If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I’m a big believer that the foundation of a great wardrobe starts with really good essentials. The perfect tee, a great shirt, beautiful cashmere sweaters, and easy pants that you can wear just about anywhere.
And lately, I find myself reaching for these pieces more and more. Which probably explains why I can’t seem to get enough of Almina Concept, Sold Out NYC, and LESET. Three brands that have really mastered the art of making everyday essentials feel anything but basic. Below, I tell you exactly why I love each three.
Almina Concept
Almina Concept is all about elevated essentials—the kind of pieces that make getting dressed easy but still feel special. Founded by Angela Gahng, whose background includes merchandising at Club Monaco and Loewe, the brand has a great eye for clean lines, beautiful knitwear, relaxed tailoring, and those wardrobe staples that look a whole lot more expensive than they are. Nothing overly trendy, just modern, effortless pieces you’ll find yourself wearing again and again. Exactly what I look for in a great basic!
Wrap Cardigan, $390
Waist Tie Wool Trousers, $268
Quarter Zip Knit Sweater, $378
Sold Out NYC takes the pieces we all wear constantly—T-shirts, tanks, sweatshirts, and great everyday basics—and makes them feel anything but basic. What I love is the attention to fit, fabric, and those little details that make such a difference. Think the perfect white tee, a tank that actually looks polished, and relaxed pieces that are just as good with jeans as they are dressed up under a jacket. They’re definitely an investment compared to your average basics, but sometimes finding that perfect piece you’ll wear over and over again is worth spending a little more on. And isn’t that what elevated essentials are all about?
The Windbreaker in Navy, $255
The Cashmere Polo in Heather Smoke, $298
The Everything Shirt in Navy, $195
Founded by Lili Chemla in Los Angeles, LESET has mastered the art of making comfortable clothes look incredibly chic. What started as a collection of elevated loungewear has evolved into a fabulous line of wardrobe essentials that you can actually live in. Think the perfect white tee (their Margo tee has quite the following!), great knitwear, relaxed pants, and matching separates that you can mix and match or wear on their own. What I particularly love is that everything feels easy and comfortable without looking the least bit sloppy. Because who says you have to sacrifice style for comfort? Certainly not me!
Lauren Classic Cardigan, $180
Kyoto Carpenter Pant, $280
Pointelle Slim Fit Long Sleeve, $98
Shop the rest of our elevated essentials edit below:
All of our recommendations are curated by Susan & the In The Groove editorial team. In some, but not all cases, we receive a small commission for leading you to what, how, and where to buy all this wonderful stuff.
