Thanks to a fun Instagram story post recently, I will be doing a three part blog series about building a closet you love. Part one will be about statement wardrobe pieces you need, part two will be about investment pieces worth the splurge, and part three will be about classic wardrobe pieces everyone needs for all seasons. Between investment pieces, classic pieces, and more fun statement pieces, you can truly have everything you need to build a closet you really love.
Let’s dig into it! To be honest, I love a good statement piece. As a person who really loves fashion and sees it as a way to express myself creatively, it is hard for me not to get too caught up in trends and buying things that I don’t really need. That being said, I definitely think there is a place for statement items in your closet AND there is a way to pick some that have staying power. To me, statement pieces are where one wardrobe differentiates itself from another. Classics are classics. Statement pieces add personality and make your wardrobe yours.
Statement Wardrobe Pieces You Need
Below I am breaking down my favorite ways to make a statement in your wardrobe. I am really trying to give examples for each in multiple seasons and, where possible, show different ways I have worn the same statement item. I hope this will show you the versatility of a statement piece in your own wardrobe as well as give you examples of how to do this in all seasons.
Sassy Date Night Dress/Outfit
Every women needs a sassy date night dress in her wardrobe for each season. Something just for you and your hubby/significant other sans kiddos (if they are part of the equation) that makes you feel good! Forget having the item make sense for the rest of the year or season. My plaid mini dress ($73) is a recent purchase and the only new outfit shown in this post. I wore it on our most recent date, and I love how fun and flirty it is for summer! It is by the brand English Factory. If you haven’t checked them out I highly recommend it, especially the dresses. They are all under $100 and so fun!
Colorful and/or Fun Shoes
Statement shoes are perhaps my favorite way to add personality to an outfit. I love having a bold colored shoe to add to a look. You can see how much wear I have gotten out of my red See by Chloe pair. A fun printed shoe can be the perfect compliment. Or when it comes to a pair like my buckle boots below, the shoe might be black leather with the statement coming in the buckles. A great option if color isn’t your thing.
- DO pair a colored shoe with a neutral outfit to add interest.
- DO pair a colored shoe with a printed outfit. Pick up one of the colors in the print to tie it together.
- DO pair a printed shoe with an otherwise print light outfit unless you are confident in your print mixing.
Multi-Use Special Dress
I think every woman should have a special occasion dress for summer and fall that can work for multiple events. Whether it be a wedding, a wedding shower, a baby shower, a fancy work event, a milestone birthday party, etc. you don’t want to get caught without a dress like this that makes you feel good. You also do not want to have to buy these types of pieces over and over since they aren’t utilized all the time. As you can see by my examples below, I tend to prefer and recommend a longer maxi dress. They are 1.) universally flattering and 2.) more flexible when it comes to a variety of events.
Affordable Accessories of All Kinds
If classics are the meat and potatoes of a wardrobe, fun accessories of all kinds are the chocolate cake with a cherry on top. One classic outfit can look totally different from another accessorized two different ways by two different people. Think of this as your way to add your signature to your look. The key here is buying affordable pieces so you can change them as trends change without being upset. Below are a list of just a few ways you can accessorize:
- Hair bow, scarf, or headband – very on trend right now
- Unique shaped sunglasses
- Statement earrings – see my post all about how to wear them here
- Scarves
- Hats: beanies, fedoras, baker boy, and more
COLOR
Bold colored pieces in themselves are fun statement pieces to add to any wardrobe. I encourage you to have a few. My long pink trouser pants are one of my favorite things I own. Chic enough for date night, able to be dressed up for a fun event, or taken to a polished approach for work, they are shockingly versatile and fun. A red skirt can be a wonderful holiday piece year after year, and a bold colored dress can be a fun summer piece.
Those “EXTRA” Pieces
Besides what I have listed above, there are the obvious statement pieces. Those “extra” pieces you recognize immediately as a statement. A faux fur jacket, a leopard jacket, or an almost floor length kimono are obvious statements but also can be really fun. My faux fur jacket was worn on a date night and to a wedding plus on some other random days throughout the winter. My under $20 Amazon kimono is on its second season and has gotten more wear than most items in my closet as both a swimsuit coverup and a second layer over jeans and shorts.
