7 Game-Changing Things You'll Totally Want To Add To Your Wardrobe

Tried, tested, and worn by BuzzFeed editors and writers!

This post features a mix of items that we purchased with our own money and those that were provided to us at no cost for the sake of review. (But! We’re under no obligation to write a review of those things, let alone a positive review.)

1. A fish-covered shift dress for bold dressers fishing for compliments.

Bek O'Connell/BuzzFeed

I've been buying most of my clothes on Amazon these days, and my wardrobe has never been better — or weirder. Take, for example, my prized fish dress. This amazing shift dress is made with thick material, has a zipper on the back, sports a mini turtleneck, and, oh yeah, is covered in tuna, flounder, and porgy (maybe, I'm not a fish scientist).

The material is not cotton — it's closer to an almost swimsuit material (possibly nylon?) — but it's soft without being shiny or cheap-looking. It's mostly shapeless (score!) but does flare out a little toward the bottom, which is nice. It's a tiny bit short, so if you're on the taller side, you might want to size up. Paired with tights and a sweater, it's the perfect transitional-weather dress. I like to wear this on days when I'm OK with people doing a double-take, which happens a lot. It's not every day you ~sea~ someone covered in fish. —Bek O'Connell

Get it from Amazon for $18.99 (available in sizes S–XL).

2. A fuzzy jacket worthy of your outfit rotation when it's a bit chilly out.

Jessica Seib / BuzzFeed

When you live in a place that feels like it has nine months of winter, it’s all the more important to have an arsenal of coats in your wardrobe — and I actually found this gem while perusing through a post on BuzzFeed. I clicked on the furry coat out of sheer curiosity and seriously thought it was a site glitch when the price shown was $19.99. Naturally, I had to purchase.

I had minimal expectations for quality, given its price tag, but was pleasantly surprised when the coat arrived. I purchased a large as I had *intended* for it to be a gift, but I tried it on for fun when it arrived and, well...it’s been hanging in my closet ever since. This jacket is lightweight and SUPER cute. It’s definitely not meant to keep you warm in the middle of a Nor’easter, but it’s perfect for layering or going out when you don't want to wear anything too heavy. If you’re young and broke like me, this is definitely a closet essential. —Jessica Seib

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in sizes S–XL and in black and pink).

3. A pair of water-resistant boots to get you through rainy season and then festival season and then other seasons.

Natalie Brown / BuzzFeed, Elizabeth Lilly / BuzzFeed

I'm resistant to weatherproof shoes, which is why on many wet days this winter I've defiantly worn these velvet ankle booties. But there are some days — like when your office emails you the day before to say it's OK to work from home if you're snowed in tomorrow — when you simply have to leave the velvet boots at home. (BTW, for *legit* snow shoes, these snow boots that I reviewed are cheap and great.) So as a North Carolinian who now lives in NYC, determined to actually go into the office to prove something to nobody in particular, I slipped on my water-resistant Palladium boots over my black jeans and went into work on a day when the powers that be said we could work from home.

These men's boots look rugged AF in a grungy street-style way — which is a way I like very much! I've even worn them with my Morticia-ish midi black dress with a lace-up V-neck (it's only medium scandalous) and they worked in a surprising way. The rubber tongue and waterproof sole make stomping through all kinds of murky puddles almost fun. Even the puddles that *look* like they're a few inches deep but then you step into them and they reach up past the sole of your boot. Sigh. I'm sure these are also excellent for things like actual hiking (which I don't do, sorry every dude on Bumble who read Into the Wild in middle school) or muddy music festivals (which I've avoided for the past few years in my old age). For now these look pretty great and keep my feet dry and safe from putrid city puddles, which, tbh, are more terrifying than the huge rats. —Elizabeth Lilly

Get them from Amazon for $35.02+ (available in men's sizes 8, 8.5, 10–11, and in green and black), Jet for $49.99 (sizes 7–12, in black), 6pm for $49.99 (sizes 4–13, in black), or Walmart for $64.97 (sizes 7–14, in black).

4. A fit-and-flare dress that's the most perfect fit-and-flare dress in the history of the world.

Katy Herman / BuzzFeed

The fit-and-flare dress, when done right, may be one of the most perfect fashion inventions of all time. It looks great on so many body types, the swingy skirt is feminine and comfortable, and the fitted bodice makes me feel oh-so confident. I own a lot of these kinds of dresses; you could call me a connoisseur. When I tried on this Modcloth number, I was floored by how well it fit. The straps are the perfect length and thickness, so they don't slide off my shoulders. The scoop neck is Goldilocks-worthy: not too low-cut, not so high that it can't show off a necklace or collar, but just right. The waist doesn't have any stretch, so I ordered a large (I'm a size 8 and usually on the cusp of medium and large in dresses), and it's not constricting at all. The only complaint I could possibly think of is that the waist hits a teeny bit lower than I'd like, but it's probably because of the larger size. I'm glad I sized up, though, because it's so comfy and now I have room to layer.

