7 Affordable Things to Wear With Basic Clothing

last updated 14 August 2019

Are you at a place in your life when you look in your closet and are physically repulsed by everything that's inside? We've all been there. Getting dressed every day starts to feel repetitive, like you're wearing the same thing over and over out of sheer necessity. By now, the only option seems to be donating everything and starting from scratch. Well, my friends, I'm here to remind you that when it comes to all those go-to items in your closet and overworn (in a good way) basics, there is, in fact, a way to make them feel brand-new again.

Below, you will find a curation of seven product categories I always prioritize when I find myself in a closet rut. There is no shame in wearing the same pair of jeans multiple times a week or finding new ways to wear that white T-shirt of yours, all you need are a few shiny new items to mix in. From selfie-worthy hoops to tailored trousers you can wear instead of jeans, get ready to shop the (almost all) under-$100 roundup of products you should buy before you throw out everything in your closet.

Cool-Girl T-Shirts

Chances are, if you're hating all your clothes, you're currently experiencing a heavy rotation of jeans and T-shirts. That's fine, but if you're going to be wearing jeans and a T-shirt and not loving it, you might as well swap in a cool-girl shirt for that plain white one. Be it tie-dye or graphic, these shirts will make any pair of jeans look 10 times cooler.

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Shop cool T-shirts:

Ganni

Verbena Tie-Dyed Cotton T-Shirt

Holiday

Checkered Long Sleeve Tee

Selfie-Worthy Hoops

Even if everything in your entire outfit is something you consider a "basic," hoop earrings will make you feel more polished on the inside and the out. A major plus is that you'll probably be inspired to take a 'gram-worthy selfie while wearing said hoops. A win-win, no?

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Shop hoop earrings:

Shashi

Sadie Hoop Earrings

BaubleBar

Petrina Lucite Hoop Earrings

Slightly Oversize Blazers

There's something about a slightly oversize blazer that can make any outfit look instantly more forward. Seriously, a slip skirt and tank, jeans and tee, printed dress and sneakers—we could go on and on—will be taken to new heights with the addition of this boxy outerwear piece.

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Shop blazers:

Zara

Oversized Blazer

H&M

Jersey Jacket

Square-Toe Shoes

None of your shoes doing it for you? Probably because there's nothing that feels different or exciting about them anymore. Enter square-toe shoes. This currently trending footwear style is great because it can be applied to everything from pumps to flats to sandals and back again. This slight detail, no matter how simple the shoe, will make even that one shirt you feel like you always wear feel new again.

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Shop square-toe shoes:

Topshop

Strippy Heeled Sandals

Jeffrey Campbell

Achira Square Toe Flats

Jeans You Actually Feel Good In

Chances are you currently have a drawer or shelf overflowing with jeans you refuse to give away but also never wear. While buying even more jeans might feel redundant, sometimes you really do need a fresh pair of confidence-boosting denim to make all of your other clothes feel cool again.

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Shop jeans:

Denim Forum

The Farrah Wide Leg

Reformation

Cynthia High Relaxed Jean

Faux Baroque Pearls

Maybe it's just me, but I always drool over girls I see wearing these baroque pearl necklaces—even more so when it's with something casual like a white T-shirt or button-down. The contrast between the two is so chic, and luckily, I was able to find some for under $100.

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Shop faux baroque pearl necklaces:

Nina

Coin Freshwater Pearl Necklace

Pixie Market

Sculptured Pearl Chain Link Double Necklace

Tailored Trousers

Never underestimate the power of a pair of tailored trousers. The styling techniques are endless, and they are a great alternative to your go-to pairs of jeans.

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Shop trousers:

Mango

Pleat Detail Wool Trousers

Violeta

Pleat Straight Trousers

Next up, find out how our editors would each spend $100 at Amazon.

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Lauren Eggertsen is currently the editorial director of Who What Wear and has worked at the company for over eight years, where she started as an associate editor and has since worked her way up. Lauren has over 10 years of experience in the fashion editorial space, starting her career with internships at Marc Jacobs, Marie Claire, and The Zoe Report, where she was later hired as their editorial assistant. Lauren has worked in the Los Angeles and New York Who What Wear offices but currently calls L.A. home. It is here where she leads and manages Who What Wear's fashion team and oversees all day-to-day editorial content and large tentpole moments. This includes all of the runway, trend, and shopping-driven content that ultimately helps to build a strong brand reputation within the industry. Lauren's role also includes helping to set the fashion direction for all original photo shoots and often styles many of the celebrity cover shoots, including big names like Kaia Gerber, Normani, and Kristen Stewart.

She has also attended multiple fashion weeks, including New York, London, Milan, and Paris, where her personal style has been featured on sites such as Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, and Elle. She prides herself on discovering and supporting small brands and on her knack for a good vintage shopping find. When she isn't working, she enjoys researching and dining at reputable restaurants around both her neighborhood and the globe.