When it comes to buying clothes (something I do a lot of, thanks to this little blogging adventure and chances are you might too since you’re reading this 😉 ) there are bad purchases, good purchases and great purchases. For me the difference between a good and a great purchase has everything to do with quality and versatility- a good purchase has one but a great purchase has both.
Have you bought a piece and “worn it to death”? Yeah me too. To me that’s a good purchase- you wear it a lot, but ultimately the shelf life is limited. Then there are great quality pieces I’ve bought but didn’t wear enough to justify (that French Connection blouse in my Poshmark closet)
But the great pieces? They withstand the quality test and prove to be the ones you reach for over and over without even thinking about it.
Having bought hundreds of items in the last year and a half, I thought it would be fun to round up my top dozen. These babes are my ride or dies on a weekly- if not daily- basis and the best wardrobe investments I’ve ever made.
sweater (now 40% off for $36) // white jeans (similar) // leopard print loafers (other patterns here) // coin necklace (on sale) // suitcase (on sale)
Last year I made the decision to invest in a few iconic handbags I knew would hold their value over time. The Neverfull was the first of these purchases. I felt so lightheaded leaving the store the day I got it. Did I make the right purchase? Was it really worth the hard earned $$$? Well y’all, it’s the BEST bag I’ve bought in my LIFE. It goes with anything and and literally never gets full. It’s my purse, travel tote and handbag all in one- and the best part is I don’t have to worry about it “going” with my outfit since it goes with everything. I purchased mine new, but TheRealReal has authentic pre-owned ones for a bit less. I did a full review of the Neverfull here.
Funny story, I purchased these sandals shortly before having Juliana in 2013 but felt so guilty over the price I took them back the next day! I finally got them last Spring and my only regret is not getting them sooner. I wore them almost everyday last Spring and Summer and know this year will be the same. They come in 16 colors now and I’m thinking of getting a second color I love them so much. What color would you get? If you’re curious to read a full review, I did one here.
Levis 721 jeans // “Jet Lagged” sweatshirt // sandals // earrings (on sale) // bag- Prada Saffiano
If you follow other bloggers, chances are you’ve seen these jeans ev.ery.where. And there’s good reason- they fit so well, the quality is there, and the price point is great.
This cardigan is forever competing with this one as my all-time favorite. Not surprisingly they’re both long and pink! I find long cardigans are very figure flattering and always feel so cozy when it’s cold outside. This one is sold out in pink, but is 40% off in cream and grey here.
5. Delsey luggage (pictured in the top photo)
True story, I’ve always been cheap cheap cheap when it comes to luggage. I used to buy suitcases at Marshall’s and end up right back there one year later when it fell apart. Because I travel a lot, my luggage takes a serious beating. Last year I finally looked for luggage I loved that also had great reviews. This Delsey suitcase fit both and I couldn’t be happier with it. I get so compliments on it almost every time I travel. A year later it’s still in great shape but something I didn’t plan on…it’s still WHITE!
6. Stuart Weitzman Hiline boots.
These boots. Ok, where do I start? They’re astronomically expensive but so worth the investment. So many people I talked to prior to getting mine said they’d had their SW boots for years and never wore out. I took the plunge and couldn’t be happier I did. These boots have a way about them I can’t even describe- they fit like a glove, feel like butter and make your legs look a mile long.
7. Gucci double G leather belt
Yikes, another pricey one. One thing I’ve found this past year is versatile “investment” pieces really do pay for themselves many times over. I love the way this belt dresses up everything from a dress to a romper, to a tee and jeans. It has an uncanny ability to make an outfit come together and I love it for that.
tee // utility jacket // jeans– similar
A good v neck tee is a closet necessity. I have this one in grey too. I love the way it fits, the softness and probably most importantly since it gets a lot of wear, the quality.
9. Steve Madden ankle strap sandals
Gosh, another tie! Ok so I love these sandals almost equally but I find myself wearing the ones in the photo above slightly more often. They’re both a perfect go-with-everything sandal and surprisingly comfortable given the height and design.
10. White jeans. I’m convinced that every gal needs a pair of white jeans in her closet. My live-in white jeans are by Topshop and unfortunately the exact ones are sold out, but you can see the non-distressed version here.
I feel like I talk about these button down shirts so much because I wear them nonstop for work. I love how many colors they come in (I have 8, I think) and the fact they never wrinkle. Ever. I bougt one in green when I was on leave after having Juliana four years ago and am currently wearing it as we speak! (I wore it to a trade show in Winston Salem earlier today and haven’t changed into my pajamas yet).
12. Cole Haan pumps (in photo above). I feel like heels there is often a trade off between comfort and style. Sometimes I sacrifice one for the other, but one brand that does both so well is Cole Haan. I got his black pumps four years ago and still wear them to half the work events I go to. They are legitimately as comfortable as any pair of flats I own! I also have them in nude. I have to get both re-heeled since I have had them for a few years each, but once I do I know they will be good as new.
Since we’re talking closet staples, I want to know- what’s one piece you wear over and over every week?
Love always,
Terra
P.S. I’m switching up my blogging schedule from every Mon/Wed/Fri to every Tues/Thurs. I’m working on a few longer term projects for the blog and this will give me and extra night each week to get that done. My hope is to get back to the Mon/Wed/Fri schedule later this year.