7 Basics Every Fashion Girl Should Wear in New York

last updated 25 May 2022

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I recently moved back to Los Angeles from New York, and yes, I miss it a ton. I had the pleasure of visiting the Big Apple just a couple of weeks ago and was determined to make the most of the items in my suitcase while I was there. As someone who revels in the evolution of the trend cycle, I really had to challenge myself to only pack pieces I could wear with anything and on repeat. Naturally, that meant my suitcase was filled with elevated basics.

Ahead, I'm sharing with you the seven basics I packed for my New York trip that kept me looking stylish while keeping my luggage weight under 50 pounds. I must admit I expected to feel like I wasn't looking my best as I packed neutrals on top of neutrals, but I have never received so many compliments on my looks as I did on this trip. With that said, I can now humbly admit to the power of good basics, and the below assortment is guaranteed to set you up for success no matter where you're headed.

1. Baby Tee

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Lately, I have been avoiding my regular T-shirts for ones that are slightly cropped so that they hit right at my waistband as opposed to always having to tuck them in. In other words, baby tees are the moment, at least for me.

Shop baby tees:

H&M

Ribbed Crop Top

Good American Essentials

Raw Edge Baby Tee

Alo Yoga

Micro Waffle Sierra Short Sleeve Top

2. Miniskirt

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Short skirts are basically all I am wearing right now, and I was pleasantly surprised to see how well they paired with the rest of the items in my suitcase (i.e., baby tees, blazers, moto jackets, and more).

Shop miniskirts:

Zara

Mini Skirt

Reformation

Liene Stretch-Micro Modal Mini Skirt

Open Edit

A-Line Miniskirt

3. Leather Jacket

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I have loved the reintroduction of the leather jacket into my wardrobe this season. I love throwing it on over a tank or tee and pairing it with everything from jeans to relaxed trousers.

Shop moto jackets:

Zara

Leather Jacket

Lamarque

Dylan Jacket in Black

Mango

Faux-Leather Biker Jacket

4. Knee-High Boots

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Yes, knee-high boots are still trending this summer, and the best way to wear them is with short hemlines. The above look is so New York and is basically what I wore every night out in the city.

Shop knee-high boots:

Schutz

Magalli Knee High Boot

Neil J. Rodgers

Meg Knee Boot

Staud

Wally Boots

5. Trousers

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Relaxed trousers are my favorite thing to wear during busy travel days because they look chic but are so comfortable.

Shop relaxed trousers:

Who What Wear Collection

Lila Pleated Wide-Leg Trousers

The Frankie Shop

Gelso Pleated Tencel-Blend Straight-Leg Pants

Topshop

Wide Leg Trousers

6. Blazer

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I will never not be a blazer girl. Paired with skirts, trousers, and quite literally everything in between, big blazers are pretty much a part of my identity at this point, and I have no problem admitting that.

Shop blazers:

H&M

Long Jacket

Acne Studios

Twill Blazer

Mango

Oversized Houndstooth Wool-Blend

7. Birkenstocks

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Last but not least, I have to talk about my Birkenstocks. My favorite pair also happens to be my cheapest—the Waterproof Slide Sandals. They are lightweight, have never once given me a blister, and look good with all the above.

Shop Birkenstocks:

Birkenstock

Essentials Arizona Waterproof Slide Sandal

Manolo Blahnik x Birkenstock

Boston Clogs

Birkenstock

Arizona Big Buckle Slide Sandal

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Lauren Eggertsen is currently the editorial director of Who What Wear and has worked at the company for over eight years, where she started as an associate editor and has since worked her way up. Lauren has over 10 years of experience in the fashion editorial space, starting her career with internships at Marc Jacobs, Marie Claire, and The Zoe Report, where she was later hired as their editorial assistant. Lauren has worked in the Los Angeles and New York Who What Wear offices but currently calls L.A. home. It is here where she leads and manages Who What Wear's fashion team and oversees all day-to-day editorial content and large tentpole moments. This includes all of the runway, trend, and shopping-driven content that ultimately helps to build a strong brand reputation within the industry. Lauren's role also includes helping to set the fashion direction for all original photo shoots and often styles many of the celebrity cover shoots, including big names like Kaia Gerber, Normani, and Kristen Stewart.

She has also attended multiple fashion weeks, including New York, London, Milan, and Paris, where her personal style has been featured on sites such as Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, and Elle. She prides herself on discovering and supporting small brands and on her knack for a good vintage shopping find. When she isn't working, she enjoys researching and dining at reputable restaurants around both her neighborhood and the globe.