151/ Breaking Down My Best & Only
When and why I go low vs. high + other factors I take into consideration.
Earlier this week,
and I tackled this reader question in a hopefully informative, if somewhat silly (!), Substack Live:“If I could only have one, I’d get....” Doesn’t matter if it’s high or low end so long as you’re truthful! The plethora of brands and recommendations can be overwhelming on Substack… I’m sitting here thinking that I’m sick of multiples, over-consuming and I just want to get the best version of a simple thing. Obviously this changes a bit on different bodies, but your styling is chic and your mix of pricey and affordable is realistic. That said, if everything is pricey in your “If I could only have one” I want to hear those without filter!
Our overzealous time-keeper (my son) made sure we kept the Live short and succinct, so today I’m diving deeper into the factors I considered when arriving at my Best & Only. Why did I choose the pieces I did? When do I go high vs. low? Where do I invest?
As I was working through my thought process behind each piece, I was essentially going through the questions I’d ask myself if I was developing a foundational wardrobe. I also referred to the Five Questions I Ask Myself Before Buying Anything. As I weigh the various considerations, I hope you’ll find value in my analysis as you apply it to your own Best & Onlys!
Basic Tee
I chose COS’ mens brushed cotton tee. Why?
I rarely wear fitted tees (other than tanks in the summer) while oversized tees are not always practical for layering. The COS tee is not too big, not too small, and just relaxed enough to be the most versatile basic tee for me.
I like its double layered, polished, unribbed, crewneck collar.
It’s fully opaque. Maybe if I lived year round in a warmer climate, I wouldn’t feel this way, but I loathe sheer-ish, semi-opaque tees! They feel too casual for me.
I love the feel of the brushed cotton: like a soft felt and even though I rarely use it, like my laundry after using fabric softener. (Two words: laundry balls.) After many washes, it’s still reasonably soft, unlike a lot of tees that feel thinned out and kind of crispy (?) — other COS tees included.
Why a US$39 mass-produced tee and not something higher-end or finely crafted?