Black and White Basic Tops – Build Your Wardrobe From the Ground Up

Short answer: Two black and two white basic tops cover most of a wardrobe, because they go with everything else and can be worn both alone and as a layer. Build from the bottom up: buy the pieces you wear every week before you buy anything that only goes with one thing.

Why black and white

Black and white go with every colour, every pattern and every season, which is why they get worn four times as often as a top in a particular colour. It is not a question of taste but of how many combinations the individual top takes part in.

Four tops go a long way

Two black and two white means there is always a clean one of each, even while the other is in the wash. That is the smallest number that works without you having to plan laundry around what you want to wear tomorrow.

Black gets worn most

Black conceals most, goes under everything and shows least under dark clothing. That is why the black ones wear out faster than the white, and why they are the ones to buy two identical of when you find a model that fits.

White needs more care

White turns grey if it is washed with dark clothes, and a grey top looks worn out even though the fabric is intact. Wash the white ones separately at 30 degrees without bleach, and keep them out of the machine that takes jeans and towels.

Build from the bottom

Start with the pieces you wear every week: tops, underwear and socks. They are what decide whether the rest of the wardrobe feels comfortable. Have a look at bamboo underwear for women and buy in the same quality, so everything against the skin feels alike.

The same model, several copies

Once a model turns out to fit, there is no reason to keep looking. Buy two identical ones rather than two different ones you are unsure about. See the range of bamboo tops for women, and note down which model and size worked.

When a colour makes sense

A single top in a colour you wear a lot elsewhere in the wardrobe is a good addition once the basics are in place. It just should not be the first purchase, because it goes with fewer things than the black and white ones do.

When to replace them

A basic top is used up when the neckline has gone slack or the fabric has turned sheer. Replace one at a time rather than the whole pile, so you can compare the new one with the old. The rest of the range sits under bamboo for women. See also bamboo and economy and washing guide for bamboo clothing.