The 12 Style Basics Everyone Needs At High, Medium, And Low Price Points
Image from Lunya
by The Candidly Team
The word basics may as well come with a “may cause drowsiness” warning. They’re just not that fun to shop for.
But we need them.
To pair with our most special items. To fit amazingly well. And to make us feel chic, comfortable, and put together… Every. Single. Day.
Because we know it’s all too easy to get lost trying to find the best version of this and the best fitting that, we took it upon ourselves to scour the sea of staple items and uncover the finest gems.
Here we share what we believe to be the gold-standard in 12 categories of basics.
Each of these pieces met our grueling checklist of demands. And we broke them up into three categories of pricing, because we understand that there’s a time and place for making an investment.
1. The Perfect White-Tee
An ideal tee is supremely soft above all else, but to be truly flattering, it needs to come through on precise details like the length of sleeve and shape of neckline.
These three make tugging and re-tucking a thing of the past. We won’t bother telling you how to style them. They’re perfect white tees. Wear accordingly.
HIGH:
James Perse Sheer Slub Crew Neck Tee
This brand has been made famous for its perfect, perfect tees. There’s a rumor that they’re all Jennifer Aniston ( herself, an iconic queen of street style) wears. There just isn’t a lighter, airier, more flattering, better feeling shirt in existence. Basically, if you’re going to invest in a t-shirt, it should be this one.
Price: $90
MID:
Everlane The Air Scoop-Neck Tee
For any tee to achieve perfection, it must have two things: a gorgeously flattering scoop neck and a feel that’s so soft you never want to remove it from your body. This shirt has achieved perfection. You will want to own 5 just so you can wear it on repeat.
Price: $30
LOW:
Just look at the neckline. Then, the sleeves. And then, the price.
Price: $6
HIGH:
Paige Anessa Crop Wide-Leg Jeans
It’s hard to convey how wildly soft and intricately flattering these jeans are, but we tried to capture all the magical reasons we’re mad about them HERE (where you can also see real try-on photos). We truly hadn’t experienced this level of joy when putting on a pair of wide leg jeans. They’re perfect on curves. And they feel like literal pajamas.
Price: $229
MID:
Abercrombie - Curve Love Ultra High Rise Ankle Straight Jean
These are the best fitting jeans in the world. They flatter our bottoms without leaving a waist gap. You can hear us plead our full case HERE.
Price: $90
LOW:
Old Navy - Curvy High-Waisted OG Straight Ankle Jeans for Women
Proof that your least expensive pair of jeans might just be your best.
Price: $45
3. The Extremely Soft, Oversized Sweater
From doubling as a blanket while we curl up on the couch to looking utterly elegant over our finest floral dress (perhaps on a honeymoon in Paris? ), a spacious sweater is essential. And yet, we somehow keep buying the wrong one. That ends now.
HIGH:
Jenni Kayne - Cashmere Cocoon Cardigan
If you’re going to invest in a lust-worthy, lifetime sweater, this is the one. It’s a luxe cashmere haven that belongs in the costume department of a Nancy Meyers movie. Plus, the color selection is the stuff of dreams.
Price: $445
MID:
Everlane - The Oversized Alpaca Cardigan
We get very swoony over this particular sweater. It’s an oversized alpaca knit with big buttons and pockets. What’s not to love?
Price: $168
LOW:
Quince – Organic Cotton Oversized Cardigan
Roomy, wrappable. The dropped shoulder and lantern sleeve make this cardigan drape just right.
Price: $50
4. The Button-Down That Makes You Feel Like Katharine Hepburn
There is something so refined about a crisp, well-fitting button-down. It’s so easy to wear when made of the correct material and, most especially, when it’s oversized.
HIGH:
Marcella - Raphaela Boyfriend Shirt
We’re quite taken with this extra oversized, dreamy button-down from Marcella. It’s long enough to style any which way. But we also love it as a lightweight outer layer.
Price: $118
MID:
Everlane - The Way Short Shirt
Everlane has made what is perhaps our favorite-fitting button-down shirt ever, because it hits at the most flattering length imaginable. We layer it over everything, as you can see HERE.
Price: $88
LOW:
The relaxed, dropped-shouldered, slouchiness of this button-down makes it soooo easy to style any way we like. And it only costs $26.
Price: $26
5. The Coat You Lust After On The Street
If you manage to track down a truly stunning coat, your work is done. You’re going to look superbly styled, regardless of what you’re wearing underneath (e.g. your live-in leggings).
Our choices are all about leaving room for layers, while keeping the perfect, tailored silhouette.
HIGH:
Vince – Belted Drape Neck Coat
The belt. The neckline. We’re over-the-moon in love with this lightweight cashmere coat.
Price: $995
MID:
We chose this coat for its clean lines and stunning, relaxed fit. Plus, it comes in cream!
Price: $325
LOW:
This coat is an excellent cut, but what captured us (besides the price) was the “chef’s kiss” color selection.
Price: $89 - $94
6. The Fitted, Long-Sleeve Shirt
If you’re anything like us, a fitted long-sleeve is one of the most frequently pulled items in your closet. It feels like second skin. It flatters beyond reason. Most, importantly, it pairs with everything.
HIGH:
Agolde - Alma Shrunken Crew Neck Tee
This tee smooths along curves in the best way possible. Its extra thick ribbing makes it extra special.
