January Wardrobe Reset: 8 Essential Pieces to Build Everyday Outfits

First up, happy new year to you all. I have a cut-off point of 6th January for saying this, so I’m getting in before my self-inflicted deadline. Thank you for still being here in 2026. I’d like to claim I have big plans for this year, but the truth is my plans have only got as far as February. I’m more of a ‘let’s see what happens’ kind of person these days, but I’m going into 2026 determined to say ‘yes please’ to more things than I say ‘no thanks’ to.

January is the month when we tend to want a bit of a reset, and as this is a fashion blog, let’s start with our clothes. This idea comes from a conversation I had a while back, which considered: “If you suddenly lost all of your clothes, what would you re-buy first?” This is a good question that makes you think about what you wear and value most. In other words, it’s nice to have posh frocks and fancy shoes, but what really forms the backbone of your wardrobe?

These are the eight items I came up with that I would buy again in a heartbeat:

A good cashmere jumper, in navy, grey or black, depending on your colour preferences
A silk shirt – a perfect piece for day-to-night dressing
A proper wool coat, ideally 100% wool, or at the very least 50% wool content
A really good leather belt – you’d be amazed at the difference a decent belt can make to an outfit
A smart pair of black trousers
Well-fitting jeans that make you feel good
A great everyday handbag – it doesn’t have to be new; pre-loved is perfect
Comfortable (yet smart) loafers

MY PERSONAL TOP 8

Now we’ve established the eight items worth having, here are a few ideas on how you can build outfits around them. A reminder: as always, I’ve included alternatives at various price points under each outfit collage.

THE WOOL COAT

This Jigsaw coat is a classic – so much so that they make it every winter, usually in three colours. I have it in brown and burgundy, and if (or when) they bring it out in black again, I’ll be getting that colour too. For me, it’s the perfect coat. Smart, timeless and the perfect length, it’s 100% wool but so soft it feels more like cashmere. I size up by one to give myself room to wear chunky knitwear underneath, but I’d say it’s true to size if you prefer a more fitted look.

THE WELL FITTING JEANS & GOOD BAG

I have a lot of jeans. I go through phases of wearing different styles, but I always come back to the Citizens of Humanity Ayla jeans because they fit so well. Jeans are very subjective: you need to consider your body shape and try on as many pairs as possible before you find the one.

My shorter ladies might find these jeans from COS more to their liking, while my apple-shaped lovelies may prefer something looser around the hips, like these from Uniqlo. If you kiss enough denim frogs, you will find your prince.

Vestiaire Collective is my go-to destination when I’m looking for pre-loved designer bags. I’ve bought three bags from Vestiaire over the past couple of years, and have been very pleased with both the quality and the price each time. My current favourite is the Celine luggage bag. New, they retail at around £3,000. Mine was £500.

THE CASHMERE JUMPER

To my mind, COS and ME+EM do the best cashmere on the high street. Uniqlo is also good, but it isn’t quite as soft as it used to be. The trick is not to wash your cashmere jumper unless it’s actually dirty. A fabric spritz like this will do the job for a quick refresh, and if you get bobbling, use one of these combs. I find they work better than the electric gadgets.

THE LEATHER LOAFERS

I love a loafer. They’re the perfect everyday shoe, and you don’t have to spend big here either – says the woman who has a problem with buying Gucci shoes. I’m sorry, but they’re my weakness, and in my defence, I still regularly wear the pairs I bought 10–12 years ago.

That said, this pair from M&S has been my most-worn this past season. They’re so comfortable and look just like the YSL ones, but at a fraction of the price.

THE SILK SHIRT

The old ‘just jeans and a nice top’ formula works so well with a silk shirt, especially when you add loafers and a good leather belt. It’s my go-to look when I want to be smart-casual for dinner or the theatre.

My favourite silk shirt is by Cefinn but, alas, they’re closing down, so I don’t think it’s available anymore. Do check resale sites, though – you might find one for a song. This one from M&S looks very similar if you’re buying new.

THE BLACK TROUSERS AND GOOD BELT

These trousers from Aligne are my favourite black trousers. They’re super flattering – flat-fronted, with pleats at the front and back that start lower down, drawing the eye away from your stomach area.

My most-worn belt is this Hollyhock leather one from Déhanche. It instantly adds that extra something to an outfit. I’ve definitely worn it more than 100 times, so the cost per wear is minimal.

I hope this has been a little helpful if you’re having a January ‘I have nothing to wear’ crisis.

K x

WearsMyMoney

I spent it all on clothes by the looks of things...