Style Beyond Basic

Sometimes putting together an outfit to wear seems ridiculously difficult and frustrating.  I look in my closet staring blankly at the clothes thinking "I could wear that if only I had such and such a piece to go with it", when the truth is there are plenty of outfits to be created from the existing inhabitants of such closet!

This is when I call upon some style 101 and go right back to basics.  I'll start with one piece I specifically want to wear, be it black jeans, a comfy sweater or a particular pair of shoes.  Whatever it is, that is the foundation on which to build.  I pair simple understated pieces, generally solids to keep it easy, and stick to the same color scheme or choose one contrasting color.

What takes this basic look from boring to beyond are the small details in each piece.  For example, the sweater's deep V neck line that flows into a front center seam, side split seams,  deep dropped shoulder seams and flowing lose fit, is altogether much more interesting than a standard crew.  The black jeans with coated fabric adds another texture and again elevates the style factor.  

Sweater // Shoes similar here  //Handbag  // Sunnies // Jeans //  Coat (old) similar here and here

​The coat I've had for years. I bought it at Saks 5th Ave in New York when I first moved to the United States.  I was living in Arizona but found myself in New York for several days without a coat.  I'd abandoned all my warm winter wear back in England with the expectation that I was never going to be cold again - big mistake!  I'm glad I still have this coat with simple lines and classic Calvin Klein style.  It's timeless and once again goes beyond basic due to it's boucle weave.

For me, the heels turn this outfit from street style to chic style.  Heels always make me feel special.  These Halogen nude studded shoes from Nordstrom are amazingly easy to walk in, and are a great dupe to the Valentino Rock Stud shoes that cost hundreds of dollars more.  

So if you're having a bad wardrobe day, just remember to go back to basics.  You'll be amazed at how sassy you can put yourself together, and you'll go way beyond basic!  Do you have any "bad wardrobe day" tricks?  I would love to hear about them, we can all use tips in that department.
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As always thank you for reading
Karen xox