5 Winter Basics to Own If You Refuse to Follow Trends

If, like me, you’ve been reading Who What Wear religiously for the past decade, then you know that nothing is boring about great basics. Just a bit shy of “uniform dressing,” without committing completely to a capsule wardrobe, a closet full of just a few winter basics is all that’s needed to get through the season in style.

That’s not to say you need to wear them all at once—in fact, we suggest mixing at matching these key winter basics with whatever you already have on hand. That’s the point, right? Great basics go with everything and can be worn regularly without compromising your personal style.

This season, we recommend shopping for (and perhaps investing in) these five simple wardrobe staples: a camel-colored coat, classic black blazer, chunky white knit sweater, straight-leg jeans, and Chelsea boots. That’s it! And, if you already have a few of these items at your disposal, great — do some quick “girl math” and use that savings to invest in a top-quality piece that you’ll be happy about wearing for years to come. Ready? Let’s shop.