Summer Wardrobe Essentials/Basics Every Wardrobe Needs

Hello everyone and welcome back to my channel. In today's video, I will be sharing basic clothing pieces that I feel are essential to creating a strong foundation for any summer closet. At least that's been the case for me. So let's get started. Now this is not by any means my complete closet. In fact, I have narrowed it down to the absolute basics, but I feel there will be a good starting point for anyone. Now, of course, a basic that is an essential to me might not be an essential for you really, but that's completely okay because as we go along, I will share tips on how you can interpret them to suit your style. A very delightful thing also is that I'm able to create complete outfits with just these limited number of clothing pieces and I'll show you how easy that is. And today I will also share brand recommendations as well as brand reviews because when it comes to basics, I feel the quality and fit are absolutely vital. Let's begin with bottom wear because I do feel that bottom wear helps decide the mood of the look that you might be going for. And an essential to any wardrobe is a good pair of well-fitted jeans. And mine are these straight fit jeans in a medium wash. They are slightly distressed, but they fit me so well. And when it comes to jeans, I'd say that's all that really matters. So go for any pair that fits you well, that flatters your body, that you enjoy wearing. Now there is one another pair that I reach out for quite often during this season and those are my white jeans. But in the end, I figured that I did need a classic medium wash. This is what made to the list today. But like I said, go for whatever you enjoy wearing and you know, flatters your body in all of the right places. Now these jeans are from Zara and frankly, I really do not have a brand recommendation when it comes to denim because like I said earlier, with jeans, fit is all that matters. Now I picked up Zara because they fit me so well and sometimes that even takes precedence over the fabric quality or the durability. But of course, a lot of people enjoy denims from H&M, Levi's, of course, is a classic denim brand. Zara, like I said, purely my choice is based on the idea that they fit me so well. And of course, I think Mango might be a good option as well, although I've never frankly bought any pair of denims from Mango purely because they don't make them in my size. Next, I wanted to add a pair of trousers and because it's summertime, I had to have a linen piece on this list. Linen is such a good choice for fabric for the summertime because of its breathability. It is a lot more wearable and I'm surprised actually this season, there are so many linen garment options out there in the market. I think H&M has some really good pieces. Zara has a very good collection. So does Marks & Spencer. Now mine are from Uniqlo, which is actually my go-to brand when it comes to basics. I think Uniqlo does basics like none other. Good fabric quality, impeccable tailoring, clean cuts, etc, etc. Now mine are in these off-white color and the slightly tapered fit. But here is where you can interpret them to suit your taste. You can, of course, choose a different color. But of course, since we're talking about staple and basics, I would say that stick to a neutral color palette only. So you could pick up a black or a stark white. But other than that, go for a straight fit, high rise, tailored or perhaps relaxed. You could go for a cargo style linen pants. In fact, recently at H&M, I have seen a lot of relaxed linen trouser options which come with elastic waistband and drawstring. So if that is your style, totally switch this one up. Now I love wearing shorts during the summer season. And I recently picked these linen blend Bermuda shorts from H&M. And I see myself wanting to wear them a lot more even over my denim shorts. I think because my personal style leans more towards smart casual, I'd come to prefer the clean and polished look. And they are truly versatile, which you will see for yourself in just a minute. Now of course, Uniqlo has a similar style. I went for the H&M shorts because they fit me like a dream. But the fabric quality is also very comparable. It's practically the same fabric quality. Now if you do not wear shorts, don't be bothered with the idea. It's completely okay to not have this as an essential. It is a basic which is an essential to me, does not have to be the case for you. And that's where a key difference lies. It's like let's say, you know, rice and wheat are two staple grains, while rice may be an essential grain. To me, wheat might be your choice of carbs when it comes to your daily meals. I know it's a weird analogy, but that's where a lot of people get confused between what's a basic and what is an essential or a must-have. And my intent today with this video really is to give you a starting point, is to give you a broad guideline, but it is important for you to interpret it in a manner that is meaningful to you. So let's look at our final option on bottom wear. Yes, I only had four options. As I said, I wanted to keep this list really crisp and tight and I wanted to include a skirt. Now my choice of skirt is this very soft fluid drape wrap skirt in a classic polka dot print. It's indeed a very, very comfortable fabric, perfect for a hot summer's day. And here is where I would also like to point out that while solid colors work best as wardrobe staples, it's okay to include a print as long as it is in a neutral color. And it's also a timeless classic print like this polka dot. But of course, if that is not your style, there are several other options to choose from. You may pick out a skirt in a solid color, A-line fit or a more gathered skirt. I really like these options from Uniqlo. I think they have them in a couple of different colors. If I'm not wrong, H&M also has long length skirts in solid colors and I like this one from Zara as well. Now the skirt that I'm wearing is from Mango. I will, of course, link all of these options in case you're in the market for a basic skirt to add to your closet. So first on my list of tops is obviously a classic white t-shirt. Mine is from Uniqlo. I