Imagine you have the chance to step inside a fashion editor’s closet. What would you find? There’s no doubt you’d spot some of the season’s biggest trends like leopard jeans, chain-link necklaces, and ’80s silhouettes—which we have all been quick to adopt this fall. But what about pieces that have been in their closets for years and years?
This is exactly what I asked my fellow Who What Wear editors to share, and I found out exactly which closet staples they have been wearing for almost a decade. Managing editor Michelle Scanga has been layering on a sentimental piece of jewelry since she received it on her 21st birthday. Fashion editor Lauren Eggertsen and assistant editor Anna LaPlaca both agree that Converse sneakers are essentials that deserve a permanent place in their wardrobes. As for my most loved closet staple? I can’t stop wearing an investment bag I picked up in Paris when I lived there years ago. Scroll on to see and shop all of our editors’ closet staples, which you’re sure to spot each of them wearing again very soon.
“I’ve had the same pair of high-waisted vintage Levi’s cutoffs since high school, and aside from the miracle that is the fact that they somehow still fit me, they still look just as cool as the ones people are buying now, so I wear them every summer.”
“I’ve worn this dainty twisted bracelet since my dad gifted me with it on my 21st birthday. It’s really the only piece of jewelry I wear on the regular.”
“I’ve had a velvet M.i.h blazer for many years, and I can tell it’s high quality because it’s still in great condition after so many wears. When the weather starts cooling down, it still feels in style season after season.”
“It’s not a huge huge surprise, but I’ve been wearing Converse for well over seven years straight and see no end in sight. The style is classic and looks great when paired with everything from jeans and a tee to a fun floral dress.”
“I’m from San Diego, so it was pretty much a requirement to own a pair of Vans sneakers growing up (specifically the Authentic style). I’ve had blue, gray, and white versions over the years.”
“A plaid blazer will never go out of style and is my go-to for polishing up jeans and a tee.”
“I’m not sure of the exact year I bought this jacket, but it’s been in my closet a really long time. I love that it’s on the thicker side, so I can get away with wearing it when it’s actually cold outside, which can’t be said for many leather jackets on the market.”
“I don’t own a ton from seven years ago, to be honest, but there are definite pieces that have stayed in rotation, like this classic denim jacket from Gap. I think the one I have from college is almost this style exactly.”
“In another denim category are skinny jeans, which I usually wear until they have too many holes to make them appropriate to wear in public. I’ve owned several versions of these Madewell skinnies over the years.”
"Finally, I’ve always had great black pumps in my closet in some iteration. Since these are shoes, some have fallen apart over the years, past the point of a cobbler’s help. This is just the latest iteration of sleek black heels I’ve purchased that I plan to wear for a very, very long time.”
“No matter how many years pass, I still go back to my classic high-top Converse. They’re simple, comfortable, and go with just about anything.”
“These were my first pair of sunglasses that I saved up to invest in, and even though I don’t wear them as often as I used to, I still love that they’ve held up for so long.”
“I bought this bag in Paris years ago, and it’s still one of my best investment purchases to date. It’s definitely the most loved piece in my closet.”
Next: 23 investment pieces our editors are buying now.
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