I’ve seen some of my favorite bloggers do posts like this and it got me thinking — what pieces do I really feel like were the best, most worn, most loved additions last year? Here’s what I came up with:
AYR Supercool Tees | These are my go-to tees now! So soft and light. Easy to layer with or wear alone. I love the modern cut of the sleeves.
Agolde Riley Jeans | These jeans are SO GOOD!! Vintage-inspired, 100% cotton and the perfect amount of distressing right at the back hem. I got my usual size and could barely button them, but I was assured by quick research on the Internet that that’s exactly how 100% cotton jeans should fit at first. They require a little breaking in and then they are perfect. I’m really glad I didn’t go with a different size because they definitely stretched out and are so comfortable now.
AYR White Deep End Shirt | Officially my favorite white button down shirt. It’s a classic style with a modern shape that is so comfortable. I love the giant pocket, boxy fit, and that the fabric isn’t too sheer, too.
Jenni Kayne Cocoon Cardigan | I’m not usually a long cardigan person, but I love the cocoon shape of this one, and the cashmere is nice and soft. It’s become my default sweater to wear at home on the weekends or for morning family walks — I just pair it with leggings and slippers or sneakers. It does run big, so I recommend sizing down. Note: my code Natalie15 gets you 15% off anything at Jenni Kayne all year long.
Krewe Sunglasses | At first I thought these would be reserved for only certain outfits because they’re pretty bold, but I have worn them every single day since I got them and they go with everything!!
Clare V Tote | This bag is a classic, timeless, keep-forever bag that is what my minimalist dreams are made of. I added a hand-painted monogram with my initials and I love it so much! Mine is the ‘miel’ color.
ABLE Ruched Puff Shoulder Tee | Truly my favorite tee of 2020! The fabric has gotten so soft and comfortable like a well-loved tee, and the puff shoulder adds a feminine detail. I usually wear this tucked into vintage-inspired jeans. Note: my code Natalie25 gets you 25% off anything at ABLE all year.
Rebecca Minkoff Talia Top | A fresh take on a classic striped tee. The puff shoulders aren’t overwhelming to me, and the material is like a thick tee. I love to tuck it into straight leg jeans.
Eileen Fisher Cropped Mockneck | This is the most surprising favorite item. I selected it as part of a holiday campaign and quickly fell in love with it. It’s a top I never would’ve though I needed, but am so, so happy I have now. I love the cropped, boxy fit and the fabric is incredible. I recommend sizing down, as pretty much everything at EILEEN FISHER runs roomy.
Sam Edelman Combat Boots | My friend Stephanie was the one that convinced me to add these to my wardrobe. This type of boot always felt so clunky and emo to me, but then seeing the way she styled them and added masculinity to otherwise feminine outfits really pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me the confidence to give them a try.
Jenni Kayne Summer Dress | I have two of these — one in white, one in black — because they were gifted to me as part of my ambassadorship in 2020. Admittedly when I got the first one (in black) I was skeptical about how much I’d really wear it and nervous to share about it because of the price point. But then I found myself wanting to wear it around the house or to run an errand and it just really became a summer uniform for me. They’re lined and made with a lightweight cotton-linen fabric that’s so breathable and comfortable. The white one was sent to me a month or so after the black one and I honestly know I’ll have these and love them for years and years to come. I hope Jenni Kayne brings them back this year!
Madewell High Rise White Skinnies | These dethroned my previous favorite pair of white jeans this year. I love the high rise and the button detail.
What are some of the best things you added to your wardrobe last year?
Natalie–please tell us more about the Agolde Riley jean… so they should be uncomfortably tight? How do they stretch out, just with natural wear? And how do you wash (dry??) them?
I am in need of a new white button down and I thought, “I better drop on over to Natalie’s blog before I press submit, I know she has some good recommendations.” Definitely going to try this one from AYR, along with a few of their Supercool tees. 😎
Yes!! I honestly have a lot of white button ups and the AYR one is for sure my favorite. I love the shape, fabric and fit! And the Supercool Tees have also quickly become my go-to tees. Let me know if you order these pieces and end up liking them!
I just received my AYR pieces! I love the tees so much. They are the perfect balance between a muscle tank and crew neck. I also picked up the white button-down. It was exactly what I was looking for. Structured but still casual enough for every day. Great recommendations, Natalie!
So happy to hear this!!
Can you tell us about your corded friends sweatshirt please!
