‘Basic’ may have semi-negative connotations, but when it comes to fashion, take it as a compliment: think of simple classics that don’t shout for attention, but often become the backbone of an outfit or your wardrobe.
What makes a basic a basic? That’s open for interpretation, depending on your own style, but usually they’re plain, never trend-based, made to last and be reworn over and over again. That’s the beauty of it: when you discover your favourite, you’ll often come back to it, not having to endlessly consume new things.
But there are those reliable items that people do return to and repurchase when needed – we asked a few stylish friends to get back to basics and share their highly recommended go-tos.
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Kowtow tank dress, $149
A no brainer dress — like your oldest, comfiest T-shirt, in dress form. I wear mine a lot during summer, and on weekends, and love how its A-line shape and twisted side seams make it sit just so. It's a basic organic cotton jersey, but can be dressed up for down with the removable slim belt and the amount of effort you put in with the rest of the look. I have it in black and green, but would buy it in many other colours. I wish they’d do it in red! - Zoe Walker Ahwa
Saint James breton tops, about $155
You can buy these classic breton tops locally from Playpark, but I have sent numerous members of my family scrambling across various European cities to pick up new versions of these classic breton shirts for me even though I already have many many of them in my wardrobe. French nautical brand Saint James makes multiple cuts, colourways and versions in different weights of what is essentially a striped shirt, but I have a strong preference for the boxer unisex Meridien style, which is cut in heavy, carded cotton. I always get the ecru stripe on marine background. They take on a different appeal as they age and I still regularly wear one that is over a decade old and now splotched with rust coloured bleach spots. - Tyson Beckett
AS colour bike shorts, $48
An activewear and summer essential, I like to wear my black bike shorts with oversized T-shirts and sweaters, Princess Di style, but also under dresses if I need extra coverage. I like the thin, soft material of these ones but most importantly, they have pockets! - Lara Daly
Videris undies, $38 (but subscribing to their eDM will let you know when they have a seconds sale if you want to buy in bulk)
Videris makes the comfiest undies I’ve ever worn, so when they do their sample sales (conveniently located in Pt Chev, where I live), I make it a point to go and stock up in bulk. That way I can go for weeks without doing any washing. I despise doing washing so not only do the comfy undies bring me joy, so too does the act of having so many that I don’t need to base my housework around them. - Rebecca Wadey
Organic Threads socks, $60
I am quite passionate about these socks, stocked locally at Garden Objects. The olive green is a great neutral sock colour and they are the perfect weight, not too thick and not too thin. They have lasted so well since I bought a 3-pack maybe a year ago, I haven't actually needed to re-buy! I will, however, be purchasing some as stocking fillers for friends and family this year. - Olivia Renouf, stylist and photographer
Juliette Hogan cotton cashmere bodysuit, $299
A regular rebuy for its incredible chicness – ideal for pairing with jeans, pants or skirts, creating a minimal and stylish look. These tops not only bring simplicity and versatility but are also the comfiest, making them a must-have in any wardrobe. - Stephenie Zhou, @_hibarbie_
Birkenstock Boston, $350
I never thought I would be a Birkenstock Boston gal but I live in them! Extremely comfortable to slide on and off while also keeping your feet warm and cool. - Zeenat Wilkinson, stylist and founder of Sauce
Shop Arq tank, about $60
My favourite basics are by Shop Arq, from tanks to undies. I live in them. They also do kids ranges so that you can match with your mini me. I have these in lots of colours, matching brief styles to match. They wash so well and hold their shape. - Portia Prince, model and stylist
Black Merino long-sleeves, $30, from Glassons, or $290, from Paris Georgia
My mum was right, you absolutely need a merino layer on your body (“touching your skin!”) in the colder months. I hate the feeling of squeezing a jacket over a chunky cardigan, but a nice thin long-sleeve merino keeps me super toasty under anything, without adding bulk. Glassons always does a good basic, but I splashed out on an off-shoulder Paris Georgia one this year that I wear all the time. - LD
Uniqlo AIRism long-sleeve pyjamas, POA depending on where you buy them
It’s become one of my travelling traditions to visit said city’s Uniqlo flagship, do several circuits of the store, get very overwhelmed and pick up too many items, try to work out how much I’ll actually be spending in NZD then freak out and have to put a whole bunch of things back. Most times, these PJs were part of that ritual; always returned to the back corner of the store (they’re always in the back corner; by the undies). Eventually I did end up buying a navy pair and they’ve quickly become a favourite basic – to sleep in, laze about home in. They look like if you typed, ‘create pyjamas’ into AI, and I hate that they’re described as having “the look of cotton” (they’re a cotton-recycled polyester blend…) – but they’re soft, slouchy and cooling. - ZWA
As Colour ‘Carrie’ tote, $20
Technically this isn’t something I buy or rebuy – but I’ve been given a lot of branded promotional tote bags in my time and the ones I like the best and reuse most are printed on the AS Colour ‘Carrie’ style. The secret I think, is the gusset bottom that expands the bottom just so and the strong, reinforced straps.The one I’ve lugged around with me almost every day this year is the army green version, which reps a Sydney hotel I stayed at in March. - TB
Dora Larsen clean tulle underwire bra, $118
I prefer bras that are very low profile in terms of material, but still have the support of underwire. This unlined sheer style from Dora Larsen (stocked locally at Underlena) has become my go-to, because of the design that is unprissy, functional and very pretty. I have two versions of the block sheer colour and a similar style that is embroidered with very sweet dainty daisies. - TB
Kowtow white slogan tee, $129
I love a classic white tee but I absolutely love the little slogan 'single use planet' on this one. A reminder to love our planet <3. I have two of the same tees that I (carefully) wash and repeat. - Zeenat Wilkinson
Cotton On bandeau bra, $30
For anything off-shoulder, strapless or spaghetti strap, you need a stretchy tube bra. I buy them a size or two small so everything feels nice and secure (there’s no padding or weird sticky tape going on). I’m always buying these because somehow they always go missing… They can be hard to find so when I see them I stock up. Also makes a great headband in a pinch! - LD
FM669 T-shirt, about $190
The perfect white tee… I am forever on the hunt, but I currently wear the little tee from my friend Dan's label FM669. They are pricey as they are made in the US from organic cotton – but it is the closest I have gotten to perfection. - OR
Buddy tee, from $79
A local ‘basics’ brand that has quietly established itself as a reliable go to. Their tees in particular are lovely, with a heavy weight that feels expensive and well-made – they’re made with a hemp/organic cotton mix, and come in 240gsm. I have a short-sleeved one in a really punchy ‘spicy chilli’ red. Doug’s ‘Mighty’ tee, made with recycled cotton and 230gsm, is also simple, well-made, really good as it’s a bit shorter (great for shorties). - ZWA
Cos Clean Cut T-shirts
The perfect white T-shirt is hard to find and also extremely subjective. But to my eyes (and torso) Cos make the best one. Their Clean Cut T-Shirts are ever so slightly shrunken and have a boxy fit but aren't shapeless and have sleeves that end perfectly at the midway point between my shoulder and elbow. Very annoyingly I haven’t been able to find the crisp white version in NZ stores for about a year, but I like the style so much that I recently bought an undyed light beige version and bleached it myself. - TB
