The 35 Wardrobe Essentials I Can't Live Without
Plus, my personal style guide for 2025.
I once listened to an interview with a fashion entrepreneur who shared something that stuck with me. She said that in the early days of her career, her closet was a chaotic mix of fast fashion, trendy pieces, and impulse buys (her exact words: it looked like someone had “thrown up” in her closet). It wasn’t until she stopped and asked, “Who do I want to show up as in the world?” that the vision for her timeless, sophisticated style began to take shape.
I love this idea of consciously choosing our personal style based on the person we want to be. At the start of each year, I clarify my vision for different areas of my life—so why wouldn’t I apply that same level of intention to my wardrobe? As we design a life that feels aligned, style is one of the most tangible ways we express that vision. Our outfits shape our mood, and therefore impact how we move through the world.
My personal style is pretty consistent—I love timeless, well-made pieces that are classic, comfortable, and feel effortless. I care most about how an outfit makes me feel since it influences how I show up. The right look can make me feel calm and at ease, bold and confident, or sexy—depending on what the occasion calls for. So, I like to start the year by considering how my style is evolving right along with me.
Create a Personal Style Vision Board
A few prompts that help guide my style evolution:
Which looks feel most like me right now?
What pieces do I reach for over and over?
How do I want to refine my wardrobe this year?
To answer these, I spent an evening curled up on the couch creating my 2025 personal style board. I started by searching Pinterest for looks that resonated with me and pinned them to my 2025 Personal Style board. Then I organized my favorites in Canva to create a cohesive vision for the year. Not only did it reignite my excitement for getting dressed—it will also serve as a personal style guide to help me shop more intentionally this year.
The goal of this process is to uncover patterns and themes in what I’m gravitating towards. This year, that means a color palette anchored in camel, cream, navy, and black; plus boxy tees, oversized button-downs, tailored trousers, and classic sweaters.
Define your style in three words
After curating my visual inspiration, I identify a few words that capture the essence of my style. These act as my north star when I’m building outfits. For 2025, my words are: refined, effortless, sporty. Every time I consider a new purchase, I’ll hold it up against these words to stay true to my vision (and avoid impulse buys that don’t align).
Shop your closet first
The next step? Shopping my own closet. I believe in slowly building a wardrobe over time that can evolve along with me, rather than starting from scratch each season. By identifying what I already own that reflects my vision, I can bring my mood board to life without feeling the need to constantly buy more. And when I do add something new, it’s with purpose.
My 35 Wardrobe Essentials
To illustrate the process (and provide some inspo if you’re into my style direction), here are the essential items I build my wardrobe around. Think of it as a capsule wardrobe of timeless, versatile staples—pieces that feel most me and save me from those "I have nothing to wear" moments.
Keep reading for:
A button-down I own in multiple colors
The most flattering jeans on the planet
My desert-island sneakers
My first-ever “investment piece” that I still love
What I wear to work out in almost daily
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