What does looking “put together” really mean? It could mean a lot of things. Maybe it’s a clean, even manicure. An ability to walk in heels effortlessly without even one fumble. A sleek and stylish hairdo that somehow doesn’t get in your face while you're walking down the street.

These are the things that make us feel a bit more together and a little more near 100%, instead of feeling like our whole life is a never-ending loading screen (which it is). And even though I’m getting better at piecing myself together as I settle into adulthood, I’ve also been coming to terms with the fact that I might be doomed to be a perpetual mess my whole life. Don’t believe me? You see the loafers I’m wearing in the above photos? Yeah - one of them completely fell apart later in the day. It’s like, the first day all week I wore something that made me feel crisp, in-control and put together, and the bottom just tears off. Go figure.

This is all fine though. Really.

But needless to say, that’s one of the many things I love about fashion — as much as it lets you express your truth, it also lets you mask the things you’re self-conscious about. And yes, I know, we should all be living our truth 24/7, being authentic, yada, yada yada. But being a human every day is hard, and so there’s no shame to feel close to the things that simply make you seem like you have it all together, while you’re figuring things out.

Anyway, in terms of wardrobe, I’m talking about the items in your closet that are your ride or die. The ones that are just it, and immediately complete a look. You could call them the “aha!” item, or just the must-haves, the ones that put your brain at ease when you’re scrambling about what to wear and standing in the middle of a floor drowned in clothes. The final puzzle pieces. You get it.

Here’s my top 3, how I style them and where to get similar ones (I tried to include as many sustainable options as I could — if you have any more suggestions, feel free to comment below or DM me on the ‘gram! As always, I highly recommend just going on the hunt for something similar at your local thrift store :).

Feel free to also use this as a fall uniform essentials list as well.

Let’s get into it.

1. A Pair of Jeans You Can Live In

We all need a place to call home. And so does your booty! Right off the bat, one of my main requirements for this one is (that I doubt anyone will fight me on): high waisted. Also, high waisted. Oh! And, high waisted. What you want is a pair of jeans that feel like a denim-crafted hug around your hips. People all have their reasons for why they like high waisted jeans over ***GASPS*** low cut ones. Mine is pretty simple, when it comes to the bottom of my body (lower part? downstairs? basement quarters?), I need maximum comfort and dependability. This can either come to bagginess that is just right via a harem-pant situation OR a snug and form-fitting pair of high waisted jeans.

The best I’ve found so far has got to be my black Cigarette Jeans from Everlane, but I’m still on the hunt to even better options. A black pair can never do you wrong, but my goal is to have a blue and grey pair that can be interchanged based on the look I’m going for. Also, as my style evolves, so does my standard on what the perfect jean is, in terms of stretchiness, material, and cut.

Much like the search for truth, justice and the meaning of life, the hunt for the perfect high-waisted jean never truly ends, does it?

2. The Near-Perfect Jumpsuit

I say near-perfect because I’m the kind of woman who will always want options in my closet. So my goal is not so much to get the perfect jumpsuit, but the perfect collection of them. I.e., one for fall, one for spring, one for throwing onto your body after taking a dip in the pool (gosh, I miss summer already). Because they are just that good.

So as far as the Everyday Jumpsuit from Big Bud Press Jumpsuit goes, this one definitely hits the fall checkbox, probably the winter and I could probably even slip it on during the early spring.

Honestly, if I’d have to give a label for Most Feminist Outfit, it would be the utility jumpsuit (even historically, it makes sense). And that’s because; it’s quick, it’s fast, it’s practical. No worries about what you look like to the Man. Obviously, the most attractive thing about this piece is the extremely low effort it takes to wear. It almost surprised me when I put it on; Wait, I’m done? It felt empowering. It also felt like the fact that I spent a little less time figuring out my outfit, I had more time to be productive throughout the day.

I invested this baby towards the end of the summer, while already anticipating my fall wishlist. This brand has been on my mind for a while because it’s sustainable, celebrates unisex designs and has pretty inclusive sizing. My one big piece of advice is to make sure you measure yourself before purchasing online! It’ll differ on how it feels based on the fit you wanted. I originally thought I wanted a medium, but surprisingly had to size down to a small. But kudos to them to being super understanding and shipping me a replacement really quick!

3. A Good, Sharp Blazer

A blazer is the perfect piece of clothing that no matter what, makes me feel more in control of my life. I don’t think anything does the trick as quickly or as smoothly.

I remember purchasing my first one from Target before starting my first internship in my Junior year of college. It felt so right putting it on and made me feel much more mature. Since then, I’ve basically built up a full-on blazer collection and have been trying to push myself out of my comfort zone on how to wear them.

My number one rule when finding a blazer? Make sure that when you throw it on, it can make any outfit look good. No, I mean it. Put on the frumpiest outfit you can find, throw it on and if it can help somehow make it look better and not scare off the drug store cashier when you go in to by your Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, that’s a winner. What I basically mean is, a blazer has that kind of power, but only if you find one that makes you feel great based on the cut, length, and pattern you want. Might I recommend getting both a wild card blazer (something that is more of a statement) and a minimalist one (for the every-day, chic look)?

At this point, I’ve acquired quite a collection of blazers ranging from a bright green linen one to a simple grid pattern. So, therefore, it can handle a brightly colored sweater or turtleneck underneath. I like my blazer to be able to roll with the punches. And I still have my navy blue Internship Blazer for the basic days that I will always keep around (it makes me feel like I’m embodying AOC energy)

My whole collection of blazers have all been curated from thrift stores, so I think that’s the best way to go because those places are goldmines. But you can find them almost anywhere, but here’s some I located for you:

This Amazing Jumpsuit and Other Things That Make Me Feel Put Together

1. A Pair of Jeans You Can Live In

2. The Near-Perfect Jumpsuit

3. A Good, Sharp Blazer

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