Today I want to share 5 spring staples—that can also transition to summer—that will help pull your wardrobe together!
But first, a warning: These staples are NOT EXCITING! 😂 However, they ARE *transformational* to your closet. I promise you. That title isn’t clickbait! 😆
More importantly, you have probably heard me talk about these wardrobe staples SO MANY TIMES. But it’s time for an accountability check: Do you HAVE them? All of them???
I recently shared with my email list about the difference between knowledge and know-how. I know that it’s easy to gather information, like to hear me tell you how important wardrobe staples are, to save posts on Instagram that list out wardrobe staples, or to even download my free Wardrobe Staples Checklist, but not ever actually take action. If you’re not using the tips, your style will simply never get better or easier. You have knowledge but you don’t have know-how.
These are 5 spring staples that are really not that exciting, but they are seriously what will pull together your wardrobe. They’re most often the first “holes” that new PMT Style Club members want to fill once they see how many of their outfits could use one of them. If you don’t have these yet, start here!
SIZING: I’m 5’6″ and usually S/M or 6 in clothes and 8.5 to 9 in shoes.
1. White or Black Tee or Tank (or all of them!)
For a long time, I never wanted to buy a plain white or black tee because I thought they were so boring. I truly thought it was a waste of money! But now, here I am telling you that these really are essential to your wardrobe. My, my, how I’ve come around to see the light. 😆 No, they are not exciting, but they are extremely functional.
A black and/or white tee will pull together all of those other pieces that don’t pair with anything else. I personally wear a plain black tee more than I wear a plain white one, but really I need both in my wardrobe. While you can wear a plain white or black tee with jeans for a simple outfit, that’s not my preference as that is usually too plain for me. Instead, I most often wear plain black and white tees with printed bottoms and statement bottoms. You need that “boring” piece to balance out the exciting printed and statement counterparts!
In the PMT Style Club we workshopped several items that one of our members, Maya, shared with us. She had all these fun printed pieces that she only knew how to wear one way. Throughout our session, it was clear that just a handful of wardrobe staples would help her create more outfits with all the pieces. It’s been fun to see Maya’s wardrobe become super functional and watch her style take off by adding these “boring” pieces!
Here are a few ways I recently wore my black tee!
Black Tee + Colored Bottoms
I’m pairing it with olive wide leg pants which make a statement. The basic silhouette of the basic tee works easily with the wide leg pants (and lots of other cuts of bottoms)!
These wide leg pants are surprisingly light weight and flexible, BTW! Lots of sizing options, HERE.
Shop Outfit:
T-shirt: Madewell (exact—wearing size M, exact)
Pants: Old Navy (exact—wearing size 4)
Sandals: (exact—wearing size 8.5)
Necklace: Nordstrom (exact; cheaper lookalike)
Black Tee + Printed Pants
What do you pair with printed pants? You always have an option with either a black or a white tee, so that’s what I’m doing here! The striped wide leg pants make enough of a statement, and I want them to be the focal point of the outfit. The “boring” black tee balances them out.
BTW, this denim jacket is a really good, affordable option that is stretchy, lightweight, and comfy. It’s nearly half the price of others that feel just the same! Find it HERE.
Shop the Outfit:
T-shirt: Madewell (exact—wearing size M, exact)
Denim Jacket: Nordstrom Rack (exact—wearing size S)
Pants: Nordstrom Rack (exact—wearing size S)
Shoes: (exact—wearing size 8.5)
Bag: Nordstrom Rack (similar)
Earrings c/o Nickel & Suede: (similar)
Black Tee + Jeans + Statement Shoes
I told you that I typically don’t wear a plain tee with jeans, but if I’m trying to show off some cool printed sneakers, then I will, and that’s what I’m doing here! Again, the “boring” tee allows the sneakers to be the focal point.
Shop Outfit:
T-shirt: Madewell (exact—wearing size M, exact)
Jeans: Gap (exact—wearing size 28/6)
Shoes: Madewell (exact—wearing size 8.5)
Necklace: Nordstrom (exact; cheaper lookalike)
2. Denim Jacket
By now you should know my absolute love for STRETCHY and COMFY denim jackets, so if comfort is your top priority, then remember that there are some insanely comfortable denim jackets out there.
