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    9 Life-Changing Things To Add To Your Closet ASAP

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

    Elizabeth Lilly
    by Elizabeth Lilly

    BuzzFeed Staff

    1. A circle purse with pom-poms and charm to effortlessly jazz up your neutral ensembles!

    Evan Han / BuzzFeed, ban.do

    This Ban.do circle purse is the cutest purse in existence. Fact. No ifs or "but this purse is—!" Just look at the pom-poms! Does your purse have pom-poms? If you answered no, then you lose. They also barely have any weight to them, just FYI, so it's not like they get in the way.

    It holds just the essentials: my phone, wallet, keys, and a few lipsticks. I have another circle purse, but this one is slightly smaller and better for going out. It's also the perfect color for an otherwise neutral outfit and adds just a lil' pep in my step as I roam around UChicago's campus being all nostalgic and shit. I also wore it during NYE festivities and it really complemented the ~night's mood~. I also love the long strap. It's simple, won't get caught on anything (I hate metal/chain straps), and I feel extra secure wearing it cross-body style and it's still long enough so it doesn't fall at a weird height, like my stomach.

    I'm just a big fan, what can I say? I usually lean toward neutral accessories, but I might have to start exploring more colorful options. Plus, the different textures (half leatherette and suede leather) makes the pink less in-your-face. Maybe that's just in my head, but I love it.—Sarah Han

    Get it from Ban.do for $75 (available in seven colors).

    2. A pair of truly high-waisted jeans, in case you've been on a quest for the real deal.

    Sarah Han / BuzzFeed

    High-waisted skinny jeans are one of those things that everyone wants to own but everyone struggles to find. You want at least one really good pair that you can wear every day, but it’s just about as easy as finding a Pokémon (i.e., almost impossible). Right?! It’s a sad, sad truth. HOWEVER! If you’ve clicked on this post, then you’re in luck. Let me introduce you to the Topshop Joni jeans.

    Okay, the reason I love these beyond belief is that they are genuinely high-waisted. And no, not high-rise...but high-waisted (because there is a difference!). These jeans go up right above my belly button and STAY THERE, meaning I don’t need to wear a belt to keep them from slipping down. They also come in different lengths, and as someone who prefers her jeans to hit right at the ankle, I always go with the 30" option. Plus, the material is pretty stiff denim, but it has just a ~hint~ of stretch that makes them comfy enough!

    My one complaint is that the black jeans ~do~ tend to fade after multiple washes. BUT! I’ve also washed them a million times, so that won’t stop me from buying more of these in the future. I already have these in light blue and black, but I MAY just purchase them in another color. Life is short, amirite? —AnaMaria Glavan

    Get them from Topshop for $65+ (available in sizes 24–36, lengths 30, 32, and 34, and six colors and styles).

    3. A cashmere boyfriend sweater that'll be the next best thing to staying under the covers when you have to look presentable in a frigid office.

    Maitland Quitmeyer / BuzzFeed

    Attention people who are always cold: You need this sweater. I am constantly peeved when I'm wearing an outfit I like but a freezing office stands in my way (looking at you, ridiculous summer air conditioning)! The only thing that helps is a nice grandpa-style cardigan, which adds a cozy but not heavy layer, without ruining the lines of your outfit.

    Enter this 100% cashmere option ~exclusively~ on Amazon. It comes in five colors (I chose a lovely charcoal gray, which IMO goes with lit'rally everything), is soft but not too delicate, and THE BEST PART? It has sizable pockets so you can tuck your hands inside. Or, if you're like me, a couple tissues in one pocket (hello year-round allergies) and a snack in the other. You can even keep one at your desk for freezing emergencies and one at home so you can wear it all day. It's a true classic, with slim sleeves but a boxier-cut torso (FYI I'm generally a size 2 or 4 and bought a size small for a looser look). It's not too bulky, which makes it perfect for year-round use — even on the hottest day in August, it would look totally normal over a light sundress. I've worn it fairly regularly for several months now, and it has not started to pill at all...which honestly shocks me. And for 100% cashmere, the price is great! —Maitland Quitmeyer

    Get it from Amazon for $79 (available in sizes XS–S and in five colors). Note: You have to be a Prime member to buy.

    4. A pair of velvet platform Oxfords, which upgrade the classic shoe with a touch of both playfulness and luxe — and can go with just about anything.

    Emmy Favilla / BuzzFeed

    I have never been one to particularly jump aboard the trend train when it comes to what I wear, so when I learned that velvet was A Thing as of late, I was unfazed. I've been pretty set in my sartorial ways for the greater part of the past decade, aka since I discovered that there are just a handful of items that I consider to suit my style well — namely lots of black and neutral-colored shapeless dresses, jeans and T-shirts, lace-up boots, sneakers, and clunky platforms when I decide to add a heel to my look. And then I laid eyes on these velvet Oxford platforms platforms from Urban Outfitters that basically fit all my criteria for footwear.

