Adding a new piece to your closet is a special kind of joy. You see it hanging in your closet, imagine how you’ll style it, and that first time you wear it out, it brings a boost of confidence that sticks with you all day. But there’s also a specific joy in the tried-and-true wardrobe staples that hang in our closets; those pieces that stick around and get constant wear because they’re just that good.
As proponents of shopping smarter, not harder, we’re all about being outfit repeaters (if you ask us, the more you can repeat wearing a piece, the better). Buying something and only wearing it once? Not chic. Having a closet full of pieces you can re-wear over and over and style in a million different ways? That’s more like it.
These are the pieces our editors wore on repeat during 2022 (and beyond), and that we’re excited to leave in our starting rotation for the new year. What can we say? They’re just that good.
Affordable cashmere
If there’s one gift that 2022 gave us, it’s the knowledge that quality, classic cashmere doesn’t have to come with the price tag you think it does. Plenty of brands are now offering uber-soft, capsule-worthy cashmere pieces at a cost that make the luxury much more accessible than it once was. We’re looking at it this way: rather than spending our coin on a couple of fast-fashion sweaters, we’re saving our funds and allocating them toward cashmere that’ll last.
Abercrombie jeans
We know, we know, our love for Abercrombie’s denim goes far beyond 2022. But after another year of wearing and testing dozens of different denim brands, our love for Abercrombie’s denim has remained true. Not only do they offer a style for everyone—no matter what fit or silhouette you’re looking for—but we’ve found that their quality continues to beat our much more expensive pairs. Not all hype is deserved, but Abercrombie’s jeans deserve every ounce of credit they get.
Skims bodysuits
When Skims first dropped, we didn’t necessarily expect Kim to completely change the bodysuit game, but their basics just hit in a way other brands don’t. Sure, you can find dupes (and probably constantly see them as you scroll through TikTok), but given the quality, how often we wear ours, and how flattering they are, we think the real thing are worth it. Worn alone, layered—however you cut it, if we’re wearing a base layer, it’s a safe bet to assume it’s Skims.
New Balance sneakers
2022 was the year of New Balance completely taking over the sneaker game, and honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way. From their controversial dad sneakers to fun, colorful ones that pack a punch, they made us say sayonara to our plain white sneakers for a while. You can bet that in 2023, our New Balance collections will grow, and any time we leave the house, we’ll likely be sporting a pair.
Oversized scarves
If you came to our Chicago office and took a look at the coat rack by the door, you’d see one common thread: a giant, oversized wool scarf draped over the shoulders of every single coat. The affordable dupe made waves through our office last month and truly has our editors in a chokehold. With all the fun colors that are available, it’s given us the opportunity to add a little joy to our winter wardrobes that we can’t get enough of.