This is THE PERFECT topper for spring and summer outfits. It goes with pants of all colors (besides denim), skirts in all prints and colors, and dresses. And it’s especially clutch in the summer when everyone shifts to linen pants in a variety of colors. You can also wear it with joggers of all colors.
So if you don’t have a denim jacket yet, IT’S TIME!
Here are some examples of how you can wear them. I only chose a few, because truly, there are too many to share!
Denim (that’s not blue) + Tee or Top
Wear it with any colored bottoms, including any jeans that aren’t blue! Go for black, white, ecru, olive, maroon, red–really, anything. You know how jeans basically go with anything? A denim jacket is like jeans but for your top half!
Shop Outfit:
Top: Target (exact—wearing size S)
Denim Jacket: Nordstrom (similar in same brand—I wear size M, similar but way cheaper)
Jeans: Nordstrom (exact—wearing size 6)
Shoes: (exact—wearing size 8.5)
Earrings: c/o Nickel & Suede (exact; similar, similar)
Dress
One great thing about denim jackets is that they tend to be more fitted and shorter, which works easily with a lot of different kinds of dresses, making it a staple topper thanks to its versatility.
Shop Outfit:
Dress: Amazon (exact—wearing size S)
Denim Jacket: Nordstrom (similar in same brand—I wear size M, similar but way cheaper)
Shoes: Nordstrom (exact—wearing size 9; similar, similar)
Bag: Nordstrom Rack (similar)
Earrings c/o Nickel & Suede: (similar)
Necklace: c/o Dear Mushka (exact)
Skirt + Tee or Top
Last, pair it with any type of skirt. Again, the shorter and more fitted silhouette of a typical denim jackets helps it go with a lot of different kinds of skirts. And because a denim jacket is like jeans for your top half, it goes with all sorts of prints and colors.
Shop Outfit:
Top: Amazon (similar)
Skirt: Amazon (exact—wearing size M)
Denim Jacket: Nordstrom (similar in same brand—I wear size M, similar but way cheaper)
Shoes: (similar)
Bag: (similar)
Earrings c/o Nickel & Suede: (similar)
Necklace c/o Dear Mushka: (exact)
3. Well-Fitting Jeans
Emphasis on the “well-fitting” because one of the KEYS to great style that I always tell you is that your clothes must FIT WELL. I’d start with a medium or a dark wash, as those are easier to pair with a lot of things, including dressing them up and down. But hopefully you have a great pair of jeans already!
Jeans + Blouse + Flats
Dress up jeans with a blouse and flats!
BTW, this top is a great little find that provides shape with the belted waist. There is also elastic at the back of the waistband to make it more comfortable. Comes in TONS of colors and in sizes XS to 4X and is under $27, HERE!
Shop Outfit:
Top: Amazon (exact—wearing size S)
Jeans: Nordstrom Rack (similar—I wear size 6 Short for ankle length)
Shoes: (similar)
Earrings c/o Nickel & Suede: (exact—wearing size M)
Jeans + Sweatshirt or T-shirt + Sneakers
Dress jeans down with a sweatshirt or tee and sneakers. Make sure to go for low-profile sneakers, like this slip-on pair above. More on that during the next wardrobe staple below!
Shop Outfit:
Sweatshirt: Gap (similar)
Jeans: Nordstrom Rack (similar—I wear size 6 Short for ankle length)
Shoes: (exact—wearing size 8.5)
Earrings c/o Nickel & Suede: (similar)
Jeans + Sweater
Pair jeans with a sweater! It can be relaxed and casual like the one I’m wearing above, or it could be a dressier one since, remember, you can dress up dark wash jeans easily like we did in the first outfit with the blouse.
