I’m Building a Chic, Anti-Trend Wardrobe for 2026 and Beyond—These 5 Pieces That Make the Cut

Over the years, I’ve built up quite an impressive collection of clothes. So much so, it now spans over multiple wardrobes. But the thing is, like most people, I of course, only wear a very small percentage of what I own. So this year, in a bid to be more conscious (always a tricky one when you work in fashion), be more organised ahead of a house move and to rediscover my personal style, I’m on a mission to carefully refine my collection so that I only keep hold of the things I truly love. And after spending the last few weekends sorting out each wardrobe, one by one, I’ve realised that the items I love the most are the ones that are versatile, wearable, comfy and easy to style with lots of other items.

What I’ve also realised is that I plan my outfits a lot less than I used to, so I want to be able to grab the pieces I know always suit me, and make me feel my most confident. And let me tell you, the silk Ganni top I’ve been holding onto in a size 8—that was always too tight for me, even in my 20s—is not doing that, so it’s finally going to a new home via Vinted. Instead, I’m keeping hold of the building blocks that I rely on each and every day. You know, the striped shirt that you can sling on over a T-shirt with jeans and be ready for work in 5 minutes (after a quick steam). Or the loose-fit wide-leg trousers that remove the “which shoes do I wear?” stress, as they look just as good with pointed-toe boots as they do with trainers or ballet flats.