    I never quite learned how to walk well in heels, but with these sturdy shoes, it's a nonissue. Their 1.5-inch platform makes the chunky 3-inch heel easy breezy to run around New York City in for hours — and I say this as a person who wears a heel maaaaybe twice a month, but more like once. The breaking-in period was forgettable (no blisters or blood to be seen, hooray), and they're such a cute, slightly gothy spin on the classic Oxford that I can make work with basically any outfit in my closet autumn through spring, from casual work outfits to more dressed-up looks. It has a super-rounded toe, which I love, and they just feel *so* nice to the touch. Dammit, velvet trend. You got me. —Emmy Favilla

    Get them from Urban Outfitters on sale for $49 (available in sizes 7–10).

    Want to see more shoes we've tried and we love? Check out our picks for the best everyday sneakers on BuzzFeed Reviews!

    5. A robe-ish midi dress and velvet sock boots that’ll help you look dressed up without feeling like you’re in sausage casing balancing on toothpicks.

    Elizabeth Lilly / BuzzFeed

    The problem with writing about shopping (like I do) is that I find hundreds of things I want and need, but I’m not made of money! Yet I’m also extremely careful with what I do buy when I make a purchase — or request a gift. So when I eyed this Who What Wear dress in my colleague’s write-up on comfy dresses (#20 here), I requested it from my mom for Christmas. She delivered in the color black and I knew it’d make a great contender for a fancy event with its silky texture, long silhouette, and lace detailing.

    Cue an alumni masquerade event with ~black tie~ dress attire. I threw together an outfit that morning (after confirming only the night before on a group text that my friends *did* indeed purchase tickets for the event) consisting of said dress, an iridescent Rebecca Minkoff purse (similar to this), these ASOS velvet sock boots, and a Party City mask I bought two hours before the shindig. I was showered with compliments on my dress! And not just because my friends are nice and love me! It looked lovely in pics — despite the event’s strange lighting (hence the office bathroom pics) — and I know I can style it differently to wear to work and life in general. Plus, it’s lightweight enough that I’m going to get some serious transitional seasonal dressing out of it, sans tights. It's also available in a pretty pink or deep blue color in case you don't dress for a funeral like I do 24/7.—Elizabeth Lilly

    Get the dress from Target for $36.99 (available in sizes XS–2XL and in black, pink, and blue), boots from Asos for $30.50 (available in sizes 4–7, 8, 10), and mask from Party City for $9.99.

    6. A Hogwarts bracelet to teach you things worth knowing and bring back what you’ve forgot.

    Katy Herman / BuzzFeed

    I have long been a fan of Alex and Ani’s signature stackable bangles. I love the way that they can expand and contract to fit your wrist and over your hand without any pinching or squeezing, and how after tons of wear the sturdy wire kind of molds to the shape of your wrist. I mix up my jewelry every day and I love colorful statement pieces, but I always have at least one of these simple, personal bangles that represents something or someone important to me on my left wrist.

    If there’s one thing I love more than jewelry, it’s Harry Potter. So obviously, I was super excited when I heard about Alex and Ani’s HP-inspired line, and even more excited when my bestie got me the Hogwarts crest bracelet for my birthday. In addition to all the things I love about Alex and Ani pieces, I’m so into the mixed metals on this one. I wear gold and silver about the same amount, and although I sometimes wear them together, I try not to (I’m almost as obsessive about fashion as I am about the boy who lived). The-two toned charm means this baby works with both and is perfect to wear every day. The charm is also really detailed — you can clearly see the lion, the snake, the eagle, and the badger (yaaasssss Hufflepuff) etched into the crest, which I love. I am constantly walking the line between a desire to wear super-trendy, fashiony stuff and an urge to build an entire wardrobe out of fandom gear. This bracelet, like my spirit, has a little bit of both vibes. —Katy Herman

    Get it from Amazon or Nordstrom for $28.

    7. A pair of comfortable moisture-wicking leggings that feel supportive and also come with a self-hem feature for a customizable length.

    Emmy Favilla / BuzzFeed

    If I could live in leggings my entire life, I would. But for now, I've settled for living in leggings on the weekend only, and it's been working out pretty great. I have an entire drawer filled to the brim with leggings of various lengths and materials, and when I tried on this pair from Free People, I fell in love immediately and did in fact wear them all weekend long. They're completely opaque, so I didn't have to feel paranoid about wearing them while I ran my errands or when I wore them to the gym; your underwear color is a secret that's safe with these guys.

    They're high-waisted and feel really supportive and fit snugly, which I prefer — especially for workout gear (I'm either a size small or medium in leggings and the medium fit me perfectly). The waistband seems sturdy and like it won't stretch out anytime soon, and the moisture-wicking fabric means that you can sweat it all out during a workout without having to worry about getting irritated or itchy, if you're sensitive to that. It also means they dry super quickly, as I observed firsthand when I had to dab a stain on the ankle with soap and water.

