What basics should every women own?

[Anantara]

On holiday in a pair of denim shorts I've had for 10 years, and thought what are the staple clothes that everyone should own, that are useful and classics? Such as a great pair of jeans, black ballet shoes, trench coat, denim shorts what are yours?

Nice white shirt, plain black t shirt, some sort of enormous jumper dress for wearing around the house.

A waterproof coat
A wool coat

Well fitting underwear, good boots for winter and a great coat.

Bras that fit properly and are comfortable

Loungewear you can't wait to put on, even if it's just an old hoodie

Gardening clothes that are still ok to pop to the shop in.

I love all my many stripey tops, so I'll say one of those. I think I may be an addict

Something that makes you happy as soon as you put it on!

I've never had the need for a nice white shirt, have gone most of my life without owning one, so wouldn't agree that it's a necessity.
However, the jumper dress PurpleDaisies mentioned is useful for so many things.
My necessities relate mainly to footwear :
Flat black knee length boots
Metallic coloured flat strappy sandals
Uggs for winter
Flip flops
Comfy but cool trainers.

Tailored black trousers
Waterproof coat
Well fitting jeans
Agree with black t shirt & black shoes (not necessarily ballet flats as I hate them they are so bad for your feet if you walk a lot but black shoes that can be dressed up or down & go with a skirt/dress or trousers

Navy/black blazer
Jeans that suit your frame
Selection of vests/solid colour or stripe.
Ballet shoes
Trench coat

Dh says I always look overdressed compared to other women but I've got very few clothes in a limited range of colours. It takes me minutes to get dressed for a day out.

A proper waterproof coat should be am essential for every man woman and child in the UK.

It amazes me how many people are out there shivering and looking miserable in a Cardigan/fleece/hoodie/blazer/Denim jacket in torrential rain and then smelling like wet dog all day.

The worst thing is the schools who enforce impractical uniforms. What possible good can come of making children walk to school in winter in a bloody blazer? What lesson does that teach?

I don't think you can geneneralise too much. People often say plain white shirt but they look hideous if you are short and booby as I am - like the matron in a Carry On film. Ditto trench coats. And I have never, ever worn smart black trousers. I see them and admire them on other people but if I put them on I feel like I am dressed up as a traffic warden.

My essentials are good bras, camisole/vest tops that act as modesty panels when I am wearing v-necks and flattering jeans. I then dress these up or down with tops of varying smartness and flats or wedges. Dresses for when I need to look smart. I also think most women my age (50+) need a reasonably smart funeral outfit 😔 . Mine is a navy fit and flare jersey dress, smart black coat and low heeled shoes for negotiating graveyards.

Good bra
Tailored black/dark blazer
Good shoes/boots - I live in one pair of Chelsea boots for most of the year
Flattering tops in flattering colours - for me that's scoop-neck in blues and reds
Well-fitting jeans

Liinoo I agree with you on a Duty funeral dress.
Similarly, I have 3 date outfits that I just role out.

This entirely depends on your lifestyle. I have no use for “smart” anything, so the only trousers I own are a pair of rolled-up navy chinos and some floaty harem pant things for when it’s really hot.
For me, it’s boxy striped t shirts, black and grey t shirts, good denim skinny jeans, black skinny jeans, white trainers, leather jacket, khaki parka-type coat, some good ankle boots.

For me the basics are:

-quality t-shirts (x3-4)
-flattering jeans ( x 2)
-cotton office shirts (x 5-7)
-cigarette trousers (black + 2-3 colours)
-office dresses ( x 3)
-office skirts ( x 3)
-casual skirts ( x 3)
-day dresses (x 3)
-leather jacket (black)
-camel/beige mac
-waterproof coat
-wool coat
-thick winter jacket
-great quality boots (x2)
-great quality heeled shoes
-flats
-summer clothes such as dresses, tops, shorts
-at least one decent bag

Forgot the great underwear, at least 5 decent bra sets & 2-3 blazers

Biker jacket
Trench
Blue oxford shirt
Nice boots that are comfy
Chunky knit

I'm a winter girl

Oh I came on to list tools and stuff

I didn't see "S & B"

Toupee tape?

It's so individual. I don't have any trousers except jeans and a pair of combats for walking in (they are comfy, dirt cheap, last for ever and dry really fast). By my age (40+) I'd say one should probably have:

Two or three decent winter coats in different colours/styles/lengths;
Some sort of raincoat (not necessarily a trench coat though I do have one);
A between-season jacket or two (I have a velvet blazer and a denim jacket);
Several pairs of good quality, comfy shoes/boots/sandals;
A few bags - at least one for summer and one for winter and a few evening/dressier ones;
Basics like a thermal vest, petticoat, scarves, swimming things, wellies, nice umbrella etc;
Bras that fit (replaced fairly frequently);
Something for funerals.

But it all depends what suits you. I had a nice pair of Repetto ballet flats but I had to admit to myself that they made my legs look like stumpy milk bottles, so I sold them. Some classics don't work on everyone.

The only thing I buy a lot of is white t-shirts. I try to get a lot of wear out of my clothes otherwise. I would say my wardrobe is a sort of expanded capsule - I feel happy wearing/using things I've had for years, but I know some people would think my clothes very boring. It takes time to figure out what your own 'essentials' are.

I don't think some of the clothes posted are staples e.g. I would never ever buy black ballet shoes.
Black taiiored trousers would have been a staple of mine for years when I worked in an office. Now I wouldn't wear them as Id feel like I was working in a restaurant.

For me - knee high flat brown boots, a long wool coat, a good pair of dark jeans, a well fitted navy shirt, a warm stylish wool jumper, a decent non see through white top, a tan tote etc.

I guess what I'm saying is staples are relative to a lifestyle but not every lifestyle!

There are no staples. For instance, ballet flats wreck feet and make you waddle. Why?

Denim shorts are impractical , and please no exposed arse , not pretty.

I have no handbags, bloody nuisance.

No rules!

I agree that you can't generalise, there are lots listed here that I never wear, white shirt (or any shirt, I don't like collared tops), black tee shirt or trousers (I rarely wear solid black), ballet shoes (cripplingly uncomfortable), blazers (can't think of any occasion when I'd wear one).

Mine are a variety of coats to suit all circumstances, white tee shirts, vests in many colours, grey boyfriend-type cardigan, jeans, flat boots (brown and black), flat sandals, brown leather bag.

Never found a white shirt that doesn't make feel trussed up
Black trousers = work uniform (usually in horrible fabric)
I've never owned a trench coat or anything tan

My staples are:
Denim jacket and soft blazer
Stretch jersey dresses, summer and winter weight
Harem pants, black and grey, long and cropped
Heavyweight black leggings
Bravissimo built in bra tops
Soft oversized jumpers
Jersey tube skirts
Black suede boots, knee, ankle, biker, any other style they come in
Uggs
Metallic ballet flats

I reckon I could chuck away almost everything else in my wardrobe and manage on those.

Staples are really personal. I never wear jeans, for example.

For me, though:
Black ankle boots
Black crew neck sweater
Really good coats - one light, one dark, one trench, one proper waterproof
Perfect fitting bra
Black cropped trousers
Navy trousers
Black wool pull-on dresses
Good trainers
Cords

So basically find a style, choose a pallette of colours that suit & stay away from polyester?.

Uggs
Tools

Clothes that fit and suit your skintone - they should be staples.