2022 Year in Review: Most Versatile Purchases

Let’s start the annual review with something practical: the pieces I consider my most versatile purchases. Things I wore again and again this year, which formed the backbone of my closet. Y’all know I love statement pieces, and I do buy a lot of them, but my closet wouldn’t function without the “quiet heroes” — the pieces that are the glue holding my outfits together. So I think it’s worth spending a bit of time talking about these pieces, to break down how and why they are useful, as this may be something others can relate to.

We have a lot to go over, so grab a drink and cozy up.

H&M beige pants ($9.50) / Urban Outfitters black pants ($4)

My go-to outfit formula is statement bottom + basic top + topper (sometimes statement, sometimes not). However, when the bottom piece is a pair of pants, the formula usually gets inverted: I tend to use basic pants with statement tops and/or toppers. When I say “basic”, don’t misunderstand. I mean something that serves as a “canvas” for the outfit, something that recedes into the background allowing other pieces to take centre stage but, at the same time, which contributes to the outfit looking good as a whole. That usually means that the pants have to have a nice, interesting structure or shape without being too attention-grabbing. Both of the above pants tick those boxes for me. The paperbag waist beige pants are a shape that feels fresh and modern to me, the colour is a good neutral, and therefore can suit any number of different aesthetics. They elevate any outfit, as they say. Same thing with the black UO pants; it’s a modern cut, neutral colour, go-with-everything sort of style.

Cartonnier pants ($8)

You might think these would fall into the “statement” category because of the stripe pattern, but to me, they are more of the “quiet hero” type. The pattern is subtle, and doesn’t call a lot of attention to itself, while quietly elevating the outfit.

Pilcro sweater ($4.50)

This sweater became a surprise hit for me because it’s a colour that I didn’t already have in my closet but which works shockingly well with the rest of my palette — especially yellow, brown, and dark purple as shown in these photos. But because it’s plain, it’s also a piece that can complete many different outfits. I am not sure I need to run out and buy a bunch of other lavender pieces; this one is probably enough to add that punch of colour when needed.

Esprit belt ($3.50) & Cotton Ginny belt ($9)

Belts are one of my favourite outfit-completer pieces, and these 2 belts saw the most action this past year. Compared to some of the other pieces on this list, both belts are more “one trick ponies” in that they really do work best in outfits with a boho/prairie aesthetic. That being said, they have worked with a wide variety of looks within that aesthetic – pretty much my entire summer wardrobe. I like having the option of both black and brown belts, as sometimes one colour works better than the other based on the outfit colour palette. Both have large buckles that communicate the aesthetic; both are silver tone, which is what my boho/prairie jewelry tends to be — and I prefer not to mix metals when it comes to belt/jewelry combos.

[FWIW, my hands-down most versatile belt is a plain, wide, black leather belt with a simple buckle. I didn’t buy it this year, so I am not including it in this list, but I have worn it with a million different outfits, from gothic to preppy to boho, and everything in between.]

Adriano Goldschmied ($9) & Tommy Hilfiger jeans ($10)

The first pair was my go-to summer denim; the second has been my go-to fall and winter denim. They have different cuts, but both are what I consider relatively current styles which helps to keep my outfits fresh (especially when I am wearing a fair bit of vintage). Both are light wash denim, which I really like at the moment, is fairly trendy, and works well as a “neutral” with my wardrobe colour palette. Light wash denim tends to read as more casual, so it suits my relaxed summer boho looks, while also creating a fun juxtaposition with my more preppy (RL inspired) fall and winter looks.

Pilcro tank top ($6)

This is the very definition of a basic, foundational piece. It’s a super useful layering piece but has little details that elevate into a “proper” top (not just something to be worn under things and not seen). The little cut-out in the neckline is really genius. I have a couple of other coloured tank tops in frequent rotation, but this cream one is the most versatile for me.

Toni T dickie ($7)

Finding this dickie was a life-changer. It allows me to create layered looks without dealing with extra bulk (or warmth) when I don’t need it. I am actively looking to add another dickie to my collection (in a darker colour) but this white one is incredibly versatile. It’s the perfect finishing touch to my sweater+blazer+bottom outfits, which is one of my staple formulas for fall and winter.

Ralph Lauren sweater ($10)

I’ve written about my love of black (cashmere) turtlenecks before, so I will not repeat the paean here. I use them constantly during the fall and winter and they are truly a foundational piece in every sense of the word.

Old Navy sandals ($30 for 2 pairs)

Remember how much I agonized over whether buying Old Navy shoes on Poshmark was worth it? Well, it was … 100% worth it. I love this style of sandal (in both brown and black) and they work with almost anything I might wear in the summer — skirts, dresses, pants, you name it.

Mia shoes (gift) & Office London boots ($33)

While I consider both of these pairs to be trendy shoes, neither is especially “statement”. They don’t draw your eye immediately, but they do immediately update the outfit by virtue of their trendiness. I wrote a post about my theory of trendy shoes, and I stand by it.

Ralph Lauren blazer ($15)

This is something of a borderline statement piece for me, although I probably see it as such because I love it so much that I tend to focus on it first. However, to others, it probably doesn’t stand out per se — it just makes any outfit look good.

Mexx skirt ($11)

I think of this as the skirt version of those H&M pants I started with. It’s a blank canvas for outfit-building, but it has little details that make it special (like those large pockets and crossed belt loops).

With the exception of the Mia platform loafers, all of these pieces were purchased secondhand. This is par for the course, as it has been my habit to buy 99% of my clothing and accessories secondhand over the last 5 years. In fact, I only bought 4 items at retail in 2022 — 2 clutches and 2 pairs of shoes, including those loafers (and, technically, 2 of the 4 items were gifts). I try not to be preachy about the Gospel of Secondhand, but I do want to normalize secondhand buying in all its various forms, from thrifting to consignment to Poshmark to FB Marketplace and other online platforms.