29 Never-Date, Affordable Wardrobe Basics We Really Love

Trends come and go; this we know. But an edit of timeless wardrobe basics will have your back season after season and make whatever trends you decide to invest in along the way feel more premium. So it certainly pays to do the groundwork in assembling your collection of wardrobe basics before you invest in anything else.

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(Image credit: @basicstouch)

That said, you needn’t spend a fortune to achieve this wardrobe nirvana, a meeting of truly fail-safe must-haves. In fact, we almost recommend that you don’t. The high street has so many affordable basics for the taking that are sure to make a big impact on your outfits and not your bank balance.

To prove our point, we’ve found the best affordable basics under £50, which we’ve neatly laid out for you by category below. From shirts and tops to trousers and dresses, with a smattering of versatile shoes and accessories to round off your arsenal, being basic has never been so desirable.

BUTTON-DOWN SHIRTS

TOPS

JEANS

KNITWEAR

SKIRTS & DRESSES

OUTERWEAR

LEGGINGS

SHOES

ACCESSORIES

Next up, 13 "boring" staples fashion people will wear this summer

Maxine Eggenberger
Deputy Editor

Maxine Eggenberger is Who What Wear UK’s deputy editor and has over twelve years of experience in fashion journalism. She been creating engaging and elevated style content for Who What Wear UK since 2018, covering runway reports, emerging trends, long-form features, self-styled shopping stories, and columns, including her edit of the best new-in buys. She ensures the highest editorial standards are met across the site, works closely with influencer talent on content initiatives, represents the brand at industry events, and regularly contributes to social media. Previously, Maxine appeared on TV in her own fashion segment and has interviewed countless celebrities—everyone from Victoria Beckham to Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o. 


Prior to Who What Wear UK, Maxine’s career began when, after completing her first-ever internship, she was offered a position on the Look magazine fashion desk. She accepted, leaving university a year early in the process. She went on to become the title's fashion news and commercial content editor, with a stint as InStyle.co.uk’s fashion writer along the way. She later served as Look’s acting Editor in Chief before embarking on a successful freelance career, working with Grazia, The Pool, and Marie Claire amongst others. Maxine works remotely from her countryside home near Edinburgh.