Although most of us have traded our jeans and dresses for sweatpants and slippers for the time being, solid wardrobe essentials are forever. Let’s face it—none of us know how long this quarantine will last, but a closet with a reliable foundation of clothes will make it easier for you to maintain your new work-from home-routine (not to mention, help you get back up to speed once the coronavirus has passed). That’s why the concept of a wardrobe staple is so enduring: A closet built on a streamlined selection of items makes day-to-day dressing infinitely easier. (There’s little guesswork required.)
If you don’t know where to begin when it comes to building up the “essentials” section of your closet, the pieces below should serve as an excellent primer. Plain white tees, LBDs, and ballet flats will always have a place in our wardrobe, but now more than ever, we’re looking to a new kind of timeless classic—and the 10 styles in the gallery ahead are those you can mix and match for years to come. Whether your newest home project is cleaning out your closet and starting from scratch, or you just want something other than pajamas to wear right now, ahead are the 10 wardrobe essentials everyone should own.
The Easy Jeans
We may be living in sweatpants these days, but denim will never go out of style. The new classic is the easy jean—a slouchy, high-waisted straight leg that looks equally chic with a pair of pumps or dad sneakers.
