The Fundamentals

I'll fess up. I wear about 10% of wardrobe 90% of the time. There are certain things that I just can't imagine how I'd get by without and that I return to day after day. It's good to have a solid set of basics, but as other bloggers have pointed out, there's no such thing as a definitive list of "essentials". I mean, the lists of what every woman should supposedly have that appear in magazines bear no resemblance to what I personally feel I need to have in my wardrobe. I don't have the lifestyle or the desire for a tailored white shirt or a trench coat.

For me, the most "fundamental" components of my wardrobe can also be thrown together to form my most oft worn outfit. If I had a daily "uniform" this would be it.

American Apparel Grey Tri-Blend T-Shirt

Love the colour, love the feel, love the cut and the fit. I can layer this under anything, pretty much.

Long/Oversized Plaid Shirt

The one pictured here is by Silence + Noise from Urban Outfitters. Plaid shirts are probably my personal definitive can't-live-without item. I like them to be soft and roomy, and this one is one of my faves.

Grey Sweatshirt

This is another AA piece; very soft, very cosy, with sleeves that cover my hands (I like an overlong sleeve), this is an ultimate basic. Goes with anything, I like to wear it over leggings or a brightly-coloured mini.

Black Leggings

These can be plain cotton from Topshop, or my current faves pictured here, the AA spandex leggings. I have it bad for leggings in any colour or pattern (and am tempted by a wealth of cool printed ones out there) but black, whether plain or shiny, is a staple of my wardrobe.

Flat lace-up pumps (I posted about these Topshop flats when I bought them, and as predicted, have indeed worn them out in the damp and the mud. They're holding up okay, but I'm still very tempted to grab another pair before they disappear off the site. I couldn't live without them now, nooooo!) And a roomy, casual bag to throw my junk in (This Topshop one fits the bill nicely.)

Not the most exciting collection of clothes in the world, no, but that's not the point. These are the items that I couldn't do without on a daily basis; they can be layered and mixed and matched up with different things. Or, when it's grey outside and what I want from my clothes is to be wrapped up in the equivalent of a comfort blanket, this is what I'll put on all together; not to wow but to feel comfortable, confident and very much like myself. Which is, um, a scruffy tomboy.

Other personal essentials not listed above but not to be excluded: Tabio 110 denier tights; Topshop "Pippa" jeans; Penny hearts Kenny white jazz shoes; a black 'go with anything' coat; a long line cardie in various colours; big chunky knitted cardies; a grey hoodie; mini skirts in brightly coloured hues; rock tees.