10 Classic Clothing Items That Are Timeless
Some classic clothing items are so timeless that you can truly depend on them. While high fashion and trends go in and out of style, some classic pieces are just here forever. A woman’s wardrobe is never really complete until it has at least some of these classic clothing items. Not only are they forever stylish, but they are also easy to put on without much effort, and you know you’ll look good. Also, when you invest in high-quality, timeless pieces, you won’t have to worry about needing to donate them a year later because they’re not cool anymore. Here are our top picks for those forever pieces that you just might not realize you’re missing in your life.
Little Black Dress
The holy grail of all classic timeless clothing items is most certainly the little black dress, or LBD. A black dress is a fashion statement that always looks good and never goes out of style. Even if “little” isn’t your style, at least opt for a simple and well-cut classic black dress that is versatile enough to wear for most occasions. Choose a hemline that’s anywhere from midi to mini for the perfect black dress that will easily take you from daytime to date night.
Jeans
Jeans are a forever wardrobe staple. While certain styles, such as distressed or skinny jeans, may pass in and out of fashion, a stellar pair of women’s jeans is classic and timeless. While jean trends can be fun to explore and style, be sure your closet has a few good pairs of classic jeans. Choose classic washes such as dark blue and cuts such a standard boot cut to be sure that your jeans will remain in style forever and a go-to essential for your wardrobe.
Cashmere Sweater
You'll always need sweaters, and every fashion season comes with its own take on sweater trends and exciting new styles. Keeping a few classic women’s cashmere sweaters in your closet will give you the ultimate timeless look. Cashmere is such a luxurious fabric, making a sweater knitted from this material a classic clothing item that everyone woman should own.
Basic Cardigan
A basic cardigan sweater will never get old because of how versatile and practical it is. Cold at the office? Anticipating A/C at your cocktail party? Lazy day on the couch just watching TV? The answer is your basic cardigan sweater. Choose a basic cut and solid neutral color, such as black, to be sure your cardigan will be appropriate for almost any occasion and for years to come.
White Dress Shirt
The white dress shirt has, in one shape or another, been in style for centuries. If there’s one timeless and tireless closet piece you can rely on forever, it’s going to be your classic white button-up dress shirt. These shirts are the perfect “when in doubt” clothing item—if you don’t know what to wear, put one on, and you’ll always look perfectly good and stylish. Worn to the office, over a silk midi skirt out to dinner, or tied up for that cool boho-chic look, a women’s dress shirt is as dependable, practical, versatile, and timeless as it gets.
Black Blazer
Another timeless favorite that seems to defy the passage of time and styles is the black blazer. Like the dress shirt, this classic piece has been around for centuries in one shape or another. This is probably because it is practical and always offers effortless sophistication and style. Wear with jeans, over a dress, or with just about anything else to look effortlessly chic. It’s worth investing the extra money for a well-made, high-quality blazer that will last you for years.
Wool Coat
Sometimes it's difficult to feel fashionable in your winter outwear. But the solution is always the wool coat. For centuries, the wool coat has been a staple for its practicality and good looks. Wear with just about anything for effortless sophistication and a timeless look. Like a blazer, it is worth investing in a good wool coat because this baby will never go out of style, and chances are you will be happy wearing the same well-made one for the rest of your life.
Plain T-Shirt
Who doesn’t love a simple T-shirt? A classic cotton women’s T-shirt is effortless and easy to style. Every woman should include a healthy selection of classic-cut and beautifully hued T-shirts in their wardrobe basics. Easy to wear underneath layers or to style all on its own, a good T-shirt is a timeless staple.
Printed Summer Dress
While this is admittedly debatable, we believe that a printed summer dress is a timeless addition to any woman’s closet. While different kinds of prints may pass in and out of fashion, a good summer dress will always look classic. Choose a flattering cut, such as a waist-cinching midi-length cotton dress, and a neutral print, such as floral, for the perfect printed summer dress that you can wear for decades.
Leggings
A woman’s best friend is undoubtedly her arsenal of leggings. And while leggings haven’t been around for as long as the dress shirt, we can assure you that their versatility and comfort are going to keep them around forever. Keep a few good pairs of black leggings in your closet for some easy go-to items that can effortlessly be dressed up or down. While prints and fun colors may come in and out of fashion, the classic black legging is a perennial staple to any woman’s closet.
Keep a few of these classic, timeless clothing items in your closet, and you won’t have to ever worry about keeping up with fashion trends.
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A grey jersey sweatshirt
A preppy, mottled grey loopback sweatshirt is an off-duty essential, as slick worn on the way to the gym as it is beneath a double-breasted camel coat with a crewneck tee or a crisp white collar popping out of the neckline. In most cases, you’ll get away with wearing a minimalist option that’s free from branding several times in a single week, but if you’re really sweet on this look, consider investing in some subtle logo branding that’ll add a sense of luxury to this otherwise simple piece.
A selection of white T-shirts
Today is Lee’s National Denim Day. Denim has long been considered one of the most classic and versatile clothing materials. From jeans to jackets and more, denim can be both comfortable and stylish for pretty much everyone. So what do people think about denim overall? What are their favorite denim items? And what brands do the best job of creating clothes and accessories with the material?
Denim Opinions
In Ask Your Target Market’s latest survey, 82% of respondents said they have a generally positive opinion of the style of denim. 83% like its comfort. 62% like its price. And 79% like the versatility of denim.
Clothing Items
Overall, 20% of respondents said they wear denim pretty much every day. 16% wear it four or more times a week. 20% wear it two or three times a week. 10% wear it about once per week. 11% just wear it a few times per month. 14% said they rarely ever wear denim. And 11% never do. The most popular clothing item when it comes to denim is, unsurprisingly, jeans. 86% named pants and jeans as their favorite denim clothing item. But 31% also like denim jackets. 27% like shorts made with the material. 14% like shirts. 13% like skirts and dresses. 11% like bags. And 2% like other denim clothing items like capri pants and hats.
Favorite Brands
There are also plenty of different brands that either specialize in the material or integrate it into some of their clothing items. The top three denim brands, according to respondents, are Levi’s, Wrangler and Lee. Some others mentioned include Gloria Vanderbilt, Old Navy, Guess, Calvin Klein and Gap. You can view the complete survey results in the widget below and be sure to click “Open Full Report” to take advantage of all the chart and filter options.Photo Credit: Lee Label showing lettering detail from FlickrWhat do you want to know? If you need some consumer insights on a particular topic, let us know in the comments below and we’ll consider it for an upcoming survey post.
Results were collected on October 1 via AYTM’s online survey panel.
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