• Categories
    • Fashion
    • Interiors
    • City Guides
    • Money
    • Culture
    • Beauty
    • Life
    • Parenting
    • Opinion
    • Work
    • Christmas
  • About
  • The Edit
    • The Frugality Edit
    • Shop Instagram
  • Shop
22nd October 2018

4 items I will always have in my wardrobe, regardless of trends

Fashion - By Alexandra Stedman

Earrings: J Crew (old). Coat: Whistles (old but buy similar from M&S here). Tee: Sezane (old). Jeans: Gap (old). Bag: £360, Sezane.  Trainers: New Balance (old but this version are great). Photographs: Christopher O’Donnell.

This was supposed to be a really thoughtful piece about building up a capsule wardrobe, but, in fact, I realised as I was packing for this shoot that this is basically all of my favourite, most worn items in my wardrobe. And what better capsule wardrobe is there?

LEOPARD PRINT ACCESSORIES

Yes, leopard print is having a huge moment (again!) but it is a print I have sworn by since working in fashion. Us fashion lot always go on about leopard print being a neutral but it really is a total outfit maker. My leopard bag from Sezane (a gift, I picked as my baby change bag!) is barely away from my side and I get so many compliments on it. Wear it with something simple like jeans and a tee and you’re done.

 

ANYTHING RED

I only started wearing red a few years ago. funnily enough, and now it has become somewhat my signature look!

Since having a baby, especially, I find a red lip (I’m wearing Trish McEvoy Lip and Cheek booster in ‘Red’) can really help you look less tired and lift a no make-up day (I often try and limit the amount of makeup I put on my skin due to acne issues).

JEANS

For me, jeans are such a failsafe staple to my wardrobe. Admittedly, so much so sometimes that I have to break free and have a series of wearing dresses or wool trousers to try and shake things up. But they go with everything and just so easy.

Since pregnancy, again, I only really have three pairs of jeans left in my wardrobe (most of my smart trousers don’t do up!) and thankfully, they’ve seen me through the last seven months. These are the crop kick from Gap (whch are instore only) but I am mainly wearing straight leg these days, the idea of pulling up skinny jeans post pregnancy fills me with fear now!

Jacket: Sezane (old). Jumper: £19.97, Gap. Bag: J Crew (old). Jeans: Gap (instore only). Boots: Tabitha Simmons (old).

Quite a few of the items in this post cost me a lot of money. I remember I was working at Red when I bought these leopard boots, I knew they’d go with everything and thankfully they are super comfy. They cost almost half my monthly wage (I put them on my credit card which I have paid off now, thank god) but to this day I don’t regret it. Well, maybe it wasn’t financially the best decision I ever made but sartorially? Yes, yes it was.

And they’ve saved me money in the long run as I haven’t really bought many other boots over the last 5 years.

But the thing about good investments, and keeping to a style that’s ‘you’ means that you will always be able to pick out the pieces that will last in your wardrobe.

Don’t be afraid to double leopard – if it’s far enough away it works (or sometimes clashing leopards even works, too!)

A TAILORED COAT

A good coat will get you everywhere. I am always drawn to the same style of outerwear: slick, tailored, quite long, usually oversized and often statement.

This coat ticks two of my style credential boxes – leopard AND tailored so I just knew it had to be mine. I picked this up from Maje in Bicester Village last year and although I was pregnant for pretty much the entirety of last winter, I knew it would come out the following year and make me smile. And it has done.

 

And when I think these items work the best? When worn all together at the same time…

Coat: Maje at Bicester Village (old). Jumper: La Redoute (old). Jeans: Gap (instore). Shoes: Boden (old).

Thanks to all the feedback on previous posts, I am no longer apologising for my clothes being old – it feels so nice to be appreciated for styling up my existing wardrobe. Instead, where I can I will do an edit at the end featuring some items that are relevant…hope this post has proven useful for items to look out for which will keep your wardrobe looking and feeling fresh, no matter what the trends are.

By Alexandra Stedman

Fashion Editor, Blogger, Realist

Popular Posts

THE BEST (AND THE MOST STYLISH) AFFORDABLE KITCHENS

WHY I FEEL WEIRD ANNOUNCING I’M PREGNANT (IN A POST WHERE I TALK ABOUT BEING PREGNANT)

HOW TO ACHIEVE YOUR PERFECT STAIR RUNNER

Frugality Shops

You might also like

  • Trail blazer
    Trail blazer
  • RENOVATION UPDATE: BEDROOM
    RENOVATION UPDATE: BEDROOM
  • Frugal City Guide: Ortigia
    Frugal City Guide: Ortigia
  • How I Got My Job…
    How I Got My Job…

You May Also Like...

  • What To Wear To A Wedding {Part Four}

  • Dungarees (for grown-ups)

  • Wedding Snaps…

« 7 Baby items we found useful aged 3-6 months
PARIS, ACCORDING TO JEANNE DAMAS AND LAUREN BASTIDE »

Comments

  1. Jill says

    22nd October 2018 at 7:07 am

    I just live your large leopard bag. In fact I would go as far as to say I have bag envy. Loving your post and looking forward to reading your next.