Which brings me to the one thing about this dress that's better than the fit: the styling versatility. I'd been wanting a sleeveless plaid number for a while, because I wanted to fulfill my print-mixing dreams by layering it over a floral button-down (I have yet to try out that combo IRL). My style is bold and quirky and can be super girly or edgy and rock 'n' roll, depending on my mood. This dress can do it all. It's a classic plaid print that plays well with other patterns (even leopard — trust me). I love it with combat boots and tights or under a faux leather jacket. Basically every piece of jewelry I own, from statement necklaces to eccentric brooches, will give this a different, totally fabulous twist. I have tons more ideas for styling this, from popping it over more blouses to topping it with a jean jacket. Yes, it's a patterned dress, but in my mind it's a blank canvas of fashion possibility. —KatyHerman

Get it from ModCloth for $79 (available in four prints and in sizes XXS–4X).

5. A stretchy athleisure moto jacket you could wear 24/7.

Maitland Quitmeyer / BuzzFeed

Although I'm a born-and-bred East Coaster, when I was 13 my family moved to Minnesota, where I lived until I came back to New York for college. The resulting side effects of my five years there are occasionally saying "boat" with an extremely long "o," a belief that Midwestern baked goods are the best, and a deep and abiding love for all things Target. On a recent visit there, I went on a bordering-on-absurd shopping spree, stocking up on lovely bralettes for myself (and NY friends), deciding whether to buy a seventh (yes, seventh) pair of my very favorite Target leggings, and filling my cart with inexpensive and fashionable finds. One of the best things I bought is this JoyLab motorcycle jacket, which is almost certain to become a spring staple.

If you're unfamiliar with JoyLab, it's Target's line of athletic and athleisure wear that's frankly almost TOO cute to get sweaty. This jacket combines a motorcycle-style leather-jacket look with the comfort and ease of a FOUR-WAY STRETCH MATERIAL. That's seriously stretchy. April in New York (and in most places, tbh) means you're never quite comfortable — you're chilled outside, hot inside, and there's always a chance it's going to rain. That's why this is the PERFECT SPRING JACKET. It has the same cool factor as a leather jacket, but doesn't overheat you. Plus, unlike real leather, this bb will be A-OK if it spontaneously starts to rain. Paired with a poofy midi skirt, a tee, and booties (aka what I'm wearing in these photos), it makes for perfect all-day-in-the-office attire. And just like those expensive and classic black leather jackets, this'll go with *everything*. —Maitland Quitmeyer

Get it from Target for $44.99 (available in sizes XS–XXL and in sizes 1X–4X for $46.99).

6. A thermal PJ set can be your millionth excuse to stay in this weekend.

Elena Garcia / BuzzFeed

I spend WAY too much time lounging around — and I regret nothing. Lazy days filled with Netflix and PJs are what life should be! So when I decide to splurge, I tend to so on the things that promote this kind of lifestyle. Lately, I’ve been really into “nicer” pajama options, and figure if I’m going to do nothing all damn day, maybe feeling cute will make me feel better about it. Also, like, isn’t lounging and sleeping in the lap of luxury pretty much #goals? I mean, don’t get me wrong, there is ALWAYS a time and a place for my 10-year-old, stain-riddled sweatpants, but every once in a while, I like to step up my doing-nothing-wear and this thermal Splendid pajama set helps me do just that.

They keep me nice and cozy without making me feel too warm (I’m a hot sleeper and do not need to be sweating the night away). They also have an ADORABLE star print that I am obsessed with! Honestly, it’s just so cute that I will probably wear the top out — in public. The best (and most necessayr) part is that you can throw them in the machine to wash! Like, they don’t require any special care at all! Love these SO much! —Elena Garcia

Get them from Splendid for $88 (available in two patterns and in sizes XS–L).

7. A merino wool hoodie thin enough for spring but warm enough for chilly bike rides.

Francine Hendrickson / BuzzFeed

I love spring only because it is the perfect season for hoodies. But in an effort to not have my entire wardrobe consist of hoodies this spring (my dream, but I don’t have the space for it), I tried a thin Showers Pass bamboo merino wool hoodie. I was hoping it would give me the same warmth as a ~regular~ hoodie but without the bulk, and the navy color is one of the main shades in my spring capsule wardrobe because it goes with everything! I was also hoping this hoodie would be the perfect layer to wear while finally riding my bike, because although it seems we won’t get another bomb cyclone, it's still been pretty chilly in NYC.

This hoodie turned out to be everything I was hoping it would be. I generally get cold easily, so it's a good layer to wear around the house, or in the office when I feel chilly. And I finally got to test it on my bike last weekend! I was able to go out for a ride in a turtleneck and the hoodie in the 40(ish)-degree weather, and I stayed warm without wearing any unnecessary bulk. It also seems the bamboo in this fabric helped keep me dry, because usually any form of exercise turns me into a sweaty sweat monster, but no such thing happened on my ride.

The hoodie has a big zippered pocket in the front, which is perfect for stashing things without worrying they'll fall out. It has a slim fit, which helps keep in body heat (I am 5’8” and the medium fits me well). In terms of the look, I love that this is a pullover but has a half zipper, to give the hoodie some versatility when building an outfit. I also like the white drawstrings, for some color contrast. This is definitely the most practical hoodie I own, and I’ll be using it on many future bike rides and outdoor adventures. I recommend it to other cyclists, as well as anyone who is looking for a thin but warm layer to help guide you through weird transitional winter/spring times. —Francine Hendrickson

Get it from Showers Pass for $129 (available in sizes S–2XL and in navy and gray).

Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? Check out all of BuzzFeed’s gift guides!

Allison Krausman / BuzzFeed