Dream Wardrobe Building: BLACK BASICS WISHLIST

Hello :)

So I've decided that I am going to carry on my 'Dream Wardrobe Building' feature and the key to any capsule/working wardrobe is basics. I have a confession to make-I don't like 'basics' I find them well, you know, umm boring :|

Pretty much everything I own has a pattern or a motif or something to jazz it up a bit but honestly I do think this makes it difficult to have a workable wardrobe without going all 'clashing prints' every day of the week.

I'm trying to get myself excited by plain fabrics and timeless cuts so I have come up with a few wardrobe necessities that I am severely lacking in the clothing department.

I'd really love to have a capsule wardrobe of quality basics that will last for a long time but still look as amazing in 10 years as they do now!

Most style books I have read suggest 'a crisp white men's shirt' or a 'camel trench-coat', true they may be classic pieces but they don't really reflect my personal style.
So I've chosen black key pieces that I think will work season to season.

One: H&M Wool Hat

I've wanted a bowler-esque hat for ages. I think some high street ones can look quite cheap yet I didn't quite have £50+ to spend on the beautiful ones in my local vintage shop. H&m came to the rescue with this cute hat. 

Two: Zara Cropped Angora Jumper

Fluffy jumpers are set to be a big deal this A/W but I think a classic, black angora jumper will be a wardrobe staple for years to come. I like the fact that it's cropped & when I'm wearing plain clothes I like using texture to add extra interest to a simple outfit.

Three: Muubaa Leather Jacket

Ohh the dream leather jacket. I love the style of Muubaa leather jackets as although they are timeless they have great details too. I really like the textured quilting on the shoulders & I'm always a fan of the asymmetric fastening. This is a real investment piece at £400 but it will last forever. I'm gutted as last year I saw a few Muubaa jackets in TKmaxx reduced to £150 but at the time I had no money, Here's hoping that they get some in stock this year too.

Four: Zara T-shirt

This Zara tee is perfect, over-sized yet structured. It would look great with a skinny long sleeve top underneath & could easily be dressed up or down. I don't actually own any proper basic t-shirts that I wear casually. All my black tops are mainly for work so nothing too exciting.

Five: Topshop Denim Skater Skirt

A high waist skater skirt would be a welcome addition to my wardrobe. I literally wear high waist things all the time now. Again to add a bit of something something I enjoy the black acid wash effect. Kinda grungy but the silhouette is a classic. It would look really cute with thick knit tights and boots.

Six: Dr Martens Brady Sheepskin lined boots

These boots are beautiful! As most of you know I'm a big Dr Martens fan and it wouldn't be a wishlist without a new pair! I've had a couple of pairs of the furry lined boots before & they literally save my life in the winter. So cosy & practical. The boots I've had before have always had a suede outer and I find that they do get tatty quite quickly so I think a classic leather pair with the sheepskin lining will last a lot longer.

So there we have it. I may have accidentally bought the bowler hat already. I'm seriously lusting after the Dr Martens as the UK has completely missed autumn temperatures and it's wintery already-Why September?!

What are your favourite key pieces in your wardrobe?

Thanks for reading :)

Rachelle xxx

P.S I've decided that I'm going to add a song at the bottom of each post from now on,. Either a song I can't stop playing or something that complements the topic I'm posting about :) 

Dream Wardrobe Building: THE ALTERNATIVE WARDROBE

Hello there!

Anyone who follows me on Pinterest may have noticed at about 11pm last night I had a total pinning frenzy! My latest life mission is to get some sort of amazing, dream wardrobe sorted. At this moment in time all of my clothes are in crappy, canvas drawers stacked up in the hallway and on my floor. This makes finding clothes extremely difficult! I don't have a wardrobe or a big enough space for a wardrobe in my tiny room so I've been exploring other possible ideas. In keeping with my general thrifty manner I've included solutions that could be re-created cheaply on a budget yet still look stylish...

Ceiling Rails

Ceiling rails make sense for small rooms as they maximise empty space. I love the simplicity of the black rail yet I love the industrial appeal of the hooks & chains. This option would be great as it still frees up floor space for drawers or storage boxes.

Creative Coat Hangers

 The coat hangers on the left look amazing bare but I can imagine them looking great with a few carefully selected pieces that go well together such as clothing with similar colour palettes or patterns. I could probably manage a leopard print installation or even velvet one with the amount I own! The wooden bead rail is another cute idea. I once tried using thick rope but the clothes slid around everywhere so the beads would keep them separate and organised. You could make your own using big vintage beads!

Industrial Rails

 Now we all know I like a bit of industrial-chicness in my life! If I had the skills to weld (?) and build stuff I would totally make one of these to fit my room perfectly. However I lack in the D.I.Y department so will have to wait until a kind soul offers to make one for me :)

Re-purposed Ladders

 I reckon I could manage this D.I.Y especially if it involves pink spray paint :) A ladder shelf/rail would be super cute, a great way to re-purpose an old ladder and it creates quite a lot of storage space. Hanging clothes below with pretty storage boxes on top OR attached vertically to the wall they are a great alternative.

Feature Wall

I love this idea and I think it looks amazing in a white room as it really makes the clothing a focal point. I think the combination of shelves, rails & baskets work really well as an alternative to a traditional wardrobe and it creates a lot more storage space too. Perfect to display favourite items of clothing :)


(All images sources can be found here)

Which twist on the traditional wardrobe do you like best? Do you have any unusual ways of storing clothes?
Thanks for reading :)
Rachelle xxx