In the age of Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest, finding your own unique style can be hard. I’ve always been the girl who hops onto every trend, from modern basic, to retro, to street. This explains why the teen me couldn’t save any money despite taking on several part-time jobs. My empty bank account drastically contrasted my exploding wardrobe, yet somehow I was constantly complaining that I had nothing to wear.
What’s Trending Isn’t Always Best
The turning point came when I discovered itsyuyan on Youtube in 2019. Watching her outfit videos made me fall in love with the ‘modern basic’ style, which I interpret as timeless outfits made up of plain, solid coloured clothes that can be paired a million different ways. It made me realise that the ‘nothing to wear’ feeling I got when I stared at my closet came from me buying trendy pieces that I had absolutely no idea how to style.
Figuring this out has helped me save a ton of money and time because the pieces I now pick are made to last, and not what many fast fashion brands push out every season. The bonus is – it’s also in trend right now. This blogpost will hopefully help you get started on your journey to shop more wisely, get more bang for your buck and constantly look put together without much effort.
Where To Begin
1. Stop impulse buying
Buying new clothes when you’re bored is very tempting, but try resisting the urge to do so. Microtrends are very prevalent today, but that zebra print top will be outdated in a month – just like those jeans with chains that everyone was convinced would be a fashion staple a year ago just because someone on TikTok said so. These items will end up sitting at the bottom of your closet until you do a huge closet clean-out at the end of the year and throw them all away.
Buy timeless pieces instead. How do you tell if a piece is timeless? Think about what clothing item has stood the test of time. A pair of blue jeans? Check. A black tank top? Check. A graphic tee with the words ‘’Miss Sunshine’’? Not so much. Buying one or two quality timeless items once in a while will not only benefit your wallet and wardrobe situation. It also saves you lots of time when getting dressed because most of the pieces will pair well together.
2. Raid your parents’ wardrobes
Building a closet full of essentials doesn’t have to involve hundreds of dollars and a trip to Orchard. it can mean walking a couple of steps into your parents’ room! I’ve found many tops that my mum never wears anymore, but work great with the bottoms I have. My dad’s shirts are also my go-to when the weather, or my outfit, calls for a simple and lightweight outerwear.
3. Picking The Essentials
Jeans
We’ve all been there: walking past Levi’s and wondering who on earth spends a hundred dollars on a pair of jeans. Well…the answer is: people who understand that jeans are an investment, and good jeans will last you a lifetime. I know because I bought $10 jeans from taobao that died on me after 2 months. If you think about it, buying 1 or 2 good pairs is much more cost-efficient than buying 1 cheap pair every 2 months or so. Plus, brands like Levi’s and Calvin Klein have been making jeans since before our grandmothers were born. They’ve perfected the art of making a staple piece look like a statement one. You cannot miss out on this summer staple! They definitely add on to your modern basic look.
However, if you can’t bear to or afford to splurge on a pair just yet, buying secondhand is a great option! Marketplaces like Carousell have dozens of sellers. They are more than willing to sell their Levi’s jeans at a fraction of the original price. This would save you quite a bit of money while helping the earth a little by giving pre-loved clothes a new home.
Tops
Next up on the list of closet essentials are tops. Tank tops, crop tops, t-shirts, blouses, the list goes on. The key to figuring out which top to purchase is simple – choose the one which made you do a double-take. Don’t overlook it because it is simple. Instead, go for the one that made you gasp the moment you saw it. As someone who’s made a lot of impulse purchases, I have a tip for you. Think about whether you’d be crushed if you didn’t purchase it and subsequently realised that it’s been sold out. We’re talking heartbreak here, ladies!
Some of my favourite places to shop for modern basic pieces that I can easily pair with any bottoms I have are Zara, and homegrown brands like Knotwear and Love, Fioyo. Zara occasionally comes out with great basic tops that are decently priced and often come in the most beautiful colours. Keep a lookout for them whenever you pass by an outlet, because those treasures get snatched up almost instantly! As for Knotwear and Love, Fioyo, they make the most elevated basic tops I’ve come across. Their quality is also hard to beat for the price point, and you’d be supporting local businesses by purchasing from them! Shopform makes it possible for you to purchase from local brands in one place, so you’d have an easier time #supportinglocal.
How To Rock a Modern Basic Outfit
My take on this style is model-off-duty outfits like the small top and jeans pairing. This style is well-loved by Kendall Jenner, Kaia Gerber, Bella Hadid and Ashley Graham.
1. Small top, big pants
If you’re absolutely clueless like I was at 19 about how to achieve this look, simply pair any ‘small’ top with ‘big’ pants, aka pair something tighter on top and looser on the bottom. It flatters most body types and can be applied to a wide variety of tops and bottoms. This is also true for the opposite – a looser top and tighter bottom. One example would be pairing a boxy cropped jacket with a pair of skinny jeans.
2. Keep it simple but Accessorise
Buy less patterned clothing items and stick to solid coloured pieces. This makes them easier to style and will help your outfit look cohesive. My wardrobe consists of a lot of neutral colours like black, white, and brown. Occasionally, I wear a few colourful pieces so that I have the option to switch things up. The important thing is that you feel good in your outfit, so make each outfit uniquely you! You can spice up a more basic look by adding accessories, whether it be necklaces, rings, bags or shoes. My favourite way to do so is by wearing a pretty pair of heels. Bag of Beautiful has some great ones, and they can be found on the Shopform app too!
Ultimately, the modern basic wardrobe isn’t actually that ‘modern’. It’s more about changing the way we think about the ‘basic’ style and making it our own with pieces that will carry us through the seasons and the hoard of microtrends that come about ever so frequently. If you want more inspiration from fashion-forward people, I often draw inspiration from locals like Andrea Chong and Mongchin Yeoh, as well as big influencers in the fashion world like Jenn Im and Miss Louie who effortlessly rock this style. However, if you want are able to and want to opt for the even more sustainable route, check out our previous blogpost about thrifting here!
One last thing that I would like to leave you with: remember that clothes are supposed to fit you, and it is not your duty to fit into the clothes. The pieces you choose should make you feel great about your current body, and it’s more than okay to shop for new clothes when your body does change.