actually have them in two versions, the same t-shirts, different sizes. This one is my true size. It slightly is a more fitted silhouette on me and I use it as a layering piece, in fact, all year round. While this is one size up, it has a more relaxed feel, so great to wear on its own. And you may also notice that this is a regular crew neck, but it is a very, very thick fabric. It almost has this very structured look and personally, that's what I prefer. I feel that t-shirts in a thin fabric while may look very lustrous and you may feel a very soft drape when you first get them, but they quickly lose their shape and then they don't look very tidy. As you see in this outfit here, I've simply created this classic white t-shirt with denim outfit, but still looks very tidy and very polished. It's because this t-shirt has a very structured feel. It also washes really well. I've had them for quite a while now, so obviously it's white color, so it gets washed pretty often, but they haven't lost their shape. In terms of other brands, Marks and Spencer also has a really good range of t-shirts in solid colors in different weights of fabric. In fact, Uniqlo also offers plain t-shirts in different versions. So they have them in Supima cotton, they also have this Airism range. The weights of fabrics obviously do differ, but in terms of this quality of fabric, this structured thick fabric, I found Uniqlo to be the best brand in this price range. I'm sure there are other perhaps luxury brands which do similar garments, maybe Ralph Lauren. I remember I used to be a huge fan of Lacoste t-shirts once a while and used to actually save up some money every year to get at least one t-shirt from Lacoste, but over the years their pricing has gone really obnoxious and it's too far out of my comfort zone right now. But yeah, Marks and Spencer and Uniqlo are two of my top recommendations when it comes Now another option I have on t-shirts is a striped t-shirt and I have been a fan of stripes long before they became so popular. I feel that stripes are an easy way to instantly look chic and polished. Now mine is a simple crew neck short sleeve t-shirt. This one is from Mango. The fabric of course is not as thick and sturdy as my white ones, but they do wash really well and it's rather easy and versatile to style them up. As you see, I have these two outfit variations. The first one is with a pair of denims and I've created another outfit where I'm wearing this t-shirt with my off-white linen pants. Now since they become so popular this season, almost all brands that I've spoken of and several others do a version of a striped t-shirt in a variety of colors and I personally have tried stripes from several brands. In my limited experience, I can say that the fabric quality is quite comparable. So really it just does boil down to your style and color preference. I personally, when I'm looking for stripes, usually go for medium width stripes. In fact, might I say that a very broad stripe may not be flattering on all body types. It is said from a styling perspective that the slimmer the stripe, the slimmer the overall effect. So that is something that you may want to keep in mind in case you're in the market looking for a striped garment. But other than that, they do form an essential part of my summer closet. It's definitely a must-have for me. Tanks. Now I have tank tops in these two colors, the black one and the off-white one. Mine are from Uniqlo. Now I have tried tanks from H&M as well as Zara, but I find Uniqlo's quality to be unmatched. And this is a thick ripped fabric and the thing with ripped fabric in particular is that if it's not sturdy, if it's not good quality, it won't wash very well. And just after a couple of washes, it'll begin to look worn down and old very, very quickly. So in that regard, I find Uniqlo quality to be top notch. But yes, in terms of style, there are a sea of options to choose from. You may go for a scoop neck, a racer back or even a cropped version. There is so much to choose when it comes to tank tops. Also they're available in a variety of colors, but of course, a black and white will serve you in so many ways. It works great as a layering piece, but looks quite chic also worn on its own with all of these three outfit ideas that you see on the screen with the shorts, the skirt as well as the linen pants. They look like complete outfits, right? And they go with all of the four bottom wear options that we have on the list today and beyond. But of course, I only had a 15 minute video, so I had to limit myself. But yes, it definitely is a top contender when it comes to must have. You may choose a style that you prefer wearing, but definitely invest in one. So next I have a classic button up shirt, particularly a white one. Now there's a reason this has been a classic and a timeless piece for so long, because it truly is versatile. It is so easy to style up or down. You can look very polished and sophisticated if you were to style it with tailored trousers and a smart jacket or on the other end of the spectrum, you can also have a very laid back effect. Let's say if you were to pair it with the denim shorts and flip flops and everything in between. And that to me is the true crest of a staple. You see, rice can simply be boiled, but it can also be turned into a sumptuous and elaborate biryani. And even for an evening look, as you see in this outfit, I'm wearing this classic white shirt with denim combination. I've just added a red lip and that is just to show that just with a few minor tweaks, a white shirt can serve you for a variety of occasions. Now this shirt is from Mango. This is slightly slim fit. As you see, it has these dark stitches at the front as well as the back. So this is more towards the polished and smart look. But you may go for a regular fit or a more relaxed fit. Perhaps you would prefer a fabric which has a softer drape, but whatever it is that you like in terms of white shirt, I would recommend please get one. If you don't have one already, it will serve you in more ways than you can imagine. Almost all brands across the board do a version of a classic white button up. I will link some of my favorites for you, including