The 8 Best Places to Find Wardrobe Basics

Your wardrobe has to start somewhere

Written by Hana Brannigan

Determining what your style will be can be pretty difficult – especially when you have no foundation. Which is why it’s important to not skip over the most important step of building your unique wardrobe: finding the basics. But how do you choose from the thousands of brands on the market?

We did some research and pulled together the eight of the most affordable and great quality brands so you can get a jumpstart on creating your dream closet.

Uniqlo

Uniqlo is a unisex store originally founded in Japan. What makes them unique amongst the others on this list, though, is that they offer a “custom section” on their website where you can get a shirt “tailored” to your size. The only downside is that it’s not always the most reliable service, of course, because you’re not going in person to get the shirt fitted to your exact size.

However, if you browse their regular sections, it’s a basics wonderland.

They have jackets, shirts, pants, activewear, loungewear and anything else you might be looking for. They also have sizes ranging from XXS to 3XL. The quality is pretty good if you’re looking to get some basics on a budget.

Buck Mason

The founders describe their company as simple and say they aren’t “excited by fashion.” —their products are as simple as their way of doing business. They simply provide high-quality products at affordable prices. No funny games, no over-the-top clothing.

It’s truly a minimalist dream.

The only con is that unlike most of the places on this list, once you start branching out of basics, you’ll have to move on from this site as well since they only sell the basics.

H&M

H&M is known for being very affordable and has a wide range of products for basics. If you’re on a budget, this can be a quick one-stop-basic-shop.

But be cautious about shopping online because there are quite a few reviews that report the customer service isn’t the best, or packages get lost. The quality isn’t always the best too so be prepared to replace the clothing every-so-often.

Zara

The quality definitely goes up when shopping at Zara. They have a variety of simple options that has a reputation for being young and hip. So if you’re just starting out in the workforce, Zara can be the place to get some quality clothes when you can’t afford the top-dog stuff yet.

However, just because it’s more reputable than discount stores, you should still inspect the clothing before you buy because sometimes the quality isn’t always consistently great. So while Zara isn’t exactly a discount store, it can still be overpriced for the quality they offer.

Shop them during sales because you can grab great deals.

ASOS

Just like Zara, you can find some great quality products, but it all depends on which brand it is. Some of the brands are cheap and won’t last a long time, so make sure to research about the product first – the brand, the material it’s made from, etc. – before purchasing.

And a pro tip: watch the runway videos because the pictures can be misleading, but that’s always going to be a risk when shopping online. They have a lot of products on their site so you should be able to find what you’re looking for in the end.

Bella + Canvas

Bella + Canvas are known for their soft, durable, and light products. Customers report that when washed, the products tend to be even more comfortable and softer. They have various colors to choose from for basics, too.

Just note that the sizes run a bit small, so if you’re a slim guy, Bella + Canvas could be exactly what you’re looking for. Otherwise, consider getting a size up.

Target: Goodfellow & co.

It’s been a huge deal that Target’s quality has suddenly gone up. It seems they’ve finally started paying attention to current trends, and they’ve done so without raising the prices too much. They have a great selection of basics, but make sure to still try on the clothing because the sizing can vary greatly.

It’s still not going to be the top quality on the market, but it’s definitely worth looking into since Target is, for the most part, very convenient.

Banana Republic

The Banana Republic is known for its better reputation and for good reason. They have good quality basics and a variety of fits for different body sizes. They also have any category you could want to cover you from head to toe.

However, unlike most brands on this list, the options aren’t as straightforward because they tend to have more complicated patterns and styles, so just be prepared to put in some more effort when shopping.

Your Dream Closet Awaits

So there are our top eight choices for starting your wardrobe. Overall, Bella + Canvas seems to be the ultimate winner of this list, but your choice in a store will ultimately depend on what you’re looking for and how much you’re willing to spend.

Are there any we missed? Let us know your favorite places to shop for basics in the comments.

Hana Brannigan

SOURCE: THE GENTLEMANUAL