"Adding a new piece to your closet is a special kind of joy. You see it hanging in your closet, imagine how you’ll style it, and that first time you wear it out, it brings a boost of confidence that sticks with you all day. But there’s also a specific joy in the tried-and-true wardrobe staples that hang in our closets; those pieces that stick around and get constant wear because they’re just that good.
As proponents of shopping smarter, not harder, we’re all about being outfit repeaters (if you ask us, the more you can repeat wearing a piece, the better). Buying something and only wearing it once? Not chic. Having a closet full of pieces you can re-wear over and over and style in a million different ways? That’s more like it.
These are the pieces our editors wore on repeat during 2023 (and beyond), and that we’re excited to leave in our starting rotation for the new year. What can we say? They’re just that good.
Affordable cashmere
If there’s one gift that 2023 gave us, it’s the knowledge that quality, classic cashmere doesn’t have to come with the price tag you think it does. Plenty of brands are now offering uber-soft, capsule-worthy cashmere pieces at a cost that make the luxury much more accessible than it once was. We’re looking at it this way: rather than spending our coin on a couple of fast-fashion sweaters, we’re saving our funds and allocating them toward cashmere that’ll last.
Abercrombie jeans
We know, we know, our love for Abercrombie’s denim goes far beyond 2023. But after another year of wearing and testing dozens of different denim brands, our love for Abercrombie’s denim has remained true. Not only do they offer a style for everyone—no matter what fit or silhouette you’re looking for—but we’ve found that their quality continues to beat our much more expensive pairs. Not all hype is deserved, but Abercrombie’s jeans deserve every ounce of credit they get.
Skims bodysuits
When Skims first dropped, we didn’t necessarily expect Kim to completely change the bodysuit game, but their basics just hit in a way other brands don’t. Sure, you can find dupes (and probably constantly see them as you scroll through TikTok), but given the quality, how often we wear ours, and how flattering they are, we think the real thing are worth it. Worn alone, layered—however you cut it, if we’re wearing a base layer, it’s a safe bet to assume it’s Skims.
New Balance sneakers
Despite 2023 being the year of Adidas Sambas, our New Balances have proven that they have a permanent spot in our closets. From chunky, off-duty dad sneakers to fun, colorful ones that pack a punch, they made us say sayonara to our plain white sneakers for a while. No matter what sneaker trends 2024 brings, our New Balances will be here to stay.
Chunky scarves
If you came to our Chicago office and took a look at the coat rack by the door, you’d see one common thread: a giant, oversized wool scarf draped over the shoulders of every single coat. The affordable scarf made waves through our office last year and has kept our editors in a chokehold ever since. With all the fun colors that are available, it’s given us the opportunity to add a little joy to our winter wardrobes that we can’t get enough of.
