Meet Your New 2025 Basics Wardrobe: 11 Holy-Grail Pieces Everyone Is Wearing
Chic outfits made easy.


As we enter the second half of the year, this is the perfect time to take stock of which basics you have and which ones you may need to see you through the remainder of 2025 and beyond. Although the point of basics is that they're low-key and trendless, the cool ones to wear do change from year to year.
If you're more interested in keeping up with the current basics than being annoyed that they evolve from year to year, I'm here to guide you. With fall's arrival quickly approaching, I've been busy shopping for the chic basics that'll make getting dressed easier and faster. From a specific wash of denim to the sporty jacket trend everyone is already wearing, these finds are made to be worn again and again. All in all, I landed on 11 key pieces that'll help me create dozens of cool outfits. Keep scrolling to shop the best versions of each along with me.
Dark-Wash Jeans
The dark-denim resurgence took off last year, and it's back for another round. An inky wash makes everything from denim miniskirts to baggy jeans look exponentially more elegant.
Windbreakers
The reigning casual jacket of 2025 is a windbreaker, which fashion people are pairing with unexpected pieces, such as slip skirts. If you want to get even more specific, funnel-neck jackets and red sporty jackets are the most in-demand styles.
Crewneck Cardigans
As the preppy trend marches on, crewneck cardigans continue to be a wardrobe mainstay. I'm such a fan of this particular basic that I own Reformation's Clara Crew Cardigan in four colors.
Leather Belts
Whenever you put on an outfit that just needs a little something extra, the first thing you should try is adding a classic leather belt. In an instant, that outfit will look more polished and expensive—trust me.
Pull-On Satin Pants
While linen-pant season may be wrapping up, satin pants of the same pull-on style aren't going anywhere. Given their sheen, dressing them up for a night out is easier than with linen pants.
Barn Jackets
You likely already purchased a barn jacket last fall, but if you're in the market for another one, the good news is that the trend has stuck around for 2025, and there are tons of cool options to choose from.
V-Neck Tees
V-neck tees are back, and I'm stocking up. Instead of deep V-necks, tees with a higher neckline, which is far more polished, are trending.
Slip Skirts
Basics with origins in the '90s continue to be wildly popular year after year. One of the current styles is slip skirts—especially those with a romantic lace trim. They're perfect for pairing with the aforementioned V-neck T-shirts.
Square-Neck Shift Dresses
As far as classic dresses that you can wear year-round for a plethora of occasions go, a square-neck shift dress is the perfect style. Whether you opt for linen, satin, corduroy, or denim, it's a guarantee that you'll look effortlessly chic.
Polo Shirts
Another preppy trend that's everywhere right now? Polo shirts. I'm shopping for classic ones with a button collar in solids and stripes.
Black Cigarette Pants
If you want to look elegant with minimal effort, a pair of black cigarette pants is a must-buy for 2025. Every time I wear them, I get compliments.

Allyson is a senior editor for Who What Wear. She joined the company in 2014 as co-founder Katherine Power's executive assistant and over the years has written hundreds of stories for Who What Wear. Prior to her career in fashion, Allyson worked in the entertainment industry at companies such as Sony Pictures Television. Allyson is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a BFA in theater arts. Her path to fashion may not have been linear, but based on the number of fashion magazines she collected as a child and young adult, it was meant to be.
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