Women’s skinny jeans, leggings and blazers have replaced straight leg jeans and thick black tights as our wardrobe staples, it has been revealed. Nude tights, ballet pumps, a maxi dress and a black or nude clutch bag are also among the modern must-haves every women should own.
While they might have been staple items in the 1980s, denim jackets, simple knee length skirts and polo neck tops are no longer considered as classic clothes.
It wasn’t all change though, as black trousers, cardigans, a simple white blouse or shirt and the little black dress have remained constant must-haves through the decades.
Black or brown boots, black court shoes, a pencil skirt and a smart black coat have also stood the test of time and are still considered staple items.
A spokesman for F&F at Tesco, which commissioned the research, said:
”Everyone has a section of their wardrobe which is reserved for staple items, and while many have remained the same, there are some that have changed as the trends and fashion has evolved over the past twenty years or so.
”Good-quality staple items can really help to save costs when it comes to a new season or trend.
”If you’ve got a few trusty items of clothing that you can rely on, all you need is one or two pieces from a new trend and you have an up-to-date and fashionable outfit for a fraction of the cost.
”So it’s worth making sure the staple items you do buy are good quality so you can be sure they will stand the test of time for years to come.”
The study of 2,000 women found that 81% make sure their wardrobe is always full of staple or classic items, with another 83% believing there are items that every woman should own.
The average woman estimates that almost half of their closet is taken up with classic clothes which they can wear year after year – compared to just a quarter which is reserved for trend items each season.
Almost three quarters of the women polled also said they are happy to splash more cash than usual on staple items knowing they will get plenty of wear from it.
A third of women even own items of clothing that were so irreplaceable, they had been passed on to them from older friends and relatives.
More than one in ten even have some timeless clothes which they have been wearing for 20 years or more now.
Researchers also found that 57% of people say the majority of the staple items in their wardrobe are black, followed by beige, brown, white and gray.
In an average month, women spend £22 adding to their staple items, with quality and the look or appearance the most important factors when shopping for wardrobe essentials.
However, the study found that it’s not all about staple items- 46% of women said they like to go shopping and stock up on some fashion items to complement their basics.
77% even admitted they have kept certain items of clothing in the hope they will someday become trendy and fashionable again.
A spokesman for F&F at Tesco added:
”The secret to a good wardrobe is mixing your staple items with a few key fashion pieces each season.
”Buying good quality staple items alongside some more trendy, one-off clothes means you get to keep up with the latest fashion, without breaking the bank.”
STAPLE ITEMS THROUGH THE YEARS
NOW25 YEARS AGO
Leggings and skinny jeans Straight leg jeans
Nude tights Black, woolen tights
Blazer Denim Jacket
Maxi Dress Simple knee length skirt
Ballet bumps Black polo neck
Black/nude clutch bag
CONSTANTS
Black cardigan
Black trousers
Black or brown boots
White blouse
Flip-flops/flat sandals
White vest top
White/black short sleeved t-shirt/top
Black court shoes
Bootcut jeans
White/black long sleeved top
Little black dress
Pencil skirt
Smart black coat
