Back to basics
These wardobe staples will outlast any fashion trend. Best of all, they cost below $100.
Noelle Loh
Sun, Aug 31, 2008
Urban, The Straits Times
Purse strings are tightening as the economy slows but you can still look a million bucks without busting your budget. Instead of splashing out your hard-earned cash on trendy items that quickly go out of fashion, now is the perfect time to stock up on classics.
Urban brings you 10 basic wardrobe pieces that you can pick up for under $100.
Just to show basic does not mean boring, there are three different styles for each staple.
Trend-proof your wardrobe with the crisp white shirt, the little black dress, timeless trousers, the smart tee, good old denim, ballet flats, occasion heels, the classic tote, statement jewellery and the dress watch.
Remember, good style is priceless.
| LITTLE BLACK DRESSES | ||
| It has become such a classic that it's known simply by its initials - the LBD. The Little Black Dress was made famous by style icon Audrey Hepburn in the film Breakfast At Tiffany's way back in 1961.
Style note: Local designer Jo Soh - whose label Hansel is known for its quirky take on feminine silhouettes - says a good fit is vital in choosing the perfect black number. BASIC INSTINCTS Find your fit. Invest in a dress that fits your figure. Nature's best. Materials such as cheap chiffon can look cheap. Go for cotton instead. It's more comfy too. Keep it simple. A plain LBD can easily be dressed up or down to create multiple looks. |
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| BLACK LIST: Satin-fringed cotton dress, $39, from Moonriver (left), 02-40 Bugis Junction; cotton halter dress with zirconia gem embellishment, $79.90, from Tian, 02-34 Bugis Junction (middle); double- layered chiffon V-back dress with rosette ribbon, $99, from Staplewear (right), 03-97 Far East Plaza | ||
| CRISP WHITE SHIRTS | ||
| Sure, it's an office worker's daily uniform but the crisp white shirt can be anything but uniform in style. It's power dressing at its best - rewind to 1998 when Sharon Stone turned up at the Academy Awards in a men's shirt.
Pair it with jeans or pedal pushers and you're ready for bargain hunting on a Sunday. Button- down shirts allow you to try on clothes without messing up your hair. Style note: Designer Nicholas Wong, who re-interpreted this staple for his current collection, says everything from cut to material matters when picking the right white shirt. BASIC INSTINCTS Get stretchy. Go for cotton shirts with a touch of Lycra. They're comfy and the strech ensures a better fit. Details count. Keep buttons basic. Too fanciful and your shirt loses its versatility. Oh, and make sure they're sewn on neatly. Get smart. Cutaway collars and French cuffs lend an air of elegance. |
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| WHITE WASH: (From left) Cotton shirt with French cuffs, $69.90, from Esprit; cotton stretch fitted shirt, $69, from Gap; cotton shirt with bow detail, $89, from Mango, B1-39 Ngee Ann City | ||
| TIMELESS TROUSERS | ||
| You always step out in style if you wear a pair of straight-legged trousers. If you're the skinny type, they look hip on your snake hips. If your bottom's on the heavy side, the cut flatters and conceals.
They're oh-so-versatile too, exuding class whether paired with a shirt or a tee. Those daring enough can tease with the tailored look - slim-cut jacket, trousers, no shirt. Style note: Local designer Nicholas Wong says it's all about creating that sleek silhouette that most basics can't re-create. BASIC INSTINCTS Go fake. Opt for synthetic fabrics with a good drape. They give the illusion of a longer, leaner bottom half and don't crease as easily as natural fabrics. No bumps. For a sleek silhouette, make sure side pockets rest flat against the body and back pockets are in a simple single or double welt, or inset. Be safe. Get trousers in darker shades or patterns like pinstripes and small checks. They're timeless, versatile and make you look slimmer. |
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| LONG STORY: (From left) Polyester pants with belt, $99.90, from Esprit, Level 3 Isetan Wisma Atria; Vis-A-Vis checked cotton pants, $79, from Collage, 03-07 Orchard Cineleisure; cuffed cotton pants, $95, from Gap 01-18 Wisma Atria | ||
| GOOD OLD BLUES | ||
| Skinny jeans look set to stay, while high-waisted styles have become hip again.
