To ask what do you consider timeless clothing?

[letsjog]

Hoping for traffic to see lots of opinions!

What pieces would you or do you have in your wardrobe that are always "in" and look lovely regardless of the current trends?
Be it shoes, jackets or general clothing.
I'd love to hear some examples as I'm in the process of adding a few things to my wardrobe and would really like to go for timeless and classic staples (both everyday and formal/occasion wear) that will stand the test of time rather than be out of fashion in a year or so.

So can I ask the wise MM community what would you recommend I look for?

Black slim ankle grazer trousers and cashmere cardigans.

For 'office' clothes:

• Well-fitting white shirt which can be adapted with the times - tucked in, tucked out, French tucked, under a tank top, with chunky statement necklace around the collar, done up to the top, top button undone etc.
• Black A-line cap-sleeved dress which can also be accessorised with fashion.
• Well-fitting slim ankle grazer trousers in a muted colour. Mine are grey. I hate black ones because I think they look like waiter/waitress uniforms
• Fitted jacket but one of those ambiguous ones that could be a jacket in summer but also a suit jacket in colder weather

Everyday wear:
-Fishnet tights. Go with anything and everything, can be office-y, party-ish or just everyday stuff.

• Parka jacket. Really warm and is sometimes 'in fashion' but never really seems to go 'out'
• White pumps. Okay so these were out of fashion for a while but I never stopped wearing mine. Look great with anything, so comfortable.
• Well-fitting block colour T-shirts which suit your figure well. I have loads in all the colours. They never go out of fashion and can be accessorised with changing fashions.

But, above any of this..... A GOOD, PROPERLY FITTED BRA

Great advice from Rabbit - except for the fishnet tights, cannot believe anyone would include those!

While I think there are some 'timeless' clothes, I think your perception of what's 'timeless' depends on your age. I wouldn't consider a cashmere cardigan timeless, just a bit frumpy Sorry

Similarly I'm sure there are lots of people who'd disagree with me that a parka is timeless.

@Redburnett

Great advice from Rabbit - except for the fishnet tights, cannot believe anyone would include those!

Whaaaaat? I love me some fishnets

I'm not sure there is such a thing tbh, timeless and classic sings of Prr Una to me or Charlotte in SAC.

Find the style you like and that suits your body shape, then buy the best quality you can afford.

A trench coat, a leather jacket, plain jumpers or sweaters in go with anything colours (grey, black, navy), a shift dress - either sleeveless or with short sleeves.

Anything Audrey Hepburn would wear.

This is just one timeless outfit. Skinny jeans and a slim fit but not tight crew neck fine knit sweater. Team with ballet flats, white sneakers, black sneakers, flat knee high boots, flat over knee or biker boots, as per your preference. It’s such a basic look and a bit Kate Middleton but depending on colours you can dress it for anyone.

Properly fitting/tailored black trousers, good jeans, good quality blouses, wrap dresses, belted trench coat, court shoes, low heeled boots.

For me it's mostly about the fit and quality, buy a small number of good quality things if you can rather than lots of cheap things.

Crisp white shirt or silk blouse

Cashmere jumper (less so cardigan)

Trench coat

Double breasted wool coat

Black ankle grazer trousers

Black leather or suede pumps.

Black leather jacket

Expensive and classic style sunglasses

Simple clutch bag

Black shift dress, ideally no sleeves, and certainly not cap if there are some.

Red lipstick in the shade that suits you perfectly

And whilst it's subjective, I wouldn't call fishnets classic

I think the Audrey Hepburn test is the best of all.

Well-cut wool trousers
Cashmere jumpers
Wool/tweed skirt
Silk shirt
Flat, riding-style boots
Court shoes
Loafers
Blazer (linen or wool)
Mid-length wool and cashmere coat
All in classic colours, which for me would be cream, navy, grey or possibly camel for some items as I don't like black.
I would also add a quilted jacket, gilet and cords for weekends.
I am not keen on dresses, so haven't included.