    Reply
  2. Amelia says

    22nd October 2018 at 7:09 am

    After everyone watched the Stacey Dooley program (still on iPlayer) old is the new new.

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      22nd October 2018 at 1:23 pm

      It’s funny, as this is kind of something I’ve always talked about! But takes a celeb for people to really take note…I haven’t watched it but have always known a lot of the implications of the fashion industry – and it’s hard as it’s my career! But I do take a lot of steps to try and change how I consume x

      Reply
  3. Sally Skelson says

    22nd October 2018 at 8:11 am

    Can I add a striped t shirt to that list?

    Reply
  4. Sally Skelson says

    22nd October 2018 at 9:54 am

    Can I add to that list, striped tee shirts/matelot stripes

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      22nd October 2018 at 1:24 pm

      ALWAYS xx

      Reply
  5. Jan Pettifer says

    22nd October 2018 at 10:11 am

    Inspirational as always – looks like youre enjoying life

    Reply
  6. Sarah Thomas says

    22nd October 2018 at 1:01 pm

    Love your style and this piece. Trying to get my key bits in order and you always make it easier! #buywhatshehas ?

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      22nd October 2018 at 1:24 pm

      Thank you xx

      Reply
  7. Tricia M says

    22nd October 2018 at 3:03 pm

    Hi Alex, bang on trend as usual! Jess Cartner Morley has a new column in The Guardian on how to work new pieces with what you already have in your wardrobe so this post resonates with that. I just love how you put it all together. Wish I had the knack too. It is said we only wear a small percentage of our wardrobe anyway so new ways to combine things is spot on! PS. thought I’d seen that jumper before. I may have to try leopard for the first time?

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      22nd October 2018 at 7:28 pm

      oh I love leopard print, but it’s not for everyone, of course – but this is definitely the season to try! x

      Reply
  8. A Girl, A Style says

    22nd October 2018 at 5:50 pm

    Love this Alex, and wholeheartedly share your philosophy about buying pieces we’ll love forever rather than just feeling obliged to wear the latest new pieces (I’m also trying to be less bothered about wearing ‘old’ pieces on my blog). And of course leopard is a neutral 😉

    Briony xx

    Reply
  9. Jen says

    22nd October 2018 at 6:11 pm

    Great article and I agree that it’s a message you’ve always shared on your blog, but I think it’s no bad thing that the message is being linked to Stacey Dooley’s recent doc- it’s really worth a watch even if you feel you’re clued up on fashion’s impact on the environment, I was blown away despite feeling quite well read on the subject (or so I thought). Brands came out very badly, ‘influencers’ very well and responsive. I’m sure you meant celeb in nothing other than a positive way, but she’s first and foremost a fantastic journalist and documentary maker as well as a presenter- I’m worried that some people will misinterpret it as being just a celeb backed campaign, when actually all of her work is fantastic and that’s what she’s known for.

    Anyway, thanks again for great content and thank you for always promoting a healthy attitude to fashion and consumerism. I’ve long been a fan of the way you promote mixing the new with the old and developing a personal wardrobe that is long lasting 🙂 x

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      22nd October 2018 at 7:22 pm

      Yes, sorry, not just a celeb! I was discussing with a woman on my team about it and she said that she didn’t really offer any solutions though? What can we use that’s better than cotton, fo example? It’s not always doom and gloom…I shall give it a watch x

      Reply
  10. Joanna says

    22nd October 2018 at 7:57 pm

    I appreciate that you show us how to wear our existing clothes in new ways or by adding one new piece. I have no intention of constantly buying new. Such a waste of money that could be better spent on a vacation. Others waste does make for some great buys at consignment or thrift stores though.

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      24th October 2018 at 10:09 pm

      Yes this is very true – and at least it’s being recycled! xx

      Reply
  11. Adrienne Smith says

    22nd October 2018 at 8:07 pm

    I am 62 and folllow your blog – I definitely agree with all your staples – probs a white t shirt and shirt
    in all its forms too ! I don’t wear red – am very pale but admire it on others!!

    Reply
    • Alexandra Stedman says

      24th October 2018 at 10:10 pm

      Oh yes, I live in a white tee in summer xx

      Reply
  12. sharon bennett says

    22nd October 2018 at 9:14 pm

    I’m also trying to work out my go outfits. Tired of spending money on clothes I never wear. I want to spend my spare cash on the theatre, holidays or the house.

    Reply
  13. lisa tanni says

    25th October 2018 at 3:22 pm

    very good!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Fashion
  • Life
  • Frugal City Guides
  • Work
  • Beauty
  • Culture & Art
  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The Frugality Newsletter

Copyright © 2021 | All rights reserved | Design by Gatto

Sign up to The Frugality newsletter

For exclusive updates, musings and offers