A new season is a great time to go through your wardrobe and take stock of what you have. Over the years I’ve learned what works for me to the point where I can solidly say there are things I swear by. Inspired by my most recent closet switchover, I’m sharing a few of my favorite things. These are the products I’m committed to – the beauty products I restock once they’re empty, and the clothing I buy in triplicate. If anybody asks for a recommendation in these categories, these are always my answers.
Jeans: Madewell
I have tried so many jeans: Expensive (Hudson), affordable (Articles of Society), cool (Everlane), classic (Levis), tech-y (Ayr), simple (James), and so on and so forth; a bunch of other brands I can’t remember and which ostensibly didn’t work out. I have two pairs of Madewell jeans and I’m at the point where I don’t see a reason to shop anywhere else. I can count on them for a high rise – both of my current pairs are 10 inch, and they recently came out with an 11in rise! – and long inseams. I’ve gotten complimented in the jeans, but I also feel good wearing them. I feel like I look good, which is important.
In my experience they’re true to size and the fit doesn’t change substantially from when I’ve tried them on. One of my biggest headaches/sources of anxiety around jeans is trying to determine how they’ll really fit, and I don’t have to worry about that with Madewell. The one thing I have not been able to determine is how well the thighs will hold up. I didn’t used to wear jeans that much and still the thighs in both the Hudson and Articles of Society jeans fell like a stack of cards (or like the wall against a zombie ice dragon). I’ve been wearing my Madewell jeans more frequently – and I feel like they’re going to hold up – but I haven’t had either pair for a full year, so check in with me next year!
Layering tops & tanks: J.Crew
I love turtlenecks. They’re not cool or sexy, but they’re flattering (on me), and I’m so much warmer when my neck is covered. The tissue-weight turtleneck is perfect. In the late fall I can start wearing it under just a jacket; once it gets colder it easily fits under a sweater; when the temperature really drops I can add a tank top underneath. It’s really important to me that the layers closest to my skin don’t feel too heavy or constricting, and I never feel that way in this turtleneck. Plus – and this is one of the reasons I love J.Crew – they come in a veritable rainbow of colors, so it’s kind of a ‘collect them all’ situation. And that means I get to do fun things like color block a hot pick turtleneck under a hot pink blouse, or a camel colored turtleneck with a camel skirt.
Similar story for the 1993 tank. J.Crew brought these back last summer and now I have 5. These are great because I can wear them all year round!
Bras: Third Love
I realized I was committed to ThirdLove when I shopped a Journelle sale online… and then returned everything. There were too many extraneous details, and the fit just wasn’t there. I really don’t need a lot of bells and whistles in this department. ThirdLove bras are simple and straightforward. I love that they have different styles but the underlying structure is the same (no pun intended). I’m a color person and I legit get excited when they announce a new shade.
Pro-tip: if you’re thinking about getting one, just get three (if you can afford it). When you buy two or more you start getting volume discounts, and once you buy one you’re going to end up buying more. Trust me. I have ten.
Underwear: Amazon Essentials
Such a random discovery! I was reading a comment somewhere, and a person mentioned that a lot of people people like Amazon’s underwear. Up until that point I didn’t know Amazon even made underwear. But they do. They fit great and they feel great. The last time I did laundry I counted 21 pairs. I haven’t bought any other brand since I started wearing these.
Shop Amazon Essentials underwear
Winter moisturizer: Clarins Hydra-Essentiel
When I first moved to NYC my skin went bananas. I kept breaking out in the summer (I think because I was sweating so much), and then in the winter my skin went to the opposite extreme – it got really dry and patchy. I couldn’t find a moisturizer that was strong enough, so I started layering oil underneath moisturizer. My skin stabilized, but it required a lot of product.
That was my winter skin routine until I was introduced to Clarins’ Hydra-Essential line. I like that the moisturizer feels thick when I scoop it, but it’s not smothering on my face. I pair it with the serum to get the full 1-2 punch. If you have super dry skin I can’t recommend this enough!
Nail polish: Formula X
I was committed until Sephora discontinued it. #BringbackformulaX
What are YOUR favorite things, the brands or products you swear by? Sound off in the comments below!
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