These two body-conscious denim styles aren't for everyone, though, unlike their straight-cut counterparts which skim - not hug - the thighs while leaving space around the calves. This means they help create a more womanly silhouette whether you're a size 6 or 16, a Marilyn Monroe or a Kate Moss. Style note: James Tay, buyer for multi-label denim brand Bread & Butter, says it's exactly this versatility that makes straight-cut jeans a classic. BASIC INSTINCTS Stretch your dollar. Invest in designs with stretch in the material. It means you can still don them after one too many cheese burger. Retro rocks. Experiment with a vintage wash. Its worn look will never fade in style. Pocket pal. Your jeans will look like a sure classic in the five-pocket style. Any other pocket designs and it'd be easier to put an age to your denim. |
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| STILL GOT THE BLUES: (From left) Straight-cut jeans, $49.90, from LE7, 02-12 Orchard Cineleisure; XTZ jeans, $39.90, from DayTripper, 04-27 The Heeren Shops; Dona jeans, $99, from Mango | ||
| OCCASION HEELS | ||
| These are dressy shoes in which you don't put a foot wrong, whether at the office or a soiree.
What you want are shoes that will give you a leg up in the style stakes but that don't go overboard with design details. Style note: Carmen Cheng, general manager of Pedder Group Southeast Asia which owns in -house shoe label Pedder Red and multi-label shoe store On Pedder, says occasion heels are worth investing in because they can make or break a look. BASIC INSTINCTS Classic finish. Buy shoes in classic materials like satin and patent, which look more luxe, especially at night. Mix it up. Your bag matching your shoes is so old hat. Toe the line. Open-toe designs tend to look too casual, especially if your're more than ready for a pedi. If you want to flaunt your tootsies, go for classic peep toes instead. |
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| STEP UP: (From left) Patent leather heels with snakeskin pattern, $49.90, from Novo, 01-34C Parkway Parade; open-toe slingbacks, $59, from Marks & Spencer, 02-28 The Centrepoint; patent leather heel with silk rosette, $89, from The Shoe Loft, 03-39 The Centrepoint | ||
| SMART TEES | ||
| Tees have been dissed as every sloppy Singaporean's wardrobe staple but they can look tee- rific.
No, we're not referring to giant House Of Holland tops with naughty slogans. Turn to Sex And The City star Sarah Jessica Parker for inspiration instead. This clotheshorse has made plain, coloured knit tops look classy even on the red carpet. Style note: It's all in the cut, says home-grown designer Jo Soh. The perfect tee should fit you to a, well, T. BASIC INSTINCTS Avoid a ribbing. As in, ribbed collars. They look great on the rack but tend to lose their shape quickly. Just right. Get a tee that skims your figure. Too tight and you risk revealing your jiggles, too loose and you'll look like a bag lady. White's plain. Go for tops in off-white, neutral colours such as grey, or classic patterns such as stripes. They tend to look classier than the average bleach white. |
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| COTTON ON: (From left) Cotton tee with lace-trimmed heart-shaped collar, $79, from Bebe, 02-28 Wisma Atria; puff-sleeved cotton tee, $29, from Fox, B2-34 Ngee Ann City; cap-sleeved cotton tee, $49, from FCUK, Level 2 Tangs Orchard | ||
| BALLET FLATS | ||
| You don't need to be a ballerina to wear these slip-ons - they've become a style classic.
