Shopping for clothes you can wear for all your getting dressed needs
Or, the things I love at Reformation, and it's not just the fabulous email copy
Two topics that I think about frequently (and discuss with anyone who will throw me a bone) are how to shop for pieces that fit into all aspects of my life (and not just single-use or single-occasion pieces) and my favorite brands and stores to shop for pieces that fit this criteria.
When I was in my early and mid-20s, I had 3 distinct closets. One for work - the business casual and (sometimes) business formal pieces that I would wear for work (heavy on travel-friendly pieces as I spent the early part of my career traveling most of the time!). One was for casual wear - the pieces I would wear on the weekends, for casual days in my office, for relaxing clothes, etc. And one was for GOING OUT. I would shop for those distinct clothing needs separately. It was rare that I would take something from my work wardrobe and wear it on the weekends or out on a Saturday night, or something from my casual clothes collection and wear it to work.
These days, that’s not how I think about my clothes at all. I can’t pin down exactly when the shift started - it’s one of those changes that I’m sure has been happening slowly for a long time - influenced by so many factors - getting older, lifestyle changes, different work requirements, the evolution of my style, becoming a mom x3. But these days, when I think about adding something new to my closet, one of the first things on my mind is whether or not I can style it for many of the different occasions that I get dressed for.
I think this is something that is on the mind of many - how to add pieces to our closets that meet all the needs of our lives (and not just a specific need, eg: a work wardrobe, a personal wardrobe, etc). We have a wide range of needs for our closets- work, going out with friends, on dates, to a variety of events, travel, kids activities, etc. Most of the time when I buy something new, I want to feel confident that it’s something that I will wear A LOT.
I love to discover new and emerging brands, but I also have several favorite brands and stores that I regularly check for new arrivals. And I especially love brands where I can shop for a wide variety of clothing needs.
One of those brands is Reformation.
I’ve been shopping from Reformation for years. I have a dress from their early days — the style that I think of as notoriously Ref, with smocking and cap sleeves. I’ve worn that dress through multiple pregnancies and postpartum periods (you can nurse in it!!) It’s one of those dresses that is easy to dress up, but also wear casually (a great kind of dress IMO) - it looks equally great with white sneakers and a baseball cap as it does with strappy sandals and special accessories.
And for a long time, Reformation was a brand I always looked to for dresses, especially for wedding guest dresses. However, the brand has expanded into more categories and now has so many fun and interesting pieces outside the dress category. In the past few years, I’ve tried t-shirts, jeans, sweaters, and shirts that I have LOVED. Many of their styles are available in inclusive sizes. And, their spring new arrivals are DROOL WORTHY.
I like that I can browse through their categories and new arrivals and see pieces that I immediately can imagine wearing in multiple ways - pieces that would make sense for a business casual day in my office, or something more formal that is client-facing, or for a work-from-home-day and that I could keep wearing when I’m out of work mode and into making dinner with my kids.
So today I thought I would dive deep into some of my favorite pieces that I have & how I wear them, as well as the things I love (with notes on how I think you might wear them!) available on their site and in stores right now. Reformation is a brand that I have shopped from and loved for years. I have many pieces from Reformation in my closet & regularly shop there. Additionally, I had the opportunity to try a few pieces without having to make a purchase this winter. I’ve indicated those pieces with a * below. Thanks to Reformation for the opportunity to try some of the winter collections before I bought things!
First up, are some of my favorite pieces.
My favorite jeans (basically, period) are the Cynthia High Rise Crop. They are high-waisted, true straight-leg jeans. These jeans just fit me so well (and jeans are hard for me - are they hard for everyone?). I love a high-rise - the higher the better, IMO. The crop, with a 27” inseam, is my ideal length (tbh I would do 27.5” but that is tough to find!) I am wearing my true size and they fit great. The Colorado wash, in my opinion, is perfection. I have a darker wash on my wishlist (thinking Lanier). They also come in a stretch fabric if you prefer.
I also LOVE the Wilder Wide Leg Jean* (Reformation generously sent these to me to try before having to pay for them myself). As a curvier gal, with wide hips and athletic thighs, the wide-leg trend is tough because nothing quite fits, but I loved how this pair fit through the hips and leg - not too tight, but also not baggy, and it feels like a nice, natural transition to a wide-leg. They’re super long on me, but I’m sort of into the giant cuff? And I love the way they look with a heel. For these, I had to go up a size, and probably could have the waist tailored a teeny bit (If I ever actually summon the energy to go to the tailor for that). I have heard great things about this pair, and they are next on my list to try.
I tried my first Reformation sweater in 2022, during their Cyber Sale (PS: Reformation doesn’t offer many promotions, and their Cyber Week one is not to be missed). I got the Fantino Cashmere Cardigan in Gossamer and it was a KILLER choice. I wear this sweater so much. I’m coveting another color (thinking Oatmeal?). Their cashmere is soft, high quality and made from mostly recycled materials. This sweater was a staple during my pregnancy as well - I wore it as a shirt, a sweater, a jacket - you name it, it is in heavy rotation.
This year during the sale I tried the Sam Cashmere Oversized Crew Sweater, which I adore. This invokes the Row sweater that is way out of my budget with its wide collar and thick cuffs. It’s so soft, and the perfect amount of oversize. If you aren’t a fan of wool, they also make this sweater in a cashmere-cotton blend, which looks like it would be very nice for all-year-round wear.
