorites, and overall keeping my meal ideas in one place. Here’s how I’m doing it:
- I ordered recipe cards and a recipe box (check Pinterest for some cute homemade recipe box ideas).
- Filtered through my cookbook collection and gave away all the books I never use. A couple of the books had just one or two recipes I have enjoyed in the past or would like to try in the future, so I used the recipe cards to write these down before giving books away.
- I made a list of all the foods I want to learn how to cook. Some of which include Lebanese lamb chops, sourdough bread, cheesy mushroom risotto, seafood marsala, crab cakes, and chocolate croissants.
So far, I can confirm that the lamb chop recipe I created will be at the front of my recipe box. All you need is 15 minutes, a couple of lamb chops, salt, pepper, finely diced onions and garlic, a few slices of orange, and some butter.
Tag me on Instagram @__alliemitchell with some recipes you’re excited to try in 2023!
Conclusion
In conclusion, I want to share a few quotes from the book The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho. Since finishing it this week, three quotes from the book have resurfaced regularly:
“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
“Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.”
“People are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of.”
There is so much learning in the action of living through the heart–the most classic way of living. While Coelho’s words carry depth, and this story is painfully introspective, it is also focused on living a life of classic intuition. And that is what being human embraces. It’s a journey about conquering fear by running toward a timeless “personal legend.” Much of self-realization relies on style, which points to the way we present ourselves each day. These 20 closet classics help give a canvas for expressing this self.
xxx
Allie M
About the Blog
The Allie in Her 20s blog is focused on forming and maintaining a healthy lifestyle that works for you. It’s about cultivating luminary relationships, taking memory-filled trips, finding that perfect skincare routine, finding recipes to energize, and piecing together an overall lifestyle that brings excitement and motivation to each new day.
All the categories on this blog are pillars in my, day, month, and yearly planning. Life can be messy. I’ve parted ways with friends, felt homesickness on a vacation I’m supposed to be loving, used not-so-great beauty products, experimented with fad diets, and worn clothing that makes me cringe looking back. And, this is what life is. It’s trying something new and failing. But, there’s power in knowing that the setback will turn into a lesson, the lesson will turn into a story or a laugh, and every action has the potential to act as a stepping stone to the lifestyle that works best for you.
![Best Budget To-Dos in Nevada [Las Vegas Travel Tips]](https://allieinher20s.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Screen-Shot-2022-12-24-at-1.04.31-PM-600x600.png)
[…] More outfit ideas on my blog post: 20 Closet Classics That Stand the Test of Time […]