Simple yet sleek, they go as well with slacks as they do with dresses. No wonder they were a favourite of Hollywood icon Audrey Hepburn, who was known to prefer casual attire yet never failed to look red carpet-ready. Style note: Carmen Cheng, general manager of Pedder Group Southeast Asia, says a classic ballet flat will take you from day to night in a heartbeat. BASIC INSTINCTS Watch the bump. The toe box of your ballet flat should not be too bulbous. The idea is for it to look sleek, not swollen. Shape up. A good ballet flat retains its natural shape, not that of your feet, when you wear it. Beyond pink. Because of its simplicity, you can afford to buy your ballerinas in seasonal colours. Just opt for darker versions like eggplant instead of violet. |
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| ON POINT: (From left) Limited Collection patent ballet flats, $50, from Marks & Spencer; satin ballet flats with patent buckle, $24.90, from Mitju, 03-19 Bugis Junction; diamante-studded patent ballet flats, $92, from The Shoe Loft, 03-39 The Centrepoint | ||
| DRESS WATCHES | ||
| Mention dress watch and the likes of luxury timekeepers like Rolex and Cartier come to mind.
Can't afford them? Go for cheaper alternatives that come with fake stones or look like baubles. Boutiques at Far East Plaza and The Heeren have Korean makes priced from as low as $10 when on sale. Style note: Women's watches today are no longer just functional, says Terry Tan, merchandising manager at Tangs department store which stocks dress watches from the likes of Juicy Couture and Marc Jacobs. BASIC INSTINCTS Be bold. Instead of sleek, go for big - be it on the watch face or design details such as embellishment. The idea is to grab attention. Time travel. Stretch your dollar with a timepiece that's designed like a piece of jewellery. Skin's in. Those less daring should opt for a sleek design with a leather strap. This classic look works with everything. |
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| WATCH IT: (From left) Rose gold watch with pearl strap, $99, from Wrist, 03-51 Far East Plaza; crystal-studded watch, $23.90, from Lafon, 03-26A Bugis Junction; bracelet-cum-leather strap watch, $99, from Wrist | ||
| CLASSIC TOTES | ||
| Take a leaf from Hermes Birkin and Longchamp Pliage - without paying their prices. We love roomy, rectangular, folder-sized totes not only because they are proportionate to most body shapes but also because they are practical and suit all occasions.
Style note: The mark of a classic tote is when it's able to serve double duty, night and day, says Pedder Group Southeast Asia's Carmen Cheng. BASIC INSTINCTS Look luxe. Go for richer colours. They tend to look classier and match with most outfits. Trend trade-off. Get a tote in a seasonal colour but don't dress in the same shade from head to toe or you'll look like a fashion eyesore. Don't squeeze, please. Get your tote in a practical size. It's not worth paying - no matter how cheap - for one that can barely fit a notebok. |
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| SEE RED: Patent leather tote, $65, from Ich Concept, 03-42 Shop 23 Far East Plaza | CANVAS FOR VOTES: Canvas tote, $38.60, from M)phosis, 01-34B Parkway Parade | SATIN SMOOTH: Satin monogram tote, $95, from Aldo, 03-24 Wisma Atria |
| STATEMENT JEWELLERY | ||
| Diamonds may be a girl's best friend but not necessarily her wallet's. To bedazzle without breaking the bank, opt for statement jewellery instead. Whether they're made of crystals or fake gems, they boast the wow factor either because of their sheer size or elaborate, unique design.
Style note: Local jewellery designer Heather Ho, whose handmade, vintage-inspired creations are sold at Isetan Scotts and Trixilini at Millenia Walk, says: 'It's possible for a statement piece to be a classic. You should like it enough to want to wear it all the time.' BASIC INSTINCTS One and only. Nothing makes a statement like a piece that's rare or unique. Trawl the likes of vintage and second-hand stores. No compromises. Bargain bling can be of good quality. The workmanship of Korean designs, for example, is improving and could rival that of quality king Japan soon, says Ho. Suit yourself. Wear only pieces that you are comfortable in or your awkwardness will show. |
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| BLING BLING: (From left) Zirconia and metal necklace, $50, from Mango; diamante-studded ring with floral design, $23, from Topshop, 01-33 Parkway Parade; metal hooked earrings, $35, from Aldo, 03-24 Wisma Atria | ||
This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times on Aug 29, 2008.