I tried the Jadey Cashmere Oversized V-Neck* which is also delectable. I don’t need another grey sweater right now, but if I did, I would be keeping it. I like that the v-neck isn’t too low!
I also tried the Gigi Regenerative Wool Cardigan* which I am planning to keep & buy for myself. This is a lovely, lady-jacket style cardigan that looks great buttoned all the way, with one or two buttons done, unbuttoned, or over your shoulders. It’s a perfect piece - I’ve worn it to work when I needed to be dressed up, for a more casual workday, and also on the weekends - a highly versatile piece that meets my wardrobe needs. The fit is also really nice - relaxed, but not too boxy.
Great Shirts & Tees
I live for a great button-down, and I am obsessed with the Will Oversized Shirt* - the fabric is not too stiff, but still substantial, the length is great to wear tucked or untucked (maybe even as a cover-up), and I love the stripes!
The search for the perfect tee never ends, and I like the Classic Crew tee - nice thickness, nice length.
And everything on my wishlist (if money were no object, you know)
You can find all the pieces highlighted in this post on my ShopMy page.
Sienna Oversized Cotton V-Neck - Never, ever met a stripe I didn’t like, and this one is no different. Perfect for warmer weather, and beach nights, especially.
Charlotte Cotton Cardigan - I remain obsessed with cute little cardigans because they are the perfect piece to reach for when you want to feel ladylike, chic, and put-together, without needing to think a lot about pulling together a full outfit. This has matching shorts which is just beyond.
Lake Flat Sandal - A minimalist black sandal will work with (almost!) everything in your closet, and this pair is perfect!
Denim Mini Dress - This is screaming Sophie Richie vibes, and I love it! Picturing wearing it also with white sneakers (keds???) and a baseball cap!
Mille Lattice Sandal - Another great simple sandal that you can wear for every occasion.
Baela Midi Dress - If you normally gravitate towards black dresses, then this navy beauty might be a fun departure for you!
Aubree Linen Dress - A mini isn’t always practical for my life (pretty hard to sit on the ground with kids while wearing a mini, you know?), but it is my favorite. This is so sweet. Would be great if you have a warm trip coming up!
Small Vittoria Tote - Such a cute bag - I love a chocolate brown suede bag!
Moya Linen Two Piece - I shared this on my Instagram stories recently when someone asked for a chic work cocktail party look. This is so interesting, in an easy-to-wear color (at least, for me - it also comes in white!). You could add a skinny belt, you could wear it with flats, you could wear the skirt with a white button-down or simple tee, or you could wear the top with linen pants or jeans.
Kensington Trench - A trench coat for spring? Nothing groundbreaking here, but still, we are going to see trenches everywhere as the weather starts to warm up a bit - I like this take - especially the wide belt!
Iva Dress - This is a fab work and personal dress - you could wear it for any work event, even with a blazer or jacket into the office, and also wear it on date night, or make it more casual with sneakers for a weekend look.
Frances Two Piece - I have a black cropped tank that I wear with high-waisted gauze pants ALL THE TIME, and it feels very much like this set. Dress up or down, and feel amazing without having to think about it much at all.
Linen Shirt & Shorts - This set is divine. Wear it together when the weather is warmer, wear it as separates, dressed up, or as casually as over a bathing suit!
Vea Dress - This is hot as hell.
Slouchy Jeans - I want to try a slouchy jean, but everywhere I look they are extremely low-rise, so I’m very into the idea of being able to wear a high-rise slouchy jean!
Silviana Clutch - The little handle on this makes it so interesting and also easy to carry!
Larsen Linen Jacket - A lovely take on the soft peplum/waistcoat look I have been seeing everywhere. I really love this a lot - and could be worn to work, out for a special occasion, and even really casually! So ladylike and feminine!
Miller Knit Top - Another great knit shirt, that just is a step up from a simple long-sleeve. It instantly elevates the simplest outfit, can be dressed up for a night out, could be worn to work, for a lunch or brunch out.
Nalini Cotton Sweater Tank - A step above a standard tank, this is a piece that can elevate your wardrobe. Wear it with jeans or shorts, but also wear it under blazers for work, or with silk pants and a kitten heel for date night.
Nadene Top - Great date night top!
Jessi Linen Dress - Another fab mini! Wear this and I will live vicariously through you!
Poppy Jacket - I first saw this in
‘s newsletter, and man, did it stop me in my tracks. I’m so obsessed. This is at the very top of my wishlist - I love it so much! Perfect little springtime layer!Colleen Top - UGH. I LOVE THIS! So ladylike! Dress it up with slim black or navy pants, or down with jeans. I would wear it with a silk maxi skirt for sure!
My lust list is extremely long, as you can see - but there is just so much goodness! I’d love to know - what are your favorite pieces from Reformation - am I missing anything? Is there anything on your wishlist?
Disclosure: Some of the products (denoted with a *) in this post were made available for me to try at no cost to myself. Thanks to Reformation for letting me try a few pieces from their collection before buying.
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All products highlighted are chosen by me, and some may be affiliate links, which means I make a small commission if you purchase through my link, at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!
Reformation will always hold a special place in my heart! And @Hunter Harris’ post on Hung Up about their copy made me cry from laughing!!
I have to confess I bought the Fantino in Oatmeal last Black Friday on your rec and you're absolutely right about what a workhorse it is. Figuring out the multipurpose wardrobe for kids/work/life has been very trial and error for me, but that one was a great addition!