this one. So next on my list of essentials is a linen top. In fact, I'd say any top or any plain top with or without sleeves will be a good addition to your summer closet because natural fabrics are the easiest way to look chic and elegant. The fabric itself is so charming that it will do most of the heavy lifting for you. Now I have this linen camisole from Uniqlo. Uniqlo actually offers them in a couple of different colors as well. But I like the fact that it's very simple, yet it looks pretty charming. Plus, it's so lightweight and breathable, and that's what you perhaps need on a hot summer day. Now, this of course is linen blend and so are all of the other linen pieces that I've spoken of today. But sometimes that is a better idea because pure linen does tend to wrinkle very easily and I know to some people that's quite bothersome. Personally, I don't mind it. I think it's part of linen's signature charm. But yeah, blends do perform better in that area. Now, first I've styled it with these linen pants, also from Uniqlo. And I love that it creates this co-ord look. It really wasn't intended. I bought these pieces separately, but I like the way they've come together. And next is one of my favorite outfits from this entire video is where I pair this camisole with these black shorts. As you see, it's my favorite fabric in my favorite style and silhouette. I really enjoy wearing this together. Now, if a strappy camisole is not your style, you may definitely go for a button-up shirt, a plain button-up shirt in linen or even a tank top. In fact, recently, I have come across a few good options. So I will link all of those for you, including this one. And last on my list of recommended topwear is this olive color blouse. Now, this has become a new benchmark for versatility. I have styled it in so many ways. In fact, I'm yet to come across a bottom that this does not work with. And that's why it's made to my essential list today. Now, this, by definition, is definitely not a basic. But I do feel that every woman needs a blouse in her closet that is flattering on her body type, is in a color that looks good on her, it's comfortable for the weather. But most importantly, you're able to create multiple outfits out of it. Now, I already have styled it in two of my previous videos. Today is the third one. And you could imagine how much I would wear this off-camera as well. So yeah, not this exact blouse and I'm not going into details here. Neither do I have any brand recommendations for you. But any top that you have in your own closet that you feel reaching out for very often, you feel good wearing it, it's easy to style, easy to maintain. So something like this does not need ironing, it doesn't need any special care either. I just throw it in the washer and dryer and it's good to go. So yeah, anything, any variation, any version of a favorite blouse is an essential. Now, this last category is optional because outerwear may not make a lot of sense during the summer season, especially here in the north. Summers can get very hot and really, really uncomfortable. But frankly, I wear my black blazer almost all year round. I think the only times I don't wear it is during the very cold months of December and January. And it does help lift even the simplest of the outfits. As you see, I've simply layered it over this linen camisole and shorts and the outfit looks a lot more polished. So it gives you those finishing touches that you sometimes might desire. And it does serve a practical purpose as well. I do see myself reaching out for a light layer, especially if I'm in very strong air conditioning. Now, this blazer is from Mango and in terms of brands, almost all big brands across the board, H&M, Zara, Uniqlo, Marks and Spencer, so on and so forth, offer blazers in a variety of styles and fits. So you have oversized one, regular, slim fit, of course, a lot of fabric options as well these days. So you have the polyester blends, the cotton blends, I've seen blazers in satin as well as linen. Now, if you are petite and lean like me and struggle to find a blazer that fits you well, I know I did for a really long time, despite the market having so much variety, a lot of blazers that I tried on, as I said, for a long, long time, needed a geeta and a half to fit until I figured this one from Mango. And around the same time, I also came across this blazer option from Uniqlo, which was also a really good fit, but it was slightly cropped. So in the end, I thought the Mango was a better fit also because the sleeves here are slimmer. It sits right on my shoulders, which is what I prefer. I wanted it to fall at a certain length, but because the sleeve fit me so well, I really don't have to fiddle with it. If I pull the sleeve up, they stay put. It's really good fabric quality. It's not very light, but it's not very heavy. So I'm able to comfortably wear it during the summer season as well. Now, I, of course, will link both of these options for you. Now, in terms of color, I would say black is a safe choice. Black is also a lot more versatile. Now, brands do offer them in a sea of color options these days, even very pigmented and saturated colors like pinks and oranges. Black is the only color I have. I frankly have not missed having a blazer in a different color, but that's really just my personal style. Now, I did add a crochet blazer recently. You would have seen that in my previous video. And I might even look to add a linen blazer in the near future. That is, if I ever get my size in one. But yes, black will still hold a special place in terms of a must-have or an essential for my closet. All of the others, if and ever I add them, will just be add-ons. So this was my really condensed list of must-have clothing pieces for a summer closet. I feel that they do make a lot of sense. They're great as building blocks for your outfits. But of course, as you've seen in the video, they also look quite nice style just on their own. So hopefully this was helpful. You were able to pick a few ideas for your own wardrobe. Let me know if you found this information helpful. And as always, thank you so much for your time. Thank you for watching. And until next time, buh-bye.