Discover your 5 easy wardrobe wins

FOR A YEAR

that has, more often than not, let you opt out of getting dressed altogether, wardrobe revelations have been surprisingly abundant in 2020. Who knew before spring, for instance, that trackpants had the potential to acquire wardrobe hero status? Who would have guessed that you could take meetings in your knickers and not get sacked on the spot for it (one win for Zoom)? Who foresaw the arrival of the designer visor (£750, Louis Vuitton) – and that our reaction would not be, ‘The what?’ but ‘Oh, and it converts to a cap, how can I get one?’

But probably the most meaningful revelation – and one that really deserves to endure into 2021 and beyond – is that there is a huge difference between what we want and what we actually need. Fashion has had to slow down this year, with designers and brands acknowledging, as we already suspected, that the industry has been pumping out too much stuff. Way too

much. It was back in May that Gucci’s Alessandro Michele pledged to ‘abandon the worn-out ritual of seasonalities and shows’ for ‘irregular, joyful and absolutely free chapters’ just twice a year, setting the tone for a year of reappraisal.

On a more intimate level, many of us too have experienced a similar wardrobe halt. Flash-in-the-pan trends suddenly feel not just outdated, but irrelevant.

Still, that’s not to say we don’t want to shop and that the new season isn’t still plump with the prospect of new fashion opportunities. In fact, we might well be advised to take those opportunities where we can – September’s back-to-school fresh start feels more welcome this year than ever. What it does mean, however, is that perhaps we’ll be considering more what we buy, and investing in pieces that have longevity.

Make no mistake: classic is not a polite way of saying ‘boring’. Rather, building blocks are the solid foundations from which to springboard off with flourishes of seasonal updates and personal style twists. These pieces are the comforting carbs to which you can add whatever spice you want; the blank canvases to splatter with your own flamboyant brushstrokes. Being trendless is probably the most on-trend move you can make right now. It’s about thinking long-term – and what sweet relief that is! When nothing else is certain, at least you know your wardrobe will be a consistent winner.