Style update: my current wardrobe staples and subtle statements
Simple staples and little statements that I can't get enough of right now
Lately, a few standout pieces have been quietly earning staple status in my wardrobe, so today’s post is all about the clothing and accessories I’m reaching for on repeat.
While I wouldn’t call myself an expert on trends or the latest “must-haves,” I’ve been on a personal style journey lately—focusing less on what’s in and more on what actually works for me. It’s been about figuring out what fits my body best and makes me feel good when I get dressed. If you’ve seen me IRL or caught snippets of my outfits on Instagram, you know I’m a basics person - think lots of black and white, with the occasional berry, blue, or green snippet. My style? Somewhere between sleek and minimal, with just a touch of sporty, and maybe something else I haven’t really figured out yet.
I’ve been reaching for a few pieces that hit that sweet spot: elevated staples that still feel easy. They touch on some recent trends but still fit very much into my personal style and comfort zone. Here are the ones I’ve been loving and wearing most:
Madewell Superwide Leg Jeans
It took me long enough to get onto the wide leg look, but now that I’m here I’m not looking back. These superwide leg jeans look put together and can be dressed up for a nice dinner or a smart-casual office setting but are still an easy breezy pant that are actually comfortable to wear for a full day. I love the dark gray wash of these, which look both polished and cool and work for every occasion and have gotten me more compliments than any other jeans I’ve worn. For a more relaxed feel the Airy version is even softer and feels like the most comfortable broken in jeans, and come in the curvy fit that fit me absolutely perfectly. With the regular pair, I take my regular size and have the waist taken in.
Uniqlo Mini T-Shirt
This is the t-shirt that’s been on repeat in my closet, perfect for wearing with jeans (like the Superwide jeans from Madewell), my beloved Everlane barrel pants, a silk skirt, or shorts as we head into warmer weather. They have the perfect cropped, but not too cropped cut, with a slim but not skin tight fit that never feels constricting. They’re also the perfect medium-weight cotton feel that doesn’t feel suffocating but also isn’t tissue thin, and they also have a little bit of spandex for some stretch. All that for $15? It’s an incredible deal. I’ve had a black and white tee that I wore so much that I just bought another black and white for my daily rotation so I don’t have to constantly do my laundry to rewear them again.
Leopard Print Flats
In my sea of black clothing and black shoes, leopard print flats have been such an effortless and easy way to add some visual interest to my outfits. A superwide leg jean, slim t-shirt, and leopard print flat? Boom, that’s a full outfit right there that works for most situations in my life. My pair were from Madewell and sadly sold out in a flash (though a few sizes are still in stock here). If you love the shape of the shoe, I can fully testify that these are comfortable enough out of the box to walk several miles in without any aching feet at the end of the day, though I scoured the internet and love the look of this pair from Margaux. It keeps the mary jane look with a gorgeous deeper tone of the print, and that slightly tapered toe that would be so elongating.
Leopard prints are tricky to do well in my opinion, because it has to have just the right tone and feel to not look cheap or unnatural. If you want to add in the mesh trend as well, I adore the look of this pair, which has a more subtle leopard print, or this pair which are half the price and have a similar look, or this pair that look similar are on sale for under $70 (also in stock in other sizes here for $55!). If the Mary Jane style isn’t your thing, these look so sleek, with a slightly squared toe, but not too square.
Minimal Strappy Sandals -
I have been obsessed with finding the perfect minimal strappy sandal but it has proven to be surprisingly difficult. They need to be just the right amount of strappy to feel supportive but not bulky or overcomplicated, and I also had specific features that would make this kind of shoe flattering for my feet. I have a wider toe box and wider feet in general, so most of the super minimal styles are too narrow for me. I also really dislike how an ankle strap looks and feels on me, so that’s a no go, and I also wanted a style that had a strap running diagonal across my foot for a more elongated look, since styles with only horizontal strap just make my feet look even wider.
I’ve scoured the internet and feel like I’ve looked at every available option from affordable to ridiculously out of my price range (I still lust after this pair from Emme Parsons), and I settled on 2 pairs for different occasions.
Madewell Maycie Asymmetric Sandal
These immediately caught my eye because they are basically exactly what I was looking for, with a slight elevated heel that makes it work for more formal occasions as well. It has the slim minimal straps and are wide enough for my feet. I wore these for the first time recently to a wedding and rehearsal where I had to walk about a half mile to the venue each way, and the toe strap started to rub a little bit around my toe by the end of each night but my feet were comfortable enough that I didn’t feel the urge to change shoes. I think once I wear in the straps a little bit more, I won’t have any more issues with the straps. I’m not going to lie, I’m tempted to buy another pair but I know the black is enough of a workhorse shoe. Bonus, they’re 20% off right now!
Linea Paolo Leanne Slingback Sandals
For a slightly more casual option, I’ve been stalking this pair for a couple years, with a slightly more cushioned footbed, but $300 is still a little higher than I’m really willing to pay for a sandal at the moment. After googling some alternatives I came across this pair from Nordstrom Rack that look nearly identical, but with faux leather straps. For $70 I felt like it was worth a shot and I’m pleasantly surprised! This pair looks like it has a stiffer sole while Ancient Greek Sandals’ sole looks more cushiony and flexible, but both versions have a rubber sole. The $70 version fit my feet perfectly with straps that felt comfortable through multiple miles of walking, and the faux leather straps and foot bed don’t feel plasticky or cheap. It’s possible at some point I’ll want to invest in the Ancient Greek Sandal pair in the future, but for now I’m more than happy with a more wallet-friendly version.
The bag I’m wearing nonstop
I’ve been pretty unadventurous with bags ever since I got the Lo and Sons Aoyama, which works for everything from a full day of sightseeing, a nice dinner, or a wedding, but lately I’ve been into bags that provide a little more of a statement.
I scored this vintage Liz Claiborne bag at Vintage Vintage Vintage, my favorite vintage store in DC, and it is basically the bag out of my dreams that I’ve been hunting for. On the outside, it looks like a basic flap bag, but the brown strap and subtle silver hardware add a touch of interest to an otherwise basic bag. However, the magic is on the inside - there’s compartments upon compartments, one of my favorite features of bags from the 90s. There are 2 main compartments, a zip compartment, as well as a zip pocket and multiple slip pockets, AND there’s a zip pocket on the back exterior to keep my phone handy. This bag has helped me actually keep my things organized and I’ve been wearing it nonstop.
It reminds me of the Cuyana Concertina bag I was ogling a few months ago, and this find has successfully fulfilled that desire for me. However, I still maintain that if you want a luxurious leather bag with a similar shape and similar number of compartments, this is a fantastic mid-range option.
Other bags with similar vibes are this Sculptural Buckle Bag that’s under $150 that maintains that minimal flap vibe (and also on sale right now!), this sleek and even more minimal bag from Freja that I’ve been eyeing forever, or the classic Coach Tabby that also has that slightly slouchy look (and of course I love the version with the black hardware).
Chances are, if you’ve seen me lately, I’ve been wearing at least one of these pieces. I also want to know your approach to personal style - how do you incorporate trends (or not), while staying true to yourself? What are basics and statement pieces you’re obsessed with right now?
As always, you can find all my favorites on ShopMy and my latest ramblings on Instagram. Thanks for reading!
That Uniqlo mini tee is my ride or die. Comes in a million colors, washes well, and always looks good. 😎