6 Timeless Basics My Niece, Sisters, Mom, and I All Appreciate

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(Image credit: @nicoleakhtarzad)

In my family, there happen to be a lot of women. My mom, for one, has two sisters, three daughters, and even three granddaughters already, and she's not even 60 yet. Growing up, this definitely had its perks, the most relevant of which being that there was always someone to borrow something to wear from. More recently, the dynamic has evolved on a deeper level and manifested itself into a strong bond among women spanning many decades, with fashion being just one of many things we have in common.

Since fashion is the main focus of this site (and my job), let's dive into that some more. Sure, my mom's not necessarily interested in dressing like a TikToker, and my 12-year-old niece has probably never clicked on the suiting tab of her favorite online shop, but among all of us and despite our ages, there are basic essentials we all appreciate and acknowledge as being a crucial part of a well-balanced wardrobe. What are they? Just keep scrolling to find out and to shop our picks for each. 

Button-Downs

Given that there are so many ways to style them, it's no wonder women of all ages can appreciate the classic button-down. While my mom opts for a buttoned-and-tucked situation, my niece and I prefer to wear them open and layered.

My pick:

My mom's pick:

Sister #1's pick:

Sister #2's pick:

My niece's pick:

Shoulder Bags

With so many options to choose from at any budget, the shoulder bag is really a cross-generational staple and, to be honest, I'd be happy with any of the below.

My pick:

My mom's pick:

Sister #1's pick:

Sister #2's pick:

My niece's pick:

Cardigans

I don't know where my wardrobe would be right now if cardigans didn't come back in such a major way over the last few years. Naturally, my squad agrees.

My pick:

My mom's pick:

Sister #1's pick:

Sister #2's pick:

My niece's pick:

White Sneakers

Want to feel casual but still polished? Throw on a clean pair of white sneakers with jeans and a blouse. Want to look cool and low-key? Pair white sneakers with your favorite trendy dress. 

My pick:

My mom's pick:

Sister #1's pick:

Sister #2's pick:

My niece's pick:

Straight-Leg Jeans

After polling the group, we all unanimously agreed that straight-leg jeans are the style to wear right now. Whether you opt for longer, shorter, dark wash, light, or distressed is up to you.

My pick:

My mom's pick:

Sister #1's pick:

Sister #2's pick:

My niece's pick:

Solid Tees

It goes without saying, but none of us could get dressed on a day-to-day basis without an arsenal of basic white and black tees. 

My pick:

My mom's pick:

Sister #1's pick:

Sister #2's pick:

My niece's pick:

Next: 33 Cheap Finds You'll Wear This Summer, Fall, and Beyond

Editor-at-Large

Since starting as an intern back in 2013, Nicole Akhtarzad Eshaghpour has held several roles here atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , and she is currently Editor-at-Large. It was a less expected route, seeing as she was graduating from business school at USC when this all began, but it has turned out to be the best one for her. Fast-forward to 2024, and she's moved to NYC from her hometown of Beverly Hills and spends her workdays a little differently from when she was an intern starting out. Currently, she focuses on a weekly mélange of shopping content. As far as her personal style goes, she's largely drawn to classic pieces and neutral basics but will always make an exception for something colorful, printed, or bejeweled as long as it's deemed worthy enough. After all, the only thing she loves more than a good party is dressing up for one. On weekdays, she can usually be found at home eating something delicious for dinner and trying to force her husband to watch Summer House.