You Only Need To Splurge On These 9 Style Essentials. That’s It.
Image from Favorite Daughter
If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission. Gifted items will be called out (gifted), and affiliate links will include an asterisk (*). We have to eat, after all.
by The Candidly Team
Our closets can be chaotic little caves of wonders. Those weird patterned culottes we know we’ll wear someday (not ever). Those paint-splattered sweatpants we keep in case we ever paint again (we will not).
No matter how organized they are (ours aren’t), it can be hard to retrieve the right mix of things to generate looks we love. It’s why we’ve created uniforms and templates and lists of absolutely essential basics. But the truth is sometimes it’s hard, because sometimes, our chaotic, over-crammed closets are missing something key.
Image from Quick Meme
I know. Seems doubtful. But think about it. We all have those “nicer” things that we’ve needed and longed for but would never allow ourselves to “splurge” on. The things we’ve been talking ourselves out of since we were 24 and could very well keep talking ourselves out of until we’re 84. Instead, we bought 17 subpar, cheaper versions of that thing which didn’t fill a hole in our wardrobes or our wishlists. And if we’re honest with ourselves, wound up costing us more.
The good news is that it doesn’t take a whole closetful of high-price items to make up for these gaps and completely elevate how we dress. We worked it out, and here’s what we came up with. Nine.
Nine true “investment” items that we believe to be, not just the essentials but the game-changers in making us look our absolute best. And we’re not saying they hold the key to undying chicness, but we’re not saying they don’t either.
1. The White Linen Pants That Keep You Undyingly Chic In The Heat
By Anthropologie Linen Palazzo Pants*
More than any other piece of clothing, having that one (or two) extremely well-made, extraordinary fitting pairs of pants is game-changing to the daily act of getting dressed. You can rely on them to look instantly impeccable. These are those pants for us in spring/ summer. They’re light, airy, linen, perfect on curves, and they give us a gorj hourglass shape with every fitted tee and tank in our closet.
Price: $148
2. the eternal everyday handbag
We’ve made this case before. A handbag that we will love til death is arguably the most worthy investment in our closet. It’s our beloved sidekick - a thing that never fails us. It doesn’t bow to the whims of our changing size, shape, or age. It’s lasting, which means yes, we can spend on it, but it also needs to have a classic sensibility that makes it eternally chic.
This bag from Clare V. comes in more colors and textures and weaves and prints than we can describe. So please just take a look.
Price: $435 - $485
3. The best Jeans you’ll ever own
Listen, there are a lot of wonderful jeans out there that hit at every price point. But if and when you find the perfect fit that accentuates every curve you throw at it, we’re very much of the mind that it’s a time to splurge. Otherwise, we just wind up spending an embarrassing percentage of our budget on one more pair, then another, then another. We keep chasing the dream. But we don’t have to anymore, because we found the best jeans you’ll ever own. This is the first pair we’ve ever tried that easily slides over our bottom and cinches so perfectly around the waist. No gap. Just smooth, structured comfort.
Take a look at the style on one of us:
And the lift it gives in the back is on another level.
Use the code CANDIDLY15 to take 15% off.
Price: $249
4. The Leather Jacket
Madewell Shrunken Zip-Front Jacket in Leather*
A leather jacket is just one of those stunning staple items that in a split second ups our entire outfit game. Plus, when tailored well, it’s probably the most flattering thing you’ll wear. Because a good one is designed to last, our investment pays off day after “incredible-street-style” day and night after “finally-feeling-glamorous” night. Although, we did happen to find one HERE for $170 that’s damn near impossible to find fault with.
I mean. The lines and weight of this jacket are sheer perfection. The cropped length makes your waist look narrowed and your legs look longer. It fits the exact way we always wish a leather jacket would - luxe and dreamy through and through.
Price: $498
5. The Live-In Luxury Sweater
Jenni Kayne Cashmere Cocoon Cardigan*
Did it take Katie Holmes in an iconic, carefree moment to convince us that an oversized, luxury sweater is actually chic? No. We already knew its versatility was pretty much endless. But because it’s both an at-home staple (that should feel like a literal cloud) and a beautiful thing we wear e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e, we want to spend wisely and go for gold. We’re big believers in buying your dream sweater, because in real life, you will live in it more than anything else. There’s one brand known for specializing in dream sweaters. However, we also found an almost exact dupe for pretty much third of the price.
We chose this one, because it immediately bests our five nicest sweaters. Honestly, we can pretty much replace every last one we own once this one graces our closet. Heavenly cashmere. Slouchy. Layerable. Next-level cozy. And somehow lightweight? But also please just look at the colors.
Price: $445
Quince Mongolian Cashmere Oversized Boyfriend Cardigan Sweater*
Right? Can you even tell the difference? Still cashmere. Still the most glorious oversized fit. Just $300 less.
Price: $140
* Gifted product
6. The Comfortable Heels
We admit, there have been days we’ve wanted to throw out every pair of heels in our closet. We didn’t really believe it was possible to find a stop-us-in-our-tracks, stunning heel, perfect in height and shape, that is also supremely comfortable. And, at this point, if it’s going to be worth it, it neeeeeds to be supremely comfortable.
But we found one, and it changed everything.
We yearn to wear them. We love to walk in them. Having them on makes us feel sophisticated, unconquerable, all the things we’re supposed to feel when we fall in love with a shoe but have never felt before, because it just wasn’t the real thing. Ok, maybe we sound crazy, but these shoes are that special.
The only possible excuse to spend this much on a heel is perfection. Every single detail would have to be better than anything we’ve ever seen (or felt) on our tired, precious feet to even consider it. And this shoe is truly one of those cases where you’re paying for a whole other level of care and craftsmanship. Padded soles. Luxe Italian leather. Brilliant, lasting construction. Plus, when you factor in the fact that you’ll wear them constantly and will no longer feel the need to buy that biennial pair of plasticky looking pumps with zero support and immediately peeling heels, you pretty much make your money back in no time.
Price: $378
7. The Easiest Day To Night Black Dress
Favorite Daughter The Favorite Linen Dress*
A stunning black dress has the power to make us want to walk out the door and wander the streets like some iconic movie star from… well, pretty much any decade in the past 100 years. Good dresses do all the work by themselves. And yet, finding one is a painful, if not impossible, process.
The elegant, relaxed silhouette of this dress makes it a pure joy to wear. We love it in black but it also comes in white and the prettiest, palest yellow.
Use THECANDIDLY15 to get 15% off.
Price: $298
8. The Perfect Fit Blazer
Favorite Daughter The Favorite Blazer*
Blazers are not always easy. They pinch. They restrict. They bore. We want to rip them off and run to our favorite sweater. And look, we’ve found some fun, even gorgeous ones over the years. But when you find one that’s shapely, expertly tailored, a luxe fabric, and a fit that flatters beyond reason, it can easily become the most valuable piece in your wardrobe.
This smooth, waist-nipping blazer makes any unkempt thing we layer under it look striking, polished, sleek, and put-together. It’s pricey, but it’s an item you will be thankful to own each time you pull it out, which will be all the time.
Use THECANDIDLY15 to get 15% off.
Price: $328
9. The Belt That Turns Clothes Into Outfits
Belts are underrated. A good one will make your boring old tee and jeans into a styled and complete look. This is our favorite tan belt that we wear year round to elevate all the lazy things we put together. The difference is like magic.
And Nation was kind enough to give us a code for 20% off. Use CANDIDLY20.
Price: $128
* Gifted product
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.
We have to eat.
