Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog

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A Basic Wardrobe, Part III

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I’m finally wrapping up my posts on my basic wardrobe, after being tagged by the gorgeous K.Line. Here are my first two posts:

At last, I’m up to the clothes I wear nowadays. Daytime is all about (yawn) denim and black tops. My favorite jeans are the Hex and high-waisted Tube styles by Acne. Here I am in Acne Hex jeans and my vintage Ossie Clark snakeskin jacket.

Want your own Hex? Jake has a pair on sale right now. In the photo below, I’m wearing the Tube style during a visit to Anne Boleyn’s childhood home last year.

On top, I’ve been wearing this American Apparel t-shirt in black for a couple of years. I think I have 10 of those shirts. I liked the length and the double-V neck. You can wear them backwards or forwards. Good for lazy people! I wear the exposed seams on the inside.

The shirt in Montauk in 2006.
The shirt in Stockholm in 2007.
Same cargo pants as the Montauk picture.

Does anyone want 10 black t-shirts? Because OH MY GOD I can’t stand them anymore! I have to find something else for this summer.

For evenings, if it’s dinner/drinks with friends, I’m trying to get away from denim and dress up a little more (like here and here). For a big night out at a major party or black-tie event, my basic rule is no black! That is the time to stand out, not play it safe. I’ve found out that no matter how beautiful a black dress is, it really doesn’t pop. Here are a few of my favorite party dresses.

Versace in 2007
Ossie Clark in 2007
Versace for New Year’s
Zang Toi in 2006

And a party isn’t a party without false hair and eyelashes! Those are definitely basics for me. I love any excuse to get out the faux-ny tail. An Amy Winehouse-inspired look last year was my favorite faux-ny tail look ever.

From afar
A closeup
I liked the little braid.

I have a backup hair option, but I don’t use it as much.

A fake ‘do in 2002

I think that covers the basics at last. Now to tag other people! Here’s the question: “What is a basic wardrobe to you?” I tag In Yr Fshn, La Belette Rouge and Observationmode.

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Comments

  2. If I saw you on my street in that Ossie Clark jacket, I’d be forced to mug you…it’s stunning!

    Oh and I might just snatch those cute pooches while I’m at it.

  5. Ditto on that red Versace! I am excited to do this tag and shall complete it by tomorrow. Of course, on the one rainy day in the past two months, I have to go into Manhattan for a meeting. GAH!

  6. I’ve always loved you in the red dress. You look amazing in the last pic. Again with the shiny hair! (How does she do it??)

  8. That black shirt gets around!
    “Faux-ny tail.” Love that.
    I have one too but it is from Claires and I wore it when I was a Twenty Minute Workout instructor for Halloween.

  9. Wow, the Many Faces of WendyB! I love this post oh so much! The last photo is my favorite. You’re a real hottie!

  13. Love the Zang Toi dress and love the hair in the last pic. You look hawt!
    That being said, I’m headed to the tailors to pick up my hemmed pantalones that I purchased from Tar-Je'(Target).
    In another life, I’d like to come back as you so I could wear your clothes and jewels.

  15. I tried wearing that same dress out with friends, and they were less than kind in reviewing my bold fashion decision.

  16. wow, you are one photogenic lady! You look lovely in every photo!

    And your Versace is making me drool…

  17. Sharing hairstyles with Amy Winehouse is okay.. but NEVER share the same dental hygiene. ha..ha.ha..

    I still think the b&w Versace is my FAVE! 🙂

  18. i, too, love the zang tori dress and your hair in the last photo.

    you’re amazing as always!

  19. Point taken about the diamonds and deffo the coral. I didn’t mean to imply all diamonds are tainted, just that people should pay attention. And there’s nothing wrong with a diamond engagement ring, but there’s also nothing wrong about thinking outside the box.
    Your basic wardrobe basically rocks.

  20. Wow, I love that Zang Toi dress. So beautiful and you look great in it.

    I got black tee shirts coming out the whazoo too.

  21. wow the ossie clark dress is stunning! and i agree with your no black for big events rule, I get so bored with black probably because its my mother’s #1 choice so I avoid it like the plague haha, and especially when you’re dressing up don’t play safe! have fun!

  23. Wendy: I have this feeling you are leading the most glamourous life. You have so many beautiful dress-up outfits – I’d love to switch places with you for a week!

    The Ossie Clark jacket is unbelievable. Is it heavy? How does it move? And the fact that you managed to buy it from a woman whose picture was probably out of a magazine photoshoot is so intriguing. I’d love to hear about that story – if you’re ever looking for some post material.

    Thanks for your great post. K

  24. Those are some lovely basics!! I adore Acne jeans. I scooped up a pair of those sale ones thanks to you!

  25. Okay, forgive me because I’m still trying to catch up on posts in my post-“technology hates me” period…

    From the Prada bag post I was going to say, “you show me yours, I’ll show you mine”…but now you’ve posted that insanely gorgeous Ossie Clark jacket…my bag pales in comparison…beautiful…where/how did you get it?

  26. I love, love , love your faux pony. You look gorgeous in your fake hair. Can I put both of those pics of you on my site?

  27. K.Line, it’s not very heavy. It is a little fragile though…peeling skin in some places. I can only wear it under perfect conditions. Sorry I took so long to finish the tag!
    Rorosto, I hope you enjoy them! I recommend handwashing only, as infrequently as you can stand to do it.
    Hebden, I’m sure your bag is beautiful! I wrote about the jacket once before, here:
    http://wbjewelry.blogspot.com/2007/10/
    my-ossie-clark-jacket-and-60s-it-girls.html
    Judaysia, of course! BTW, I still have a whole big post that I’m planning to do on you, I just haven’t taken the right photos for it yet.
    Other peeps, thanks for your kind words.