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My collection of basics are my biggest wardrobe heroes. I'm not a neutral dresser nor minimalist in any way shape or form, but my style leans very casual. Polished, but casual.

So my white T-shirts get a major workout. My cashmere knits are put to use year round. My cotton pants are what I reach for almost daily.

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To surmise, these pieces are the building blocks for every outfit.

They become the foundation of a great wardrobe and having basics you love creates the ease we're all looking for when getting dressed. They deliver the utmost comfort whilst providing functionality.

A quick scroll through my Instagram and you'll see basics feature in almost every outfit.

Finding the right basics can take years of searching.

Once I find 'the one', I buy it over and over again. There are a few key criteria that must be met:

• Cut — I'm particular about how the piece sits on my body, what's the shoulder/arm length, is it cropped? Oversized? Given we all have different bodies and preferences — what works for me, might not work for you, making the hunt for 'the one' a personal endeavour.

• Quality/Longevity — how is the piece constructed? Can it withstand being washed and worn repetitively? Am I confident I'll be able to wear it for years to come? I want pieces that will get better over time.

• Material — natural fibres like cotton, silk, wool, cashmere, linen are a must as these are pieces that will be worn and washed constantly. Not only do natural fibres feel nicer on the body (thanks to the breathability they offers, softness etc), these materials are better for the environment - both in how they're produced and how they biodegrade.

So here are some of my favourite basic discoveries.

Where to shop basics: White T-shirts, knitwear, white shirts and more.

Buddy.

I came across New Zealand based brand, Buddy at PDA Shop in Fitzroy, Melbourne (their only Australian stockist). From the second I touched the Buddy pieces, I was struck by how beautiful the quality was.

The pieces are made from 55% hemp and 45% cotton. Hemp is one of the strongest natural fibres (estimated to be up to three times stronger than cotton), hemp garments are long-lasting, they hold shape (won't stretch over time), softens with use, it's antimicrobial, has great breathability and thermoregulation.

Every item I felt had a nice weight to them — thick but not too thick and I loved the sturdy, tall collars. I tried on a long sleeve white top and cosy yellow shorts. The top reminded me of a vintage long sleeve I found in LA that I wear constantly and I've always wanted more of — which makes sense as Buddy's cuts are vintage inspired.

Further research on their website led me to discover they make all their pieces in a variety of cuts; long sleeve, short sleeve, baby tees etc and they make them in a variety of excellent colours. I went on to buy the long sleeves in a bunch more colours.

COS.

This is my perfect white tshirt. It's not that revolutionary to recommend COS but this specific style must be mentioned.

I discovered this style a few years ago and never looked back. I buy them in a variety of sizes — S, M and L — pending how I want to wear them, under knits, on their own etc.

The cut sits perfectly with jeans — so no tuck is needed, the collar is tall, it's made with heavyweight 100% organic-cotton and shaped for a neat fit that has slight definition. It costs $65 which I think is pretty good in the tshirt game and it comes in plenty of colours!

COS also make knitwear I love, like this 100% merino wool v-neck knit (it's $159).

Another go-to in this realm is of course Uniqlo. Good cashmere for low cost, tshirts of course and I'm a big fan of their jackets and blousons ( like this one I bought a few years ago!). Don't sleep on the men's stuff either; that's where I look for outerwear.

And then there's Lululemon, who make my favourite exercise leggings (I love these ones and these). I've tried so many brands and to me, these are the most comfortable. I recently got this grey zip hoodie from Lulu and if it wasn't currently summer in Australia I'd be wearing it every single day.

Deiji Studios.

I've really gravitated to Byron Bay based brand Deiji Studios in the last few years. They make simple designs with a twist that end up becoming staple pieces for my everyday wardrobe. Their focus is on natural fibres, a mostly neutral colour palette with the occasional subtle print (I love their chic floral linen bedding — I have this at home, very cottage core cutesy without being OTT).