Price: $128
MID:
Everlane - Pima Micro-Rib Long Sleeve Crew
We talk a lot about how Everlane manages to get fitted rib styles exactly right. This one is a staple in our closet - in almost every color.
They also make the best turtleneck, cut (quite literally) from the same cloth.
Price: $50
Low:
Target - Women's Long Sleeve Ribbed T-Shirt - A New Day™
It’s soft, stretchy, and practically begs to be layered.
Price: $12
7. The Wear-Everywhere-For-Eternity Handbag
A good handbag is arguably worth its weight in gold (whether or not we choose to spend as much). It lasts forever and should be picked out accordingly. That means finding one that’s as stunning as it is practical. Each of these are gorgeous, spacious, and oh-so-easy to throw over our shoulder and go.
HIGH:
We’re in love with this slouchy yet sleek bag from Clare V. Each of its available prints is breathtaking, but we named the striped camel our favorite, because it matches literally everything we own.
Price: $450
MID:
Madewell – The Zip-Top Medium Transport Tote
Madewell has mastered excellent quality leather bags in very smart, matchable colors. This perfect mid-size is the one we carry almost every day.
Price: $188
LOW:
We want this in every print. We mean it. Every one.
Price: $34
8. The Throw-on-and-Go Midi Dress
From day-to-night, this dress makes our basics list, in large part, because we can’t stop wearing it. Particularly with THIS perfect jean jacket.
HIGH:
Mother - The Chin Ups Midi Dress
One of our favorite fits of all time. You can see how we style it HERE.
Price: $195
MID:
Everlane - The Ribbed Tank Dress
We love the not-too-tight, elongating silhouette of this midi, which you can see one of us try on ourselves HERE. It fits like our favorite tank but can get fancy real fast.
Price: $78
LOW:
Quince - Tencel Rib Knit Sleeveless Dress
Dress this absolute staple up with the perfect leather jacket and a chic hat. Each color is so, so lovely.
Price: $40
9. The Tall Boot That Actually Fits Comfortably
We love the idea of a tall boot up to the moment we’re squeezing our calf into what feels like a compression sock that’s two sizes too small. Luckily, we found 4 styles that feel as good as they look.
HIGH:
The perfect leather “investment” boots with a sleek design and an extra comfortable (and balancing) block heel. Plus, they come with a wide calf option so we don’t need to squeeze. These boots truly work with everything from our favorite denim to our prettiest dresses.
Price: $357 - $595
MID:
These could just be the gold medalist in the boots-that-actually-fit category.
Price: $229
LOW:
Journee Collection – Sanora Wide Calf Boot
Not sure if it’s the soft faux suede or the zipped side, but these are almost too easy to slip on and look instantly elegant.
Price: $70
10: The Inside Over-Thing
Confused? Stay with us, because we think you’ll know exactly what we mean. Have you ever found yourself scanning your closet for that perfect transitional piece you can throw on over anything and immediately look refined? Something not too heavy, naturally comfortable, and just super easy to wear, indoors and out? Well, this is that piece - at every price point.
HIGH:
Spanx – Leather-like Moto Jacket
We know. It’s weird. Spanx made a jacket, and we’re here talking about it like it’s not a jacket made by the brand that makes our shapewear. But wait, it’s a jacket made by the brand that makes our shapewear. What that means is it’s designed to fit so flatteringly and to feel like we’re wearing activewear. It’s thin. It’s sleek. It’s moto. It’s worth a look, no?
Price: $298
MID:
A light, stretchy cotton open-front jacket that’s tailored to perfection.
Price: $158
LOW:
Quince – 100% Organic Cotton Knit Blazer
With the fit of a blazer and the softness of a sweater, this is easily one of the most wearable items that could grace our closet. Gorgeous, in ivory.
Price: $70
11. The Classic Column Skirt
In a world dominated by midi and maxi, we argue that a column style is actually the most eternal and flattering fit of the skirt family, especially on curves. It’s so easy to style a thousand ways, but here’s how we’re wearing it.
HIGH:
We chose this from the endless rows of basic black skirts for two reasons: the heavenly softness and the flattering side slit.
Price: $148
MID:
Free People Golden Hour Midi Skirt
The thick ribbing of this perfect-length skirt allows it to smooth and shape in unparalleled ways. Plus, the colors!
Price: $60
LOW:
Soft. Ribbed. And sooooooo easy to style.
Price: $18
12. The Coziest of Loungewear Sets
There’s no denying it. THIS is the basic we’ll be living in. When it comes to this category, comfort is everything, but we may as well look good at the same time, given that incredibly cute loungewear is in full bloom. Here’s the best of the best.
HIGH:
Cozy Earth - Bamboo Joggers and Pullover Set
We simply haven’t found anything softer that these joggers. For a matching and equally soft pullover, go here. And you can get 35% off using the code CANDIDLY.
If a sweat style (that’s best for bigger bottoms) is more your speed, then nothing beats THIS ONE from Tkees.
Price: $220
MID:
Girlfriend Collective – Reset Bundle
These sweats are very, very hard to take off. We LOVE that you can mix and match your own little “bundle” to suit your taste.
Price: $117
LOW:
Quince - Supersoft Fleece Loungewear Set
We got very excited about the fact that we can put together our own set of supremely soft loungewear for $70. Crew can be found here and pants can be found here.
Price: $70
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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