- theprimoproduction
- Aug 26, 2019
- 4 min read
Everyday I’m surprised at how much us girls are willing to spend on basics. I don’t know who normalized spending $50 on a halter top at Urban Outfitters or Free People but I can never bring myself to pay that much for basics that aren’t even that cute. Okay, I mean they’re cute but for $50? They better be more than just basic, but they’re not. After hours and hours of browsing online stores and focusing on saving money, I’ve found that the best way to get your money’s worth is to just define basics differently. Define basics as things you wear consistently and that are comfortable for you instead of just the traditional halter tank or cropped tee that comes in like two colors. Think of basics as something you’d wear going to class while still looking cute. I mean, who said basics can’t be trendier and comfier? For me, I have 5 main basics that I wear almost everyday to class and that are way cheaper and trendier than whatever Urban is selling as their “basics” right now.
1. The Cropped Denim Jacket
One easy way to make an outfit look cuter in 5 seconds is a cropped denim jacket. I have several of these in so many different colors and they make your outfit look like you actually tried in the mornings, when in reality, you didn’t have to at all. My favorite jacket I own is actually from Abercrombie & Fitch (I know right?) but there are so many cheaper options like PrettyLittleThing, or if you’re looking for quality over price, Topshop and BlankNYC both sell cropped jackets that scream trendy.
2. Baggy Tees but Different
Okay so I know that baggy t-shirts as dresses aren’t a new concept as a basic, but what if your oversized tee didn't have the name of a random soccer team that you were on in high school or of that one vacation spot your family goes to every summer? I think this is my favorite trend out of all five listed on this post just because it’s the simplest one and the cheapest one by far. Thrift stores, your boyfriend, the men’s section; almost anywhere. These are all places that you can cheaply find oversized tees that will be guaranteed to look like you tried but didn’t, ya know? But if you can’t find any at these places, Boohoo (or BoohooMan) and PrettyLittleThing have you covered (and cheaply too).
3. The Cropped Hoodie
Okay, so I’m telling you, this is 100% a must have. You don’t even need cute pants (which is the best part) and it’s so comfortable and versatile that I wear this EVERYWHERE. By everywhere I mean everywhere: the gym, to class, to run errands, ANYWHERE. Honestly, the best part about wearing cropped hoodies is that they're super flattering and comfortable while still being SO accessible and cheap. Thrift stores, Marshalls, Ross, and TJ Maxx all have hoodies that you can crop on your own instead of paying an insane price for one that is already cut for you. The best part is that even if your specific sizes aren't available in the cute hoodies, it doesn’t matter because you’re gonna crop them anyways. But if you are looking for already cropped ones, Topshop and Brandy Melville sell plenty.
4. The Slip Dress
People ask me all the time why I wear dresses when I could be wearing jeans or pants or honestly, anything else. Maybe I’m crazy, but I think that slip dresses are more comfortable than wearing pants or bottoms. Ever since 90s fashion has been coming back, there has been a huge emphasis on comfortable style which I think is amazing because not wearing pants is the dream. Slip dresses are the perfect mix between cute and comfortable while also being super on the current trend and looking like you 100% know what you're doing. At this point, they’re sold almost anywhere but beware, Urban Outfitters’s slip dresses will break on you even though the price tag is the cost of a small house. Born to Be Chic, Windsor, and honestly, anywhere sells these, so be sure to grab one on your next shopping trip.
5. THAT Pair of Joggers
I know I’ve talked about how much I hate bottoms probably a million times but joggers are the only bottoms that I will wear on a daily basis. They come in so many colors and are so incredibly comfortable because they’re just like sweatpants, but “trendy”. That's why going to class in the winters is going to be a lot easier (I promise you) because all you have to pull on is a pair of joggers and a cropped hoodie and boom, outfit made. And it only took half a minute. For me, finding the best joggers include having a tighter fit instead of relaxed fit and having more than just the basic colors (black, white, grey). My favorite jogger brand is SLA the Label because they have a huge color selection and even their relaxed fit joggers fit me perfectly. Other than that, I love Alphalete and NEU Apparel, both of which are on the pricier side but worth it if you’re looking to invest in joggers that won’t discolor or shrink.
I hope that this post helped you redefine the basics in your wardrobe so that you’re not dropping your whole paycheck on three items. The goal is to look put together and trendy as cheaply as possible, right? Hopefully, you can find yourself some new items that make it outside your closet everyday and make you feel your best whether you’re in class, working out, or just out and about. Happy shopping!!
