Four essential pieces for every woman’s wardrobe

Four key pieces add punch of colour, print to your wardrobe

Spring is almost here, so that means it’s time for another seasonal shift in your closet. But (thankfully!) that segue doesn’t have to mean a full-wardrobe overhaul. “I always say it’s an evolution rather than a revolution,” says Somsack Sikhounmuong, head of J.Crew Women’s Design, of the sartorial switchover. Basically, that means trotting back out your favourite pieces, such as jeans and spring coats, and then updating your closet with a few key seasonal “It” items.

“It’s never a complete flip,” he says of the practice of adding select wardrobe additions rather than a full haul of items. “It makes for a nice, continuous thread.”

While undoubtedly more conscious — from both an environmental and a fiscal — perspective, the buy-less-wear-more appeal does require that you have your closet already stocked with solid style staples.

So, what are these wardrobe workhorses?

According to Sikhounmuong, there are four main items every woman should have in her closet.

“I think, as far as classics go, it’s a great pair of chinos, a great buttondown — whether it be a men’s oversized one or a fitted one — and a great tailored piece, such as a great blazer or a coat,” he says. “And a fun accessory, such as a statement earring. Those ... are the classics.”

From there, Sikhounmuong says it’s all about adding in the seasonal pieces that appeal to your personal style. In fact, it’s the same approach the American retailer’s design team takes when creating a new collection.

“Last spring, for the fashion show, we decided purposely, to narrow down what we loved as a company and show that,” he explains of the approach. “We just put that all together and came up with a very edited fashion show.”

The approach gave way to a relaxed presentation (shown on real friends and family of the brand rather than models) that felt real and approachable. It’s as refreshing an approach to presenting a collection as it is to shopping one.

So, which spring items should you be adding to your closet this season?

Here are a few fail-safe picks: WORKHORSES

PYJAMA DRESSING The bedtime-in-the-daytime trend continues this spring with pyjama-inspired separates in virtually every colour and print. “We have been running pyjamas, in some sense, since our first catalogue. So, it’s almost like the trends have...

PATTERN AND PRINT From dots to florals, spring is going to be a season full of prints. “It’s up to you to make it your own and play with it,” Sikhounmuong says. “If two prints is too much, you can put a great print with a pair of chinos to quiet it...