The Best Wardrobe Basics for Women

After Elizabeth Rose, a server at Café Gitane, recommended the Everlane Cotton V-Neck as one of thebest white T-shirts for women, it became a quickfavoriteamong Strategist readers. Rose said that this lightweight shirt works well with her everyday style: “I wear a lot of necklaces, so the depth of this V shows them.” However, if you’re looking for a classic cut crewneck or a more heavyweight white tee, we’ve got 16 other optionshere.

When we went on a hunt to find thebest black T-shirts, this cotton box-cut tee from Everlane came up twice. First, from black tee expert and fabricator Chelsea Scott, who named the Cotton Box-Cut Tee among her two favorite black tees. Scott said the boxy fit lives up to its name, and the fabric is in line with Everlane’s promise of high quality materials: “The Everlane is more of a square fit and feels like it’ll last forever.” Strategist writers also vouch for its perfect fit and reasonable price. Writer Liza Corsillo said she loves the “slightly cropped but still modest cut.”

Among the various linen, Oxford, and moisture-wicking shirts that stylish women named as thebest white button downs for women, one shirt reigns supreme (or at least, comes highly recommended across the Strategist): this silk button-down from Equipment. Celebrity stylistJasmine Caccamo— who has “scoured every inch of the internet, department stores, and boutiques looking for theperfectwhite button-down” — says that the cut of this chic,silky shirt“perfectly flatters the bodice.” In fact, writer Jen Doll loves the slim-cut version of this shirt so much that sheowns it in four colors.

According to Of a Kind founder Erica Cerulo, the Re/Done High-Rise Ankle Crop Jeans deserve the title ofbest women’s jeans. “The fit and rise are just right for me (no waistband-gapping or super-tight calves), and the frayed edge is appropriately chill—but not skin-exposing,” said Cerulo. Re/Done is all about well fitting denim; in addition to their original label, the brand alters handpicked, vintage jeans for one-of-a-kind fits, whichNew Yorkfashion-editor-at-large Amy Laroccatold the Strategistare “as close to perfect as I’d ever allow myself to imagine.” If you prefer wide-leg or ripped jeans, we have recommendations for thosestylestoo.

Five-foot-tall fashion blogger Kileen Valunzuela writes that these Madewell jeans boast a “petite-friendly” 26 ½ inseam, and super stretchy-soft material, making them one of thebest petite jeans for women. “The woven Tencel lyocell fabric not only stretches to accommodate that food baby but also sucks you in to make those legs look super slim,” she writes. This fit is a part of Madewell’s petite denim line (called “Short”), but the High-Rise Skinny Jeans also come in a wide range of sizes, and are afavorite pair of denimfor lingerie addictCora Harrington, along with veteran fashion writerPlum Sykes.

The Lane Bryant Super Stretch Skinny Ankle Jeans with Power Pockets are such a popular pair of plus-size jeans that twowomen recommended them to the Strategist as thebest plus-size jeans. Lifestyle bloggerAnnette Richmondvouches for the Super Skinny’s superior fit, explaining, “They have just enough stretch to be comfortable and supportive without being restrictive or so stretchy that they lose shape easily.” Other popular styles include bootcut and high-waisted.

Co-founder of cookware brand Great Jones (and former Grub Street senior editor) Sierra Tishgart used to think sweatpants were strictly forlounging, buther outlook changedafter purchasing Outdoor Voices CloudKnit sweatpants. These slim-fit, tapered sweatpants are “as flattering as they are comfortable” and make her feel “outrageously confident.” In fact, she once strutted around the West Village in the pants and a sports bra, and wore them the night before launching her company. (And these pants have since been perennialStrategist best-sellers.)

4-foot-11 Strategist senior writer Karen Adelson has avoided the complications of petite pants shopping (read: hemming) thanks to Aritzia’s Babaton Cohen Pant Terado — and seven other pairs that she nominated as thebest petite pants for women. With apull-on waist, and shoe-skimming length, Adelson recommends these chic, pleated Babaton Cohen pants as the best petite pants for work. She writes, “they’re secretly super comfy and they come in a variety of colors and fabrics.”

Strategist writer Hillary Reid can’t stop buyingturtlenecks, and the J.Crew Tissue Turtleneck T-shirt is among her favorites. She writes that this “face-framing shirt” earns top marks because it is “thin enough to layer without added bulk.” Also, when writer Joana Avillez took to Facebook to find thebest women’s turtleneck, her friends pointed her towards this supersoft, perfect-for-layering shirt, in addition to a luxe pullover and a cotton base layer.

