Now that the back-to-school season is approaching, I’ve found myself reevaluating the contents of my closet. After a year and a half of online learning and only styling my shirts for zoom meetings, my wardrobe has definitely been lacking some essential pieces. Here are some of my favorite basic, neutral clothing essentials that can be easily styled to avoid scrambling for outfits during hectic mornings.
1: SEAMLESS TOPS
I always find myself gravitating towards basic, neutral shirts that can go with any pair of bottoms, which is why my closet is filled with seamless tops. Ribbed or seamless tops have been popular this past year, creating a cute and comfortable fashion trend! These tops can be found at a variety of stores, such as Forever 21, Zara, Cotton On, Garage, H&M, and so much more. Seamless tank tops or camis are definitely a closet must-have for this school year.
2: GILDAN HOODIES AND SWEATS
There are always going to be those cold, tiring mornings where fashion is the least of your priorities. On the mornings when you just want to be comfy, sweats and a hoodie are the way to go! One of my favorite affordable options is the Gildan hoodies, zip-ups, crewnecks, and sweatpants that come in every color you could think of. They’re sold on Amazon and at Walmart usually for no more than $15! These are also a good alternative to the Brandy Melville Christy Hoodie.
3: LEGGINGS
Leggings are always a comfortable and fashionable choice that makes it easier to choose an outfit. There is probably a pair of black leggings in your closet now! Although black is always the go-to color, I love styling colored leggings. Adding a few fun patterned or colored leggings into your closet can make any basic outfit slightly more unique. There are many places to purchase good-quality leggings, such as Fabletics, Lululemon, Athleta, Forever 21, and more.
4: MOM JEANS
I didn’t realize how much of my style revolved around mom jeans until I went through my closet! I’m so glad these became a trend again; they are definitely a necessity since they are so effortlessly fashionable. I love how they can be easily dressed up or down! They are the perfect balance between comfortable and fashionable. Some of my favorite places to get mom jeans from are Pacsun, Garage, H&M, CottoOnON, and Brandy Melville!
5: NEUTRAL SNEAKERS
A basic pair of sneakers (or a few pairs) are an absolute necessity for your back-to-school closet. They go with any outfit, whether the shoes are black, white, grey, tan, etc. Some of my favorites are slip-on vans ($50), low ($55) or high top converse ($60), and Nike air force 1’s ($90). All of these shoes are also customizable! These stylish, comfortable shoes make putting together back-to-school outfits so simple!
6: BASIC JEWELRY
Accessorizing with jewelry can always take a cute outfit to the next level. Even though adding a bracelet or necklace doesn’t take a lot of effort, it really will make the biggest difference in your style! You can even make necklaces and bracelets yourself! I make my own and it’s cool being able to customize jewelry pieces depending on the colors or aesthetics of my clothing. Some simple pieces of jewelry can make any look seem more put together. My favorite places to purchase affordable jewelry are Zaful, Forever 21, and Amazon!
With these clothing staples, it should make styling outfits this school year a much more simple process. All of these clothes are a good mix of comfortable and fashionable, which is all we could ever ask for. I hope that sharing my closet essentials can help you this school year!
If you have a trend that you are excited about this Fall, let us know by tagging us @hercampussjsu on social media!