What is a basic wardrobe

Short answer: A basic wardrobe is the pieces you put on without thinking about it. They are plain, they go with everything, and they are replaced when they wear out. It is the foundation the rest of your clothes build on.

What you wear without thinking

Basics are not boring, they are simply decided in advance. They are the pieces at the top of the drawer that you put on when there is no time to think. When they fit well and go with the rest, mornings get easier. See bamboo T-shirts for women.

Plain rather than patterned

Plain pieces can be worn with everything else in the drawer, with patterned clothes and with other plain ones. A pattern is fun, but it limits what it can be combined with. Keep patterns to the outer layers and keep what lies underneath simple. See bamboo tops for women.

The layers underneath count

A basic wardrobe starts underneath, not with the outer layer. Underwear that fits well and does not show through your clothes makes the rest easier to wear. If the inner layer is wrong, everything on top feels wrong too, however good it looks. See bamboo underwear for women.

What belongs in it

Underwear, socks, T-shirts, a couple of soft tops and a warm layer. That is the core of most basic wardrobes. Everything in colours that go together, so you can take one piece from each pile and have an outfit that works. The rest of your clothes can then add the variety.

Colours that go together

Choose two or three base colours that everything in the basic wardrobe sticks to. It does not have to be black and white. What matters is that the colours work together, so you do not have to think about combinations. When you buy something new for your basics, choose within the colours you already have.

Fit before anything else

A basic piece has to fit well, because it is worn often and often under other clothes. A T-shirt that is too short or too tight stays in the drawer. Once you have found a fit that suits you, stick with it. That makes it easier to buy again when something needs replacing.

Replace when worn out

Basics are replaced when they wear out, not by the calendar. Underwear and socks usually last the shortest time, because they are washed most often and sit closest to the skin every day. Go through the drawer now and then, and take out what has lost its shape.

Look after your basics

Because they are worn and washed often, washing matters a lot for how long they last. Wash at the temperature on the care label and let them dry hanging freely. Turn dark pieces inside out so the colour lasts longer. Small habits help basics keep their shape through many washes.

Frequently asked questions

What belongs in a basic wardrobe

Underwear, socks, T-shirts, a couple of soft tops and a warm layer. Everything in colours that go together, so you can combine freely without thinking.

Do basics have to be plain

It makes them easier to combine, but a single pattern can easily be included. Keep patterns to the outer layers, so what lies underneath goes with everything.

How often are basics replaced

When they wear out, not by the calendar. Underwear and socks usually last the shortest time, because they are washed most often and sit closest to the skin.