The Cut’s fashion director Rebecca Ramsey is certain that the cashmere crewneck sweater from Neiman Marcus is the best women’s sweater — which is why she’s asked for it as a holiday giftseven years in a row. She writes that it has a Goldilocks-like style and fit: “It’s not too tight nor too big. And it pretty much works with any winter outfit of mine.” This classic-cut, extremely soft sweater is also a Strategist go-to for thebest, affordable cashmere sweater to give as a holiday gift.

According to managing editor Maxine Builder, Five Rock Unlined Coveralls are the basic of all basics: thebest jumpsuit. Builder writes that a “surprisingly formfitting” elastic waist and “practical” design (front zipperandpockets), earn this jumpsuit the title of “best outfit for uniform dressing.” Also, in the years since Builder named these affordable coveralls the one-stop-shop for a fashionable outfit, utilitarian jumpsuits have been glorified incinematic style.

When we asked experts about thebest women’s raincoats, Jen Martin — a Seattle resident and the director of expedition development atLindblad Expeditions— vouched for several jackets, but said that the minimalist jacket from Marmot is her favorite. Marmot has some enthusiastic reviewers onAmazon, and this lightweight, monochromatic style has kept Martin dry around the world. “It has good waterproofing that lasts for a long time, and an adjustable hood,” she said.

It’s not often that anAmazon winter coatbecomes a status symbol among stylish New York City women, but when it does you know it’s a wardrobe essential. TheOrolay Women’s Thickened Down Jacketis that coat: a $140 piece of outerwear that can now be spotted across the country.

When Hannah Goldfield wrote about the Baggu Leather Drawstring Purse that she’s carriednearly every day for the past several years, it became an instant bestseller amongstStrategist readers. According to Goldfield this black bag is the best purse because of its “buttery” leather and versatile size. She writes, “the simple construction and total lack of hardware meant it transcended eras and styles to be actually timeless.”

Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchencan’t live withoutthe Madewell Transport Tote. “I can shove it over my shoulder while wearing a puffy jacket,” said Perelman, plus it holds “a laptop, water bottle, and all the toys my kids swear that they want to play with that I get stuck carrying home.” That versatility makes it one of ourbest work bags for women(but if you’re looking for something a little smaller or leather-free, there’s lots of other options).

Although you might think that sheer pantyhose are a thing of outdated dress-code manuals, writer Alison Freer stands by them as a “great life hack.” Amongst the sevenbest pairs of sheer pantyhosethat she can’t stop buying, Freer suggests the $12 pair from Hue (available on Amazon) for those looking to buy at the “intersection of style and price.” “They aren’t scratchy, provide great coverage without making it obvious that you’re wearing them, and don’t slowly shimmy down as the day progresses,” she writes.

Alison is also a self-proclaimedblack-tight obsessive, and recommends the H&M Control-top Tights 200 Denier as the “holy grail” of black tights. She gives these opaque, $12 tights top marks in style and practicality: “They have a little bit of sheen that makes me feel like a ballerina” and “don’t pill or snag, no matter how many cocktail rights I accidentally drag across them.” Her other recommendations for thebest black tights for womeninclude a slightly sexy pair, and black tights to wear when it’s cold out.

When it comes to ever-on-trend white sneakers there are sporty, high-top, evenuglyvarieties, but according to stylish and ethically minded sneakerheads, these shoes from Veja are among thebest white sneakers for women. Fashion and beauty editor atTeen VogueMichelle Lipraises the shoe’s “streamlined, but still classic” design, and says they strike an aesthetic balance between a “modern” and “chunky feel.” Plus,a lot of folks atNew York(andMeghan Markle) are known to wear this brand.

Strategist writers and editors like Bombas socks so much that we’rewearing them ourselvesandgifting them to our mothers. In addition to beloved knee-high and wool socks, the cotton Bombas No-Shows are one of thebest socks for womenbecause of their true-to-nameno-show lookand lightweight material. “These socks incorporate everything from a blister heel to a stitched support (for those of us who are archless),” writes stylist Jasmine Caccamo. “The quality of cotton makes these socks super cozy, comfortable, and breathable.”