LOOKS LIKE A NOVELTY, ACTS LIKE A BASIC: STYLING NOVELTY BASICS FOR WORK

In last week’s blog post, I referenced a term in a post, I coined many years ago called novelty basics. These are pieces that look like novelty items but function as basics in the wardrobe. They are hybrid pieces (like if a basic married a novelty and produced a child) that have both the function of a basic and the interest of a novelty. I went digging back in the archives to see the last time I talked about this topic and realized it was ten years ago. That’s a lifetime in blog years and plenty of time to make sense to dust off the topic and talk about it again.

Novelty wardrobe items certainly have their place. To achieve wardrobe balance, you need both basics and trendier more novel items to add personality to your looks. You also need the basic pieces to anchor or connect the novelty wardrobe items in your closet. Without basics, you just have disparate pieces with nowhere to go. The issue with novelty wardrobe pieces, however, is that they can be very singular. How many times have you bought a fancy top only to find that the only thing you can think to do with it is wear it with a pair of black pants? How many pieces do you own that create one outfit and one outfit only? As you load up your closet with these novelty pieces, you quickly find that your closet becomes packed with a lot of standalone outfits that don’t do much beyond that one look that can be created.

This is where novelty basics come into play. They are these pieces that have the interest and detail of a novelty item but are worn like a basic, which means that you notice that, despite their interesting details, trims, or cuts, they have this ability to be worn in multiple ways, and can actually play the part of workhorse basics. Often these items become favorite pieces because they capture something about your personality and personal style while also bringing you the satisfaction of being a well-worn piece.

LOOKS LIKE A NOVELTY, ACTS LIKE A BASIC: STYLING NOVELTY BASICS FOR WORK

This is definitely a topic that requires some visual explanation to illustrate exactly what novelty basics are. I’ve put together five looks using novelty basics to give you some examples.

OUTFIT #1

Imagine this top was a basic ivory crew neck sweater that was styled with navy slim pants, like this pair from LK Bennett, and beige slingback pumps from Margaux. Even with this link necklace from Sézane, this outfit would be relatively underwhelming. It would be fine and perfectly acceptable, of course, but not exactly blowing anyone’s mind. Yet, by adding this novelty basic twist top from Tanya Taylor, the outfit can stand alone, at the same time, this is a top that can function like a basic in a wardrobe with its ability to be styled in tons of different ways. It can be layered under a blazer or cardigan, can worn alone, and can be worn with a wide variety of colors. This is what makes it a novelty basic. It acts like a novelty but functions like a basic in a wardrobe.

OUTFIT #2

Think of novelty basics as pieces that can take the place of basic pieces in your wardrobe despite looking like novelty pieces. Take, for example, this plaid seamed wrap skirt from Me+Em. Despite the interesting seaming and detail, it can be treated just as a basic skirt in the same fabric, and because the plaid is black and white, the colors you can add to this are pretty limitless. I kept it simple in this outfit and styled the look with a slim black turtleneck sweater from Theory, and pair of tall burgundy boots from Duo, a company that allows you to customize the calf width of their boots, and silver drop hoop earrings from Jenny Bird.

OUTFIT #3

Novelty basics aren’t limited to being the standout piece or the piece that gets paired with basics. In this outfit, the novelty basic is the burgundy sweater from BA&SH. It has slight puffy sleeves, armhole embroidery, and pointelle detail stitching on the waist and elbows. This novelty sweater is still basic enough to work well with these plaid pants from Rag & Bone. I finished the look with brown booties from M.Gemi, studs from Oradina, and brown leather belt from Aureum.

OUTFIT #4

In this look, I used a coat as the novelty basic which is an exciting way to add them to your wardrobe. Instead of another black coat, you can add one with some versatile interest. For example, I used this plaid coat in neutrals from Reiss that can be treated as a neutral solid coat and worn as a basic. To accessorize the coat, I added this camel scarf from Vince and burgundy gloves from J.Crew. For the outfit, I styled these olive pants from M.M. Lafleur with an ivory sweater from Jenni Kayne that I accessorized with gold-plated pearl drop earrings from Chan Luu and cognac booties from Vince.

OUTFIT #5

There is a subtle, easy-to-miss detail in these pants that makes them a novelty basic. These Aritzia barrel pants have button tabs at the hem that allow you to make them fuller or more tapered. It doesn’t take a lot to make clothing a novelty basic, yet, this detail makes the outfit look updated and fresher. I styled these pants with a basic silk blouse from M.M. Lafleur and finished the look with a pair of beige flats, a beige belt from Aritzia, and a carnelian gemstone necklace from Cult Gaia.

NOVELTY BASICS: THE THIRD COMPONENT OF YOUR WARDROBE

If you think of your wardrobe in two categories, basic pieces and novelty items, consider these novelty basics that not only help bridge the gap between the two but add some easy, wearable interest to your closet.