7 Chic Wardrobe Foundations That Make Your Outfits Feel So 2024

Now that we’re fully settled and in the swing of 2024 and, yes, finally on the cusp of spring, I thought that now would make for an opportune time to take a look back at the past few months and better see how the year’s aesthetic is shaping up. Where last year seemed dominated by a pared-back, quiet-luxury aesthetic, this year, although still very refined, is starting to feel like it has a bit more personality to it again. Trends are broader, dipping in and out of different decades, cherrypicking the most relevant-feeling pieces from them. There’s a more relaxed approach to styling too, with items being worn in a multitude of ways, only further pushing their versatility.

Having analysed hundreds if not thousands of outfits since the start of 2024, looking back, I can now see that there are seven very clear capsule wardrobe foundations that have taken over this year, all of which have the ability work very hard to earn their keep in our closets. Below, I’ve showcased these seven items in action, as well as shopping out the strongest pieces currently on the market. So, if you want your 2024 outfits to feel fresh but also know the items you’re investing in will still feel relevant for seasons to come, scroll on to see what wardrobe foundations look like in 2024. The best part? You may already own some of them, too.

7 WARDROBE FOUNDATIONS THAT FEEL VERY 2024

1. SUEDE JACKETS

The ’70s aesthetic was prevalent on the spring/summer 2024 runways this season in the form of flare jeans, floaty dresses and suede jackets. However, the latter is proving to be the item most influencing real-life outfits.

Worn with all the ensembles you’d regularly style leather jackets with, a suede iteration offers a softer take on the coverup, which wears beautifully with spring’s lighter fabrications and colour palette.

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2. PENCIL SKIRTS

2024 is the year of the skirt—so much so that two key styles were worthy of a place in this edit. The first? Pencil skirts, which fashion people in Paris and London have been wearing on repeat.

Once considered formal office attire, for 2024, the piece has been rewritten as casual, with influencers wearing them in low-key ways. Think crew-neck knits, T-shirts, vests and relaxed shirting.

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3. RED SHOES

Of all the shoe trends to know this year, red is proving itself to be one of the most enduring in its appeal.