Shop Outfit:
Sweater: Nordstrom Rack (similar)
Jeans: Nordstrom Rack (similar—I wear size 6 Short for ankle length)
Rain Boots: (exact—wearing size 8; similar, similar)
Earrings c/o Nickel & Suede: (similar)
4. Neutral Slip-On Sneakers
This is a big one. When members come into the PMT Style Club who have trouble with their casual style, one of the reasons is due to not having casual shoe options besides athletic sneakers, so it throws off the outfits. If you switch out athletic sneakers for low-profile sneakers like Converse or even TOMs, or a pair of slip-on sneakers like the ones I’m wearing above, it completely changes your outfits—without having to give up sneakers. That’s important! You do not have to give up sneakers to feel stylish. But you do need to have the right kind of sneakers for the right kind of casual outfit.
I think of one of our club members, Stephanie (hiii, Stephanie!), who was working diligently on her style, trying to put to action what she was learning through the courses in the club. Over and over, we’d tell her that a pair of slip-on sneakers would be the best finishing touch for her outfits. And I want to shout her out because she has made MAJOR STRIDES with her style just by adding a pair of slip-on sneakers like this. Major props to Stephanie for taking action, following through with finding a pair of slip-on sneakers that worked for her, and turning knowledge into know-how. She has been NAILING her outfits now!
For the shoes, you can go for any neutral, like white, grey, taupe, or black. My preference is white because I like how it gives outfits that lift. But, you should really play around with one of the neutrals I just listed to see what works best for your wardrobe.
Above are examples of outfits with white slip-on sneakers. Super versatile! You can find all the details to the first 3 in the previous sections of this blog post. Here are the outfit details for the 4th outfit:
Shop the Outfit:
Tee: Gap (exact—wearing size S)
Denim Jacket: (similar, similar)
Jeans: Gap (exact—wearing size 28/6)
Bag: Gap (exact)
Earrings c/o Nickel & Suede: (similar)
5. A necklace that works with almost anything
When I say anything, I mean t-shirts, sweatshirts, blouses, even athleisure. You want something that can be worn in dressed up outfits but also worn in dressed down outfits without being too fancy. Of course you can have other necklaces that are more exciting, but as a baseline piece of jewelry, you want to have at least ONE piece to fall back on that you can throw on to add that finishing touch to anything you wear.
My current one of choice is this initial necklace. There is a much less expensive Amazon dupe HERE.
A few outfits with the short pendant are below so that you can see it in action with casual and dressier outfits:
Shop Outfit:
T-shirt: Madewell (exact—wearing size M, exact)
Pants: Old Navy (exact—wearing size 4)
Sandals: (exact—wearing size 8.5)
Necklace: Nordstrom (exact; cheaper lookalike)
Shop Outfit:
Top: Amazon (exact—wearing size S)
Moto Jacket: (similar, similar)
Jeans: Nordstrom (exact—wearing size 8)
Booties: Gap (exact—wearing size 9)
Necklace: Nordstrom (exact; cheaper lookalike)
Shop the Outfit:
Tank: Gap (exact—wearing size S; similar)
Pants: Gap (exact—wearing size S)
Sandals: Gap (exact—wearing size 8)
Bag: Gap (exact)
Necklace: Nordstrom (exact; cheaper lookalike)
See how it even works in an athleisure outfit without seeming fussy or dressy? Find something versatile like that!
Shop the Outfit:
Sweatshirt: (exact—wearing size S; similar)
Leggings: Nordstrom (exact—wearing size M; similar)
Shoes: Nordstrom (similar, similar, similar)
Necklace: Nordstrom (exact; cheaper lookalike)
Again, these staples are not exciting or fancy, but they are insanely useful and will help you pull together outfits SO MUCH more easily!
Like our PMT Style Club member Stephanie said, “I have all the basic building block pieces now and I’m noticing how much easier it is to put together an outfit. It’s amazing how just a few building blocks can add so much variety to a wardrobe.”
Other members then jumped in to agree! Take it from them. If you don’t have these staples yet, GET THEM! Just 5 pieces. They don’t have to be the exact ones I link to or wear; just anything that fits the purpose. They’ll work beyond spring and in several other seasons, if not all the seasons. So, take action and do it!
Boost your wardrobe with wardrobe staples! Grab this free wardrobe staples guide to get a checklist of 16 wardrobe staples and 6 outfit ideas to create with them. Having some KEY pieces will help you pull together outfits more easily AND create MORE outfits with LESS pieces!
Click HERE to enter your info and download your free copy!