Their pieces are what I'd classify as excellent home clothes, weekend clothes, perfect for travel, off-duty but elevated. Of course, their pieces can be dressed up for other occasions too. I wear these cotton pants constantly and am also a fan of these and these.

Another brand in similar Deiji vein is Juem. I bought these pants and shorts from Juem. I wear them around the house/to bed and love them! They make divine looking underwear/maternity bras too.

Bassike.

A go-to of mine for years, my closet is full of great basics from Bassike.

They were the first brand that introduced me to organic cotton and sustainable practices in fashion when I discovered them 15 or so years ago. Back then, I would save up my babysitting money to buy their T-shirts and cotton dresses. Their slouchy, oversized silhouettes and thin cotton pieces really spoke to me. Their brand identity felt like a breath of fresh air in the Australian fashion landscape.

Being introduced to Bassike's brand ethos kickstarted my preference to buy quality over quantity. I learnt that waiting and saving up for a quality piece felt so much better (in so many ways) than buying multiple cheaper pieces at once.

I've loved watching the brand evolve over the years and continue to deliver great basics, but also elevate their product offering.

They nail every category of basics in my opinion. Excellent denim, great cashmere, organic jersey, knitwear, tshirts, pants, skirts etc. If you're after a perfect second skin type basics, this is the place.

Maggie Marilyn.

One of my favourite brands, Maggie Marilyn has a dedicated basics range called 'Somewhere'.

In this range you'll find perfect baby tees, cashmere twin sets, cotton button down shirts, singlets, boxer shorts — the list goes on.

This range is full of the classics you'd expect but there's a touch of nostalgia, romance and play scattered within seasonal drops through the use of colour, design details like scalloping and the signature Maggie Marilyn logo.

Friends With Frank — love this Melbourne based brand. They make fantastic and fun wardrobe staples. Assembly Label is one I'm always impressed with the quality of and the price point attached. They make great cashmere for around the $200 mark. Currently they're selling this cotton cashmere knit for $100 and the matching pants for $120 — this would be so nice to travel in.

Flore Flore.

A beloved brand in fashion crowds, I love Flore Flore for their quality, their unique use of colour and their range of cuts and fits.

Leset.

Leset is another one that I always hear about people loving, with a huge amount of attention and adoration for their Margo tee. It's one of those brands that your favourite fashion girl adores.

Still Here NYC.

I love what this brand are doing and have spoken about them a few times over the years in various substacks. They do a brilliant job of making classics and they're marketing and branding is top notch.

After fangirling from afar, I visited their New York store in 2024 and bought a tshirt and crewneck. Another thing they're known for and do very well is denim. Their 'cool jean' is iconic. Their pieces feel vintage or like a something you've stolen from your parents/an ex partner etc.

A few other brands that have entered my orbit of late and I'm keen to check out are:

• Beare Park — a fantastic Australian brand to have on your radar — make a small selection of basics. I have my eye on these high v-neck long sleeve and short sleeve tshirts.

• Eterne - on the more premium, luxury side of basics, Eterne pieces look delicious!

• Olga Joan - I really love how their use of colour blocking.

• Cou Cou Intimates - I'm such a sucker for pointelle and these guys do it so well!

Secondhand.

I'd be remiss not to add secondhand shopping as a segment at the end as so many of my favourite knits, cardigans, polos, long-sleeve tops, button down shirts are either vintage or preloved.

The first thing I do when I go to an op-shop or preloved store is head to the men's section for exactly these pieces. I always find they have the best stuff and as I love my prefer oversized fits — this is where the treasures are often hiding.

This article was originally published on Substack and republished here with full permission. Ali Whittle is a Sydney-based content creator, writer and former magazine editor. She loves to travel, secondhand shop and share all the things she loves on the internet, whether that be on her Instagram , Substack or Tiktok .

For more helpful style advice and shopping recommendations, subscribe to the weekly Nothing to Wear Substack , listen to the Nothing to Wear podcast or watch Nothing to Wear on YouTube .

Feature image: Instagram @aliwhittle_.