9 Staples I Wear at Least Once a Week All Year Long

A truly well-rounded wardrobe isn't something that can be developed in one fell swoop or with a trend mindset. Instead, you have to build it over time with trial and error, keeping pieces that, over the course of various seasons and years, get worn in abundance and getting rid of others that don't. Personally, it's taken me most of my 20s to put together a closet I'm proud of that mirrors my individual tastes and is full of only items that I can wear in multiple ways for a variety of occasions and weather situations. (Living in a cramped apartment in New York City, where temperatures range from -5ºF to 100ºF, requires a do-it-all wardrobe.)

For me, specifically, there are nine staple pieces that I can recall wearing at some point in every season and practically every year of my adult life, even back when I was still trying to work out what my personal style looked like. They are the backbone of my year-round wardrobe—items that have and will always call my closet home (no matter how small said closet is). Below, find out which pieces made my list. And if you don't already own them all, I'd suggest you get acquainted. Then again, maybe that's just my bias talking.

Levi's Jeans

I was probably around 3 years old when I got my first pair of 501s. Technically, they were my sister's, but as is required of the youngest child, I stole them. Sure, there was a time between then and now that I strayed, mostly during Abercrombie's heyday when I refused to shop anywhere else. But it's been over a decade now that I've worn Levi's almost exclusively. If I had to guess, I'd say I own 10 pairs, mostly 501s, plus one pair of extremely well-fitting 701s, some cutoff 505s, and a Baggy Dad.

Shop Levi's jeans:

Cashmere Sweaters

I recently pulled out a bin from underneath my bed and found over 30 cashmere sweaters, none of which I would ever get rid of. I have designer ones from Khaite and Prada, as well as affordable alts from J.Crew, Banana Republic, Nordstrom, and even H&M, all of which I honestly love equally. They just really come in handy, whether I'm pairing them with jeans in the fall and winter, A-line skirts in the spring, or cutoff Levi's on cooler summer days.

Shop cashmere sweaters:

Oval Sunglasses

Sunglasses are a very personal purchase, but once you find a pair that works for your face shape and style preferences, you never really need to buy another pair. At least, that's what my experience with eyewear has been like. I was gifted a pair of Linda Farrow oval-shaped sunglasses about three years ago and haven't worn another pair of sunglasses since. Oval shapes are elegant and timeless, whether you opt for classic black or cool tortoiseshell.

Shop oval sunglasses:

Technical Jackets

Practicality definitely plays a role in building a great, well-rounded wardrobe. If everything you own and love will be ruined if you get stuck in the rain or snow, you'll have to replace them over and over again, which is the exact opposite of what I'm advocating for. Such is why I'm so reliant on technical outerwear that's still chic. Finding a jacket or coat that you can wear stylishly when it's dry or wet is what everyone should strive for.

Shop technical jackets:

Slip Dresses

Slip dresses might not be as "trendy" or talked-about as they once were, but I'll never get rid of mine. What I love most about them is how many styling opportunities they bring. I like to wear mine under short jackets or fitted tops, giving off the illusion of a skirt. You can also wear them without anything on top, but with a sweater tied around the waist or thrown over your shoulders. Also, depending on your choice of shoes and bag, you can seriously dress them up or down, with heeled Manolos and a clutch creating a wedding-appropriate ensemble and ballet flats or sneakers creating a casual uniform.

Shop slip dresses:

Luxury Watch

The best investment I ever made was in a luxury watch. In my opinion, nothing makes an outfit look more luxurious and expensive than adding a Cartier Tank or Bulgari Serpenti to your wrist, even if said outfit is just a pair of ratty old Levi's and a white T-shirt. Plus, they hold their value much better than most designer handbags, shoes, and ready-to-wear.

Shop luxury watches:

Poplin Shirts

Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is throw on a poplin shirt and some bottoms—be it a pair of jeans, trousers, or a midi skirt—and your outfit will be set. Sure, in the colder months, you'll have to layer a sweater on top for added warmth, but your shirt choice will be just as appropriate as it was in 80ºF summer weather.

Lately, I've been steering more toward pullover options like the above from Banana Republic as opposed to button-down shirts, but I'll never get rid of my trusty classics—only add to the poplin collection with new, interesting alternatives.

Shop poplin shirts:

Trench Coats

Whenever an item in your closet can be equal parts chic and practical, it will probably get a lot of use. At least, that's the case in my household, where trench coats are a must for that exact reason. Whenever there's a slight chance of rain coming, I plan my entire outfit around a trench coat, be that a pair of jeans, a sweater, and boots, or a minidress and pumps. There really is nothing in your closet that won't go nicely with a sleek trench.

Shop trench coats:

Rectangular Handbags

I looked over at my small but mighty handbag collection the other day and realized something interesting: All but one of my bags is rectangular in shape. I guess that's just the shape that works best for me in that it's spacious, classic, and aesthetically pleasing. The silhouette also gives me permanent '90s Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy vibes, probably because my bag with the most wear is my Prada 1995 Re-Edition bag, which is nicknamed the Carolyn because the late style icon wore the original bag in the '90s.

Shop rectangular bags: