Hero Piece

I am hesitant to say that every closet needs certain staples. Certain items just don't work with certain styles. Not everyone needs a tailored blazer. Every wardrobe is different and should be curated as such. There are items that I think are beneficial to have though, like a blue and white striped button up shirt. 

Instead of saying staple pieces, I like the term hero pieces. Hero pieces are those items in your closet that just work with everything. They are the work horses of your wardrobe. You probably wear them at home and at work. Those are your personal staple pieces. One of my hero pieces is my J. Crew Factory blue and white stripe button up shirt. Now, any blue and white stripe button up shirt won't do. The reason this particular one works so well for me is because it's a little more girly. It has some eyelet and a ruffle at the collar. It's a little less structured. The stripes are thin. This is the important part. Your hero pieces must work for you. I'm not going to wear a thick striped oversized button up (unless it's a beach cover up, potentially) or a structured French sleeve. Those don't go with anything I own - they don't fit into my style. 

When someone says "every wardrobe needs this", they aren't necessarily wrong. But you might need a different version. A black blazer is something great to have in your arsenal. It might be cropped, oversized, fitted, double breasted, whatever. One size does not fit all. If you're feeling stuck trying to style a staple piece, it's probably because it's just not the right version of it. Play around with it and have fun. Experiment! That's what fashion and style are all about anyway. 

The next time you see an item that you need because it's in some closet staples list - pay close attention to the details. A denim dress might be a staple/hero piece, but do you need a mini, a lighter wash, or shirt dress? Keeping these things in mind while curating your closet will help you keep your style in line. 

You can find all the looks here.