Back to Basics - Why Basics are the Backbone of our Wardrobes

As an Image Consultant, it’s not only my job but my duty to help you lovely lot look and feel your best from the inside out, and the fun doesn’t stop after your Colour or Style Analysis. It’s my pleasure to be a continued support where I help you to find items in your wardrobe to have as outfits. Outfits aren’t made up of statement pieces, but of items that work hard for you every day that are the backbone of your wardrobe. In this blog, I’m going to show you how and why basics are important, where to find them and the power of styling them.

What do I mean by ‘the backbone of your wardrobe?’ I hear you say. I mean that basics will support your outfit; they’ll be the item that you either build your outfit around because of the colour, or if you have a statement piece, you can support it with a basic tee and you will then have an ensemble that assists the main event, so to speak.

Feeling good in colour is something that we all want! That’s the main reason my clients come to be for Colour Analysis - well, that alongside having a huge confidence boost, saving time on a morning getting ready, and knowing the best make up for you that makes you look incredible. The next question I get asked is ‘how do I find my colour out there, and how do I build a wardrobe in my colours?’

Kettlewell has entered the group chat.

If you don’t already know, Kettlewell is a shop that not only allows you to shop for your season, but allows you to see combinations of colour that you might not have thought of. What’s not to love?!

They kindly gifted me some t-shirts and belts, and I wanted to share them with you, to show you that basics are fundamental for building your outfit. Why? Because they ground your outfit. Basics allow your statement pieces to be centre stage, and they go with most of your wardrobe. Before I go any further, I want to mention to you the quality of these t-shirts - they feel amazing! They’re a lovely weight, have an incredibly soft texture and the colour pigment is exactly what you should expect from an item that will work hard for you.

In Style Analysis I talk to you about the best print/pattern/texture/cut/shape for you, and here’s where the magic happens with these t-shirts. Take myself for an example, using the Style Analysis Clothing Personality that is given in the session based on personality and body type - I am what is known as a Romantic Natural - this essentially means that, for me, more is more, comfort is king, and if there’s a nod to bohemian cow girl or an edgy vibe, I’m all in. These tees are boxy, comfy, high in pigment of colour and they go with everything in my wardrobe. This is exactly what you want out of your wardrobe - clothes that are versatile and allow you to make multiple outfits out of just a few pieces, and work with who you are.

Look at the before and after photos in the carousel below; I’ve either prioritised the colour and made it the high-contrasting feature of the outfit, or I’ve pulled out a colour in the pattern of a jacket and emphasised it through the tee. This is the beauty of basics; it’s about using them to your advantage and, where you can, elevate your outfit using your colours to do it, instead of hiding behind black and white (which we’re all guilty of).

All I’ve done in the above images is add accessories, used some jackets to add a little bit of panache (something you learn about in Style Analysis) and used the belts to put the outfit together, bring in my waist, and elevate the overall look.

Speaking of belts, can we take a moment to talk about the Kettlewell belts? I’ve already mentioned my nod to western sartorial attire, but these belts don’t just speak to the cowgirl in me, but they are also in so many colours you won’t be disappointed. Again, belts should be a staple in our wardrobe that elevate an every day look - they do so much work for us for such a small item in our wardrobe. For example: to elevate your tee, add a belt. To break up your outfit and give it a story, choose a belt in your colour. To give yourself authority and to look effortlessly ‘put together’ add a belt. You’ll be surprised at how hard it works for you.

You can see from the before an after photos, I haven’t done much to elevate the look, it’s that easy.

As a Romantic Natural, I’m not good with too many smooth textures or plain material, so to stay true to my style - I layered jewellery and jackets over the tees and let those do the talking, all whilst having a colourful foundation on which the outfit can stand.

The cheat sheet, if you will, to looking put together is all in your colours and style, and having basics in these will help you enormously, and you will find yourself having a starting point for your outfit.

So, do yourself a favour and invest in some basics. You know I love to say it but - take the stress out of getting dressed.

And as always, I’m with you all the way,
Anna x

To discover more about Kettlewell, head to their website and enjoy shopping!

www.kettlewellcolours.co.uk