23 Upgraded Essentials We're Ditching Our Old Winter Basics For

As someone whose go-to outfit involves jeans and a T-shirt at least 350 days of the year, I know the ease of relying on your favorite fashion basics day after day. On the flip side, there's a sense of redundancy that comes along with that, only topped by the daunting thought of instead diving into new sartorial territory.

In short, it can feel like there's no way of winning, but today, I'm here to both tell and show you how you can up your fashion game without really feeling like you're doing that much. Enter: upgraded essentials that are just like your go-to pieces but a little more exciting. With leather separates and jackets that just make every outfit better, below, you'll find 23 such pieces (with the outfit inspiration to go along with them) that can take you into the new year in style. Ready to get started? Just keep scrolling.

Swap your basic knit for a henley-style sweater, and instead of jeans, opt for comfortable and winter-ready faux-leather pants. You won't regret it.

This shacket and skirt feel simple enough on their own, but together, they make for a trendy and polished outfit. 

A slip skirt or cutout sweater can sound intimidating until you realize that they serve the same purposes as their simpler counterparts—they just bring more zest to your outfit.

I love black leather as much as (if not more than) the next person, but doesn't this look make you want to give tan a try? You'll be surprised by how versatile the color truly is.

This soft set is so comfy you'll feel like you're in sweats while looking anything but lazy. Style it with everything from boots to sneakers.

Sick of your simple knits? Opt for this tank-and-cardigan combo. It serves the same purpose as a sweater but adds 10 times more intrigue.

By this point in the season, you have to wear a jacket to leave the house anyway, so why shouldn't it be this one?

Stuck on sticking to your jeans? This top is perfect for you. Simple in theory, its detailed silhouette makes it the most flattering, non-basic basic.

Going back to black leather, who can resist this jacket-and-skirt moment?

Guess who! Yep, it's Mrs. Jeans-and-T-shirts herself modeling this smocked floral frock because it was simply too good to pass up. 

Chances are that blazers are already a big part of your wardrobe, but I implore you to take things two steps further and give the three-piece suit a try. The best part is that it takes all the guesswork out of what to pair with what. Just add shoes.

I own a million black sweaters, but I also own this green henley. And let me tell you—I have worn it more in the last two months than any of the other knits I own.

Before you pick up that LBD, consider this green floral stunner that looks amazing paired with anything from heels to socks and clogs. 

It's December, which means that if you're not wearing velvet, you're doing something wrong. Okay, that was a little dramatic, but this outfit is really making a case for taking this top for a spin.

Next: The Famous Hermès Bag Every Fashion Person Is Wearing—and It's Not a Birkin