    They also come with a nifty self-hem feature: three guided lines you can use to cut if you prefer a shorter length. Note that by default they may not be full-length leggings for those on the taller side, if you're looking for ankle coverage for everyday wear in chillier weather. I'm nearly 5'8", and they leave about an inch and a half of skin between their hem and my ankle socks. They're my new go-to, and once you try them on, you might find yourself feeling the same! —Emmy Favilla

    Get them from Free People for $98 (available in sizes XS–L, and in blue, black, red, gray, and purple).

    8. A totally waterproof ski jacket, which may just help you fend off snow banks when you're hitting the slopes. Maybe.

    Adrianna Licitra / BuzzFeed, Superdry

    When my friends decided to take a ski trip for New Year’s Eve I was super nervous. Not just because my first and only ski experience at age 9 was extremely traumatic (we’re talking Annaliese-from-The Bachelor-bumper-car traumatic), but also because I had absolutely NOTHING to wear! I hate going into a new situation and looking like a newb. I knew I’d probably spend 98% of the trip on my ass in the snow, but I wanted to look good doing it. I also didn’t want to spend a million dollars because it could be another 15 years before I ever go skiing again.

    I did a ton of research looking for a great ski jacket and finally found one that checked all the boxes: the white Glacier Biker jacket by SuperDry. First and foremost, this jacket is totally waterproof, so it didn’t matter when I wiped out into huge snow banks. The snow rolled right off my jacket and I stayed dry and warm! It also has cuffed sleeves so the snow never got up into my arms. The fur hood is really cute and it’s also removable; if you fall a lot, like I did, you’ll want to take it off so it doesn’t get frozen and clumpy, although once it thawed out it went right back to being fluffy and soft. There are a few sleek and discrete pockets where you can keep things like your phone, cards, and money. The jacket also has reflective trim on both sides, which I imagine would be really helpful if you stay on the slopes into the night (which I DID NOT!).

    Ultimately, this jacket was a lifesaver. It totally did its job by keeping me dry and warm and also being really stylish. I know I made a fool of myself by falling every 10 seconds, but at least I fell with confidence in my SuperDry jacket. I’ve also been wearing it now that I’m back to my real life on the (semi-) safe, (sort of) level, (mostly) snow-free streets of NYC. —Adrianna Licitra

    Get it from SuperDry for $104.65 (available in sizes M–XL and in white, black, khaki, and berry).

    9. And a pair of high-waisted jeggings with plenty of wiggle room for dancing, GIFs, and general ~shenanigans~.

    Maitland Quitmeyer / BuzzFeed

    I know that I'm not alone when I say I hate jeans shopping. I'm more of a skirts or dresses person — or let's be real, I'm a black legging–pants person. I only have one other pair of jeans I *ever* wear, so when I popped into American Eagle and brought several pairs into the fitting room (mostly against my better judgment), I was blown away by their "super high-waisted" jeggings. They are for real SUPER high-waisted — like, actually-hit-above-my-belly-button high-waisted. TL;DR: I found love (amazing jeans) in a hopeless place (the denim department fitting room), and I want to shout it from the rooftops.

    These babies are snug and a not-too-spandexy kind of stretchy. Made of a thick cotton-based denim, they feel way more like jeans than jeggings, so I absolutely have to do the ~skinny jeans dance~ to get them on. But when they're *actually on*, they mooooove with you and you can really dance in them! So comfy! They are super skinny through the ankle, hug in the right places without stretching out, and they even lift your booty up — 🙌. My waist-to-hips ratio (smaller waist, bigger hips) usually makes finding well-fitting jeans hard, but these never gap at the waist or back and don't get stretched out between wears (because who remembers to wash their jeans that often, amirite?).

    As for length, I'm 5'4" and had to cuff the regular ones up (I happen to like the way a little cuff looks). If I wanted to wear them uncuffed, my second pair (duh, I'm totally buying another pair) would have to be the short inseam. But they offer FOUR length options, so you're bound to find the right ones for you. The rips in the knees are subtle — they don't really show when you're standing straight up — so they add a nice dose of toughness to a regular outfit without feeling like totally destroyed jeans. I kind of can't stop wearing these: to a recent birthday party (my bestie complimented my butt in these when I was waiting for my drink at the bar), out to a large lunch with my parents (the cut-in waist did not interfere with my eating capacity), or just on any old day with a baggy tee tucked in. Basically listen to Maitland: Buy these jeans and say hello to effortless dressing. —Maitland Quitmeyer

    Get them from American Eagle for $41.21 (available in sizes 00–20 and in short, regular, long, and X-long lengths).

    You and your friend celebrating your new fashion find:

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

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