8 Magic Wardrobe Essentials If You Hate Everything, Nothing Fits, You Hate Your Body, And Everything Is Itchy
I did the dirty work for you.
by Audie Metcalf
Clothes and accessories are fun and pretty to think about in theory. But in practice, the truth is, I hate most everything. I hate the fit. I hate how it hangs. I hate the way it looks on my butt. I hate the material. Perhaps you are more easy going about such things and you just throw on whatever jeans are washed and go about your day.
I wish I could be you.
But I am just so full of hate.
Perhaps it comes with being an exacting person who demands things to be just so, or perhaps it’s a relic of perfectionism, or, just maybe, I just want things the way I want them. To quote Miranda Priestley, as I do near daily, why is no one readddddyyyy.
And so I’ve selected a few pieces in my wardrobe that truly thrill me in terms of how they fit, flatter, and feel. I’m never disappointed by midday when I wear them. I silently celebrate my sartorial choices every time I catch a glimpse of myself in a storefront window. And, most of all, they make me feel … like myself. As all clothes should do. And I thought, perhaps one or two of them will do the same for you.
Let’s do this.
1. The greatest button down white shirt on planet earth
You know how some simple, white button-down shirts are all wrong and some are absolutely correct? This one is correct. It’s made from cotton Oxford so there’s a little extra weight to it, meaning it stays, blessedly, tucked in. I have 14 white shirts in my closet, and I only ever reach for this one. Oh, and I just throw it in the dryer and never iron it. I don’t even own an iron.
Price: $135
2. The best everyday tank top that makes your boobs look great and doesn’t show bra straps
Sometimes cheap things are the best things. I’ve been wearing this style of Aerie tank for 7 years. The ribbing sort of sucks you in while being very soft, it has a low enough neck to be flattering while not revealing, and it’s long enough to sort of scrunch the fabric around your midsection so you don’t feel exposed. I looooove wearing a plain tank with an otherwise smart outfit.
Price: $15
3. The most shockingly comfortable & cute wedges that feel almost orthopedic
Yes, you just saw these shoes in action in the previous photo. It is difficult to explain how preternaturally comfortable these shoes are. They give some height but with ZERO pain, and the sole is so cushioned and bendy they truly feel like some kind of orthopedic cloud. In my old age, I simply do not slip on shoes that are in any way uncomfortable. But I still long to finish a cute outfit with a cute shoe. And I absolutely will pay top dollar for foot comfort. It’s a great place to invest in your wardrobe. And, why yes. That is a hard bangle anklet. I’m trying to make it a thing.
Price: $328
4. The 3 best fitting, most flattering jeans at 3 different price points
LOW: Quince Bella Stretch Kick Flare Jeans
Quince is doing something very special with their jeans. I can’t even find a pair of jeans this affordable at Old Navy. And the fit is unreal. My favorite style are these kick flares because they round out the rump. But the stretch is unreal, and they don’t require one to hike them up every 45 seconds. You know the jeans hike-up I’m talking about. We actually wrote an entire Quince jeans extravaganza HERE.
Price: $50
MID: Madewell Superwide-Leg Jeans
Sometimes, when I’m in the thick of my cycle, and I’m bloated, and truly without the capacity to handle raised voices or babies crying, I can’t bear the feeling of anything tight. Yes, I could wear some gloriously soft house pants, but if I need to look semi-presentable, these are the jeans I reach for. But also they’re just great and chic and the wide-leg is unbelievably flattering.
Price: $148
HIGH: Paige Anessa 31”
There is no more flattering a jean than this jean. As is evident by this photo. We have written about these jeans extensively. And we are not people who just spend over $200 on jeans. We just aren’t. But the comfort-to-flattering ratio for these Paige jeans is totally unmatched. If I could only wear one pair of jeans until eternity, it’s these jeans.
Use the code CANDIDLY15 to get 15% off.
Price: $239
5. The blazer that doesn’t even need a written description because just look at it
Aritzia Babaton Standout Blazer
I don’t “get” boxy blazers. They make us all look like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man. If I’m going to wear some overthing, that overthing better make me look unbelievable. And this blazer. Well. Nothing comes close. Nothing. It also has a lovely stretch so I don’t feel like I’m wearing a straight jacket so I can actually “use” my “arms.” And wearing a blazer fully buttoned up like this, almost as a shirt over jeans or a maxi skirt, is a revelation. It’s such an easy, quick thing to throw on and poof, I’m chic.
Price: $248
6. The prettiest spring dress that, contrary to popular belief, is flattering on bigger busts and fleshy arms
Favorite Daughter The Favorite Linen Dress
For all of our tried and true followers, you guys know I’m on a weight loss “journey” and I documented a lot about it HERE. Talking about fleshy arms as a now size 6 is tricky. But I promise you, they are fleshy. And they were far fleshier when I was a size 12. And still, I always looked for strapless dresses because they are immensely flattering.
And this one, well, is perfect. It cinches the waist into oblivion, it holds up the boobs without a bra, the linen makes it easy to wear more casually without feeling overdressed, and the butter yellow is perhaps the most joyful color I’ve ever put on my body. I actually eyed this dress last year when it came in only black and white. And now seeing the fit, it’s possible I need the black as well. Fine, yes, that’s another Clare V bag. Yes it’s the one we talk about all the time just in their new cream color. But it was a gift so you can’t be mad.
Use the code THECANDIDLY15 to get 15% off.
Price: $298
7. Ummmmmm…the most incredible bra ever?
Neiwai Barely Zero Spaghetti Strap Bra
Sorry, I’m not using a photo of me in my bra for this. But oh. my. god. This bra. This ugly MIRACULOUS bra. First, it feels like literally nothing. Truly. Just nothing. The kind of bra you don't rip off the second you set foot in the door because you just don’t even perceive that you’re wearing a bra. Second, it’s so smooth and gorgeous it makes everything I wear look ten times better. It’s one size only which seems bizarre but a few of us behind the scenes have gotten this bra, and we’re all very different sizes, and it works on all of us. Is it sexy? No, it’s not. But I wear THIS when I want a sexy bra.
Price: $39
8. The pants we really need to shut up about
The Colette Cropped Wide-Leg Pants by Maeve
Find me a woman who does not look amazing in these pants. That is a fool’s errand. Because there is no such woman. Wide hips, big rumps, flat butts, small waist, belly pooches, no curves, lots of curves. It works on evvvvveryone.
They have something called “magic fabric” which is highly stretchy and sort of sculpts the body while never feeling tight. They also come in a full length version, a linen, a jean, a ruffle, a short, skirt, a scalloped pocket (my next purchase), and potentially more because clearly Anthro is delivering on what women want with this style.
I have these pants in many other colors, but for spring I’ve been reaching for this pink and this striped linen pair because they make me happy. And if our clothes don’t make us happy, what are we all even doing?
Price: $138 - $148
Audie Metcalf is the Editor-in-chief of The Candidly, and lives in LA with her family. You can find more of her articles here.
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
We have to eat.
