We’ve all been there; searching for the perfect (insert item here) and tasked with sussing out the 1,000,000 options on the internet. One website swears by this one and another influencer swears by a different one (and maybe one of them is sponsored by the brand they are recommending so we aren’t sure the opinion is unbiased). It was with this frustration that a recent reader on one of
’s posts suggested Irene round up the “best version of a simple thing.”I really loved the idea and Irene and I decided to tackle this together!
Anyone who knows me (or my writing) knows I’m an enormous fan of Irene; she can do no wrong for me, so this was a really fun moment for me to collaborate with her. I present to you; us going through a speed round of the Best & Only (insert item here) that we would buy or bring to a deserted island or pack in a suitcase or start our wardrobe over with. Feel free to scroll down for just the links but then you’ll miss out on our conversation and the excellent fart noises that Irene’s son used to mark the end of each round 😂 If it weren’t for him, we would have talked for hours.
Kelly’s Picks
Basic T-Shirt: Leset Margo OR Hanes
Alternative top: A denim button down. Search for Ralph Lauren either new or used.
Crewneck sweater I’m a sucker for cashmere and the La Ligne Marin is such a flawless cut. It can be worn oversized, TTS, etc.
Secondary top layer: Leather jacket (leather blazer, leather moto, etc)
Denim: Levi’s 501 90s (I also love their vintage pairs but the 501 90s are shockingly similar and perpetually on sale)
Alternative bottom: Barrel pants (Nili Lotan Shon, or my personal favorite, Citizens of Humanity Marcelle. I also saw these on Gap the other day and the black looked very good).
Sneaker: Adidas sambas although I was recently taken by the Adidas Toyko (I also own puma speed cats, onitsuka tiger, converse and I still reach for my sambas most)
Boot: I have the Staud Wally which are great for an elevated look but my life doesn’t require that much. I wear my Hereu chelsea boot way more often.
Flat shoe: A flat or mule
Accessory: A great embellished belt can really elevate an outfit and there are so many good makers of these now (Heaven Mayhem, Aureum, Dehanche). I tend to dress relatively simple and a belt away makes me feel more put together.
Bonus round;
What is our “Have to Have” as
says. Irene calls these “WANTS” in her Foundational Wardrobe series (it’s a must read here);Something printed to help level-up an outfit; that could be a graphic tee or printed pants. I’m currently hunting down a plaid jacket as a hero piece for my closet.
Irene’s Picks
Basic T-Shirt: COS mens brushed cotton tee (take your TTS in womenswear) or Aritzia Pegasus tee. It’s hard for me to spend much more than that, possibly because I haven’t found one that is worth the price jump.
Alternative top: Definitely a sweatshirt. I have basic sweatshirts from Aritzia and Left On Friday that do the job well, but if I had to pick an elevated one, I’d go with this one by Dries van Noten. [Kelly: See Irene in this sweater here! It’s so, so good!]
Crewneck sweater: No surprise given how much I love my COS hero sweater. Although prices have gone up at COS significantly in the last couple of years, I would still probably still turn to them for my best & only slouchy grey crewneck sweater. [Kelly: I’ve wanted this sweater since Irene’s post here]
Secondary top layer: Definitely a blazer for me. I think one needs both a structured shoulder blazer and a relaxed one. For the latter, hands down the tropical wool Tibi Liam, and for the former, I have a few secondhand Celine and Dior blazers and their cut and quality are exquisite.
Denim: Not a huge denim wearer but lately I’ve been wearing my old Goldsign Jarvis jeans on rotation. I linked to a US$175 pair from the Outnet, but I paid CA$99 for them three (four?) years ago from Canadian retailer, Holt Renfrew.
Alternative bottom: Definitely sweatpants (see: Using Tension To Elevate Your Joggers), and 100% Tibi’s Calder. [Kelly: I knew, I just KNEW she would say this!]
Sneaker: Cariuma OCA Low — the most basic, normcore sneakers!
Boot: Refer to The Most Functional & Versatile Boot — no surprise that mine are over-the-knee, low heel sock boots. I have two pairs by Khaite — I found the Hooper secondhand and the Volos at a steep discount.
Flat shoe: Any Jil Sander flat!
Accessory: Aviator glasses or sunglasses. Bottega does amazing ones, but my Warby Parker and Ray-bans also do the job.
Bonus round: Give me art, give me drama, give me couture! I loved the Marc Jacobs recent FW collection as well as Schiaparelli’s couture collection. [Irene texted me “I want to be a Schiaparelli girl” and I thought “don’t we all!”]
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