Oh yes! It’s sold out right now, but it’s by PS46. Here’s the link: https://ps46.myshopify.com/products/friends-sweatshirt
So many!
– Brown sweater blazer from JCrew (Now I know I LOVE it and need it in black too)
– BDG Urban Outfitters Cardigan (so cozy!)
– AYR The Deep End (3 different colors and I want to get in oxford blue too!)
– AYR The Supercool (such a great tee)
– Madewell The Perfect Vintage Denim (a staple for me!)
Yessss to the AYR tees! Truly the best. I’m wearing one today!
Natalie- thank you for sharing, I love this…the cream is the crop, the trusted pieces you can count on over & over. I purchased my first 2 jenni kayne sweaters this winter and I live in them! I was curious, as I think of spring, what is your go-to denim jacket? I like the oversized ABLE and Madewell ones but I’m not sure. Also, just curious which season you enjoy dressing for the most? Thanks again for your positivity and for sharing your talents! Lexi
This one from Madewell is my favorite, actually! https://rstyle.me/+OdZhFuQ1NPMtiLGtS5W3og
And my favorite season to dress for is definitely fall 🙂
I have those first 3 items thanks to your recommendations and I LOVE them! They are such amazing basics that have replaced items of lesser quality in my wardrobe and I can see how I’ll keep wearing them for yours to come.
Yes — I’ll take quality over quantity any day!
Patiently waiting for that Able tee in black to be back in stock! 🤞🏼
It’s one of my all time favorites. Love it! And love supporting ABLE as a company in general, to.
Question for you….I know you said on the Agolde jeans you went normal size & they stretched out a bit. What about the shorts? Would you say they stretch a whole size or 1/2 size one they have settled?
Thanks
The shorts have stretched, but I’m still glad I went up a size! I do not like tight shorts, and I have a curvier backside so I like them to have some room. Hope that helps!
Thanks for sharing! It is so helpful to know which pieces will stand up to a lot of wear! I’ve been looking at/ saving up for the Agolde jeans for awhile. When you say “usual size”, is that your usual size at Madewell? Or one size up from your normal Madewell jeans size? I usually prefer a curvy fit, and am worried about choosing the right size because these are such big investment!
Glad to see you blogging more! I personally love blogs WAY more than Instagram and it makes me so happy to see. Can’t wait to keep reading and following along. All these additions are perfect and so useful for 2021.
Katie
Thank you!!
Two things for me:
– Camel long wool robe coat. I’d been hunting for the perfect one forever and finally found it on a random trip to Bloomingdale’s. It’s Gerard Darel, which I had never heard of before but was able to snag it at a great discount- I hope it lasts forever!
– Jenni Kayne sweaters! I finally took the plunge and decided it was time to start investing in quality pieces, and I ended up with about 5 over the course of the past year – whoops! I love them all, but I think my favorite/most worn is the Atlas sweater in a beautiful mossy green color. I also love the cashmere Cocoon and fisherman crew!
A long camel coat is a classic — sounds like a great addition! And I’m so glad you’ve fallen in love with the JK sweaters, too.
I have two “best adds”-
1. Jenni Kayne cashmere cocoon cardigan in gray. It’s a splurge but totally worth it. 9Thanks for continuing to highlight JK pieces).
2. Lululemon Align leggings – soft and comfy.
So glad you are loving the cocoon sweater, too!
Thank you so much for doing this post Natalie! It is always super helpful to have all of your favorite pieces linked in one spot. Thanks to you, the Talia top, the ABLE tops, and my Clare V bag have been wonderful additions to my own wardrobe. For myself, adding white sneakers, a camel cardigan, and some black Eileen F. booties this year to my rotation have made a huge difference! I live in Minneapolis, so feeling comfortable and chic under the big coats is key 🙂
So glad you enjoyed it!!
Love this lineup! I definitely want invest in a pair of the Agolde jeans you recommended. 🙂
Wearing them today — they’re so good! I will say, probably ideal for someone on the shorter side since they’re cropped. But otherwise I highly recommend them!
That is good to know! Are you still loving your Agolde shorts?
Oh yes, those are still my favorite shorts!! Only didn’t include them in this post because I got them the year before. Truly so good! Agolde just makes awesome jeans.
This is a great style question. It made me really think about what i bought and how much i actually wear the pieces. Definitely black boots and a Barbour coat-great for daily walks!