A knee length LBD and anything styled to be "vintage", since it's supposed to look like it comes from that era. Usually 40s and 50s style; I love 70s stuff too, but it can be harder to make that one look intentionally 70s rather than just dated or a bit like fancy dress. As for the 80s, let's not go there.

I always think on threads like these that the majority of the suggested clothing sounds frumpy and outdated - definitely not timeless. Fine if you’re over 50 but if younger than probably not what your looking for perhaps.

I do think it’s hard because silhouettes of things like jeans/trousers always change with the fashion, so either go with it or find the style that flatters your body type the most that you feel confident in. (For example I love skinny high waisted jeans or mom jeans but I know the current fashion is for a baggier leg - it just looks horrendous on me)

I don’t think you can go wrong with a good pair of trainers or converse style shoes

A good quality coat that fits you well and doesn’t look like a scruffy dog walking coat

I think on the right body type a jumpsuit can look amazing or a wrap dress suits a lot of body types too.

A well fitted (preferably bespoke and cut to your particular figure) jacket/blazer in a soft wool
A well cut women's shirt/blouse that does not strain at the breast
A good pair of fixable leather shoes/boots

For trousers/skirts I think they are such a thing to be prone to fashion in terms of length and cut that they can date pretty quickly.

It is a hard one! But as far as things that don't look too specific, as in early 2000s or 90s or late 00s, I have been wearing a type of canvas trainer for at least 15 years (Converse/Superga style). Black or navy or charcoal is good.

Longline cardigans - chunky ones for winter, thin floaty ones for spring.

And 3/4 sleeve boat neck tops. Love them.

I don't think cashmere is timeless now that more people, especially younger people know how horrific the practice is. For the younger generationa and more informed older people it's seen as no better than the fur trade.

It's more about the style/cut. The way Kate Middleton wears replicas of what Diana wore. The wedding dress chosen by Meghan. The classic woollen coats. Biker, riding (and other)style boots.

Long sleeve Breton striped t shirt
Classic beige trench coat
Slim black jeans
Crew neck white t shirt
Silk shirt in white/nude/black
Black cigarette trousers
Chanel (or similar style) ballet flats/pumps
Black leather ankle boots
Simple black leather jacket
Blazer
Camel wool coat

Nothing is timeless.

Someone mentioned skinny jeans - they'd have been weird in the late seventies. Fishnet tights - they were decidedly tarty when I was a teenager. A well-fitting white shirt - but what is the collar like?

The thing about fashion is that it reacts. After the miniskirt in the sixties, the seventies had the maxi. Then the eighties refused to countenance anything below mid-calf, knee if you had any pretensions to trend. After the flares of the seventies, we had to wear jeans that were so close to the ankle they frequently added in a zip; but no-one would dream of wearing that now. I had a satiny blouse in my wardrobe that I didn't dare wear for about 10 years, until suddenly it was all the rage again.

I agree that one person’s classic is another person’s frumpy.
Court shoes? 🙈

Clothes I can think of that I wore in my 20s and now 50s (in the case of one dress - actually the same item) that I personally don’t think have aged are:

• shift dresses in plain fabrics that are just above the knee
• very thin, quite fitted though not skin tight black turtle neck jumpers

I would say The White Company have the timeless, classic style pretty much nailed

@merryhouse you’ve reminded me of a purple satin like shirt I had which was possibly the most fashionable thing I ever owned at the time!

Simple shapes, beautiful cuts in colours that actually suit you, avoid print and horrible fabrics.

@DaphneBridgerton do you think the long sleeved Breton strip top will endure?
I have several. After my most recent purchase, my teen laughed and said, “could you look any more middle class mummsy?” 🤣

And I get what she means... kinda love them, but more and more I feel like I’m living a Boden catalogue (despite never buying from Boden) and I can definitely envisage Breton stripes becoming frumpy.