With all the time we’ve been spending in sweatpants and pajamas lately, we are SO ready to venture out and (cautiously) experience the world once again. Before you head to the stores and the gradually filling streets, this would be as good a time as any to review what’s in your closet to make sure that you’re ready for your reintroduction to life beyond the Zoom meeting, as well as the True Fashionista summer ahead.
As you make your tentative plans, keep in mind that your collection should have that foundation of essentials with which to mix and match to build an array of outfits. With a solid stock of the basics, outfits should be a breeze for virtually any occasion, large and socially distanced or safe ‘n small. Following is a list designed to reflect 2020, and beyond.
- JEANS
Every wardrobe needs a great pair of jeans. OK, the more pairs the better, we agree, but all True Fashionista things have to start somewhere. Among the swath of available styles, an easy go-to are a simple, high-waisted straight leg that works with a pair of pumps or Vans sneakers. A solid pair recommended by Cosmo are the Marilyn Straight Jeans by NYDJ, offering stretch without constriction. They also prefer Frame’s high-waist Crop Cigarette Jeans that pair brilliantly with booties to offer a glossy, leather-like finish to your outfit.
Says Feals Editorial Director Nandita Khanna, “While I have many pairs of beloved vintage Levi’s, I feel polished and pulled together in a pair of Khaite Vanessa Jeans. I love them so much I have them in three washes—black, ivory, and a classic blue. They’re slim with the slightest touch of stretch.”
- TANK TOPS
Resist the urge to get one in every color. OK, don’t resist. Tanks work underneath your favorite button-up shirt, under a blazer or with a bold print skirt. Accessorize with a print scarf, or wear it with a pencil skirt for a professional look. Tanks also work as a boho chic piece when paired with long, flowing printed skirts and an extra-long cardigan. They’re so versatile they can also pair well with high-waisted jeans or shorts. At a loss on top? Wear your tank just by itself. You’re still making a statement, girl!
- BLAZERS
The trend these days in blazer-wearing is to break the mold. That’s right, grab your True Fashionista blazer and match it with a pair of printed slacks in a parallel hue. Pinstriped suiting is as classic as it gets, says Nicole Kliest for The Zoe Report, but why not reinvent the standard combination and pick a blazer and slacks in mismatched stripes? The result still feels versatile while also adding a casual element. A plaid blazer works with jeans and sneakers. Focus not on matching the designer, but matching two designers in one outfit. Got a True Fashionista blazer? Wear it with anything.
- THE LBD
As long as there are dresses and women, the Little Black Dress will always be cool, decided Coco Chanel in the 1920’s, and no one is arguing. Truth told, the LBD has actually been making women look lovely for centuries. Ms. Chanel just made it official. Thankfully, nothing has changed in the last 100 years. As seen on pre-Covid runways, the reimagined LBD for 2020 features updates like tastefully applied gaping slashes in the fabric, or the long-sleeved “cape” effect with an open back created by Helmut Lang. We must give a nod to Zaynep Arcay’s long-sleeved, one-shouldered leather number. Show it off on cool nights this summer. Designers like Rachel Comey are also throwing a fringe at the bottom of slightly longer black dresses. The effect is still the same.
- LEGGINGS
Leggings. We love ‘em and they’re not going anywhere. Orion’s Cutout Stretch Supplex leggings are a great buy for your essentials collection. "These leggings are interesting, flattering, cool, and last through about a million washings,” affirms Kerry Pieri, Digital Fashion/Features Director for Harper's Bazaar. Adidas leggings with their classic three lines will work comfortably well in your leggings-based outfits. Flare leggings? Yes, says Carbon38 emphatically. These are the leggings to not wear to yoga class, but in which to enjoy the weekend.
- ANIMAL PRINTS
While several styles of animal print have showed up on runways over the years, leopard by far remains the most coveted. Leopard print takes inspiration from all the previous decades of popularity and the different styles of those periods to create a hybrid modern feel. Leopard also manages to feel both non-conformist and an expression of an individuals’ confidence in their sensuality. Perhaps a sense of animal power is also part of the leopard print’s appeal? Earlier this spring, The Daily Mail recommended a whole range of trendy leopard-print looks for the season, including wellington boots, shoulder bags, hooded raincoats, leggings, and dresses.
- SWEATSUIT SETS
For social media needs and other leisure activities, there are definitely hotter outfits than your high school-era sweatsuit line out there. The ultimate home hang afternoon outfit has been updated for 2020 and its worth your time. Check out Aviator Nation’s tie-dye creation. Outdoor Voices Flyknit Sweatsuit is also a high-demand version thereof. They’re so hot at the moment that you may have issues finding it, however the company recently debuted a line with performing artist Saint Vincent, and that True Fashionista collab should be TikTok perfection. Go to the front yard or socially distantly take a walk around the block, if you dare.
- CHAIN-ACCENTED SHOES
This cool throwback to the street places chains on all kinds of shoes, from boots to mules and scrappy sandals. Zimmermann, Oscar de la Renta, Proenza Schouler are among the designers running them down the runways. Dress up a pair of jeans, complement a dress or wear them with a pants suit for a statement-making motif.
- ANYTHING LEATHER
Elle forecasted earlier this year the trend for leather, both faux and the real deal, coming to the forefront, and regardless of the summer weather, its here. And not just browns and blacks. Colored leather was all over the Spring 2020 runways, from the deep violets and blues of Sies Marjan to Khaite’s luxurious forest green pieces. Dresses, jumpsuits and pants in a variety of colors are a hot item.
- GOLD JEWELRY
It’s highly doubtful that gold would ever not be in fashion, however at this moment its being loved perhaps a little more than usual. Combine giant chunky gold hoops with any of the above fashions for a sleek look that wins on your virtual date Friday night. A trend seen on runways is also the single earring. Buy the pair, make it last longer. Try a gold oversized chain necklace, as shown by Proenza and Oscar de la Rente. Gold hoops by Ssense possess a unique feature where they can be flipped up and worn over the outer ear if preferred. Another trend we’re seeing are True Fashionista animal-shaped gold jewelry that also utilizes the aforementioned trend of animal prints.
Whether you’re continuing to stay in or showing your face mask outdoors, you can find what you need at True Fashionistasonline or in our sanitized Naples, Florida store, where the collection is updated daily. Fashion lives on in 2020!