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back to basics
March 2, 2017

50 Simple Pieces for Building a Classic Wardrobe

By the Cut

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If you’re not the kind of person who cares to follow seasonal trends and instead strives for some sort of continuity from year to year, you might gravitate toward a simple, classic wardrobe. We do roundups of great basics a few times a year, but for this edition, we thought we’d try to pinpoint the 50 classic closet pieces that can get you through almost any occasion: perfect white shirts, the exact shoes you need, and the one luxury bag to save up for, to name a few.

As you reassess your wardrobe for spring, now’s the time to make sure you have foolproof classics like a denim jacket, a basic trench, and a silk square scarf. Click on to see our picks.

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1 / 50 Photos
The Silk Blouse It's the shirt that inspires many to buy it in duplicate. Why? The beauty of a silk shirt lies in its versatility: It looks as gr... The Silk Blouse It's the shirt that inspires many to buy it in duplicate. Why? The beauty of a silk shirt lies in its versatility: It looks as great with a pencil skirt as it does tucked into high-waist jeans. 
The Slightly Oversize White Shirt You could fill a closet with variations on a white button-down but if you're looking to buy one that can pull d... The Slightly Oversize White Shirt You could fill a closet with variations on a white button-down but if you're looking to buy one that can pull double duty, this would be it. It's cut oversize enough that you can wear it over slim cigarette pants but it's not so big that you can't do the half tuck into a pair of jeans.
The Dress Shirt Lightweight and perfect construction for a relaxed fit. Wear it any day of the week to work, open the buttons deep, and roll... The Dress Shirt Lightweight and perfect construction for a relaxed fit. Wear it any day of the week to work, open the buttons deep, and roll up the sleeves on the weekend.
The Biker Jacket The best leather jackets feel like they've been lived in for some time. And they don't have to cost a fortune. You just have to ... The Biker Jacket The best leather jackets feel like they've been lived in for some time. And they don't have to cost a fortune. You just have to be very careful and look for versions that are not too complicated. Photo: Tsui, Diana
The Denim Jacket As tempting as it may be to buy an oversize denim jacket and wear it off the shoulders, a slim, fitted style is a better purchas... The Denim Jacket As tempting as it may be to buy an oversize denim jacket and wear it off the shoulders, a slim, fitted style is a better purchase. Give dresses, sweaters, and button-ups a casual, I-just-threw-this-together vibe by throwing one over your shoulders.
The White T-Shirt 
The Turtleneck Dress 
The Turtleneck 
The Chelsea Boots 
The Camel Coat 
The Overcoat 
The Lace Bra 
The Everyday Underwear 
The Pleated Skirt 
The Cashmere Sweater 
The Skimmer 
The White Sneaker 
The Everyday Tote 
The Flat Sandal 
The Slides 
The Low Heel, Dressy Sandal  Photo: Tsui, Diana
The Lazy Weekend Dress 
The Cat-Eye Sunglasses 
The Pearl Earrings 
The Brogues 
The Striped Top 
The Single Strap Stiletto Sandal 
The Suede Pump 
Skinny, Black Jeans 
The Classic Blue Jeans 
Classic Sunglasses 
The Rain Boot 
Real, Everyday Gold Earrings 
An A-Line Skirt 
The Slip Dress 
The Pencil Skirt 
The Shirtdress 
The Wrap Dress 
The Silk Scarf 
The Menswear Blazer 
The Black Blazer 
The Power Dress 
The Satin Pump 
The Mule 
The Shoulder Bag 
A Pair of Red Pumps 
The Power Bag 
The Trenchcoat 
The Bathing Suit 
The Cigarette Pant 
1 / 50

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