One of the simple pleasures of growing up is discovering the “adult” version of your style. However, what seems to be an effortless “13-going-on-22-and-scared-to-graduate-college” transformation in movies, more often will have young women sitting on the floor as they try and get dressed for the day—sobbing, sweating, and at the forefront of their mind is trying to figure out how to pair the knitted cardigan from Brandy Melville from Grade 8 with the new Aritzia bodysuit they bought last week.
It feels weird when you are trying to figure out every other confusing part of your life, while also trying to look at the amount and ensure you are not emulating any of the fashion choices you made while you were 14 and got your first paycheck. Luckily enough, while trying to make my outfits reflect who I am at 21 years old by using a lot of what I bought when I was 16, I have found a few staple pieces along the way that have helped me feel like I am an adult woman with a slight sense of style, even with those clothing items from my teenage years.
Here are five of the best staple pieces you need in your closet to match the clothes you bought when you were 16:
1. A good pair of iconic boots
Now, a good pair of iconic boots does not always mean the black pair of Women’s Classic Leather 1460 8-Eye Doc Martens crowding every university town’s streets. Think beyond! Cowgirl boots, thigh highs, white gogo boots, etc. Any pair of “stomper-clomper” style, somewhat-platformed boots will do.
I recommend owning a pair of shoes that your sixteen-year-old self would imagine your twenty-year-old self wearing (hence why I just bought a pair of red cowgirl boots).
2. A little black dress
Well….DUH!
How many songs and stories are there out there about an LBD? Too many to count at this rate (I can only remember the One Direction single, but I think there are others). It’s a classic look that gives a little je-ne-sais-quoi (a quality that cannot be described or named easily). For a reason, it is the uniform and a symbol of the dangerous woman!
3. A good Winter Coat
Canadian girls, please retire the army green jacket you bought in middle school and have used throughout high school. Instead, BUY A REAL WINTER JACKET. No one will notice whether or not it ruins your outfit, and climate change ensures even the most popular brands have some winter apparel section with an appropriate jacket. There are no excuses.
4. A knitted sweater that feels like a hug
Do not worry, you will know what I mean when I say this sweater will feel like a hug. It might be something of your mom’s you have not found yet. Maybe it is from a fantastic thrift haul. It could be something you have focused on for a significant amount of time. Just like a lover, you will know when it’s right.
5. A solid pair of real denim jeans
I am talking about a pair of jeans that will not disintegrate in the wash. They may be dark-wash or acid-wash (my personal choice). C’est la vie! They can be thrifted easily, and they will be a crutch when you are crying on the floor when you do not know what to wear. Just make sure they will go with your cardigan from grade 8.
