“What Are The Essential Pieces Every Working Mom Should Have In Her Closet?”

I know you’re not going to the like this, but the answer isn’t the same for everyone. I define staple as a must-have. The pieces you can’t live without. The ones that show up in the majority of your outfits.

But the things that I love to wear all the time, won’t necessarily be the same for you. Your must-haves are going to be based on your lifestyle and your personal preferences. But for the sake of this question, I’ll go through my top 5 pieces to give you an idea of what I mean.

Starting with the bottoms, I’d pick a pair of jeans and a pair of trousers. Both are versatile and comfortable, and it’s just my personal preference to go with pants instead of a dress.

For the tops, I’d have to have a boxy t-shirt, a crewneck sweater, and a button-down shirt. I picked these because they’re relaxed, versatile, and I can mix + match them all day to create new outfits.

Finishing off with the shoes, I’d go with a pair of low-profile sneakers and a pair of kitten-heeled boots to dress up my outfits when I want. Ok, ok, that’s more than 5 but we can’t go out barefoot.

Now when I shop, I build my closet around these staples. I look for crewneck sweaters in different colors and fits. I find button-downs in different fabrics. Poplin or cotton if I want something crisp, or linen if I want something that feels more relaxed.

And that’s not to say I never buy dresses or sweatpants or anything else. But in comparison, the items that I don’t consider to be staples make up a much smaller percentage of my closet.

To find your own staples, start taking note of the items you wear all the time. The ones you feel the most comfortable in. Not necessarily the things that you bought because you felt like you should.

And if your uniform right now is sweats or anything else you’re trying to wear less of, consider this your time to play. Start collecting photos that represent the way you’d like to be dressing. Then, spend an afternoon trying on clothes based on the inspiration you pulled.

Make sure to focus on one area at a time (shoes, tops, etc.) so you don’t get overwhelmed. Take note of the styles that you feel best in and build your list of staples that way.

Once you can identify the items that you gravitate towards, it’s much easier to start building your closet around the pieces that you know you’ll wear.