If you’ve been following fashion blogs for any length of time, you’ve probably heard about Everlane. They’re the brand that won’t shut up about radical transparency, and honestly, at first I was skeptical. Like, we get it, you show the factory and the price breakdown. But then I actually started shopping their basics collection and something kind of unexpected happened. I completely changed my mind.
The First Impression That Made Me a Skeptic
I think the thing that first drew me in was the promise of quality without the price tag that usually comes with it. You know how it is when you’re scrolling through a designer website and a simple white tee costs more than your monthly streaming services combined? Everlane said no thanks to all that and I was immediately intrigued.
So I went ahead and ordered a few things from their basics line. I started with the classic white crew neck tee, the black fitted tee, and the linen button up shirt. When everything arrived, I have to admit I was not expecting the quality level I got. The cotton on the tee felt substantial, like actually soft without feeling thin or cheap. The kind of tee that you know is going to last more than one season if you take care of it properly.
Why These Basics Actually Work
What really impressed me was how versatile everything was. I wore that white crew neck to work, styled it with tailored trousers and blazer. Then the next day I tied it at the waist with high waisted jeans. The day after that I threw it on with a leather jacket and just moved on with my life. It’s the kind of basic that actually lives up to the hype because it plays well with everything else in your closet.
The pricing is honestly refreshing too. The tees run around thirty bucks which sounds like nothing when you compare it to the luxury brands but feels like a lot if you’re just getting started with building a quality wardrobe. That said, they constantly have sales and when you factor in how long these pieces actually last, the cost per wear becomes ridiculously low. I’m talking wearing something a hundred times or more.
Important Things to Know Before Ordering
One thing I will say is that Everlane sizes tend to run a bit on the bigger side. I usually wear a small but went down to an extra small and it fits perfectly. Make sure to check their fit guide because I’ve seen a lot of people complaining about fit when honestly it’s just that their sizing is more generous than other brands.
The linen shirt surprised me because I thought it would be that stiff linen situation but it was actually broken in feeling right out of the box. Like someone had already worn it a few times which is the dream with linen pieces. I can already tell this is going to be my go to for literally any occasion where I need to look put together but not overdressed.
The Bottom Line
If I’m being totally honest, I don’t have major complaints about this collection. The basics are actually basic in the way that basics should be. They’re well made, they fit well, and they’re affordable enough that you don’t have to stress about grabbing multiples in different colors. I’ve already ordered more pieces and I’m kind of annoyed that I didn’t discover this brand sooner.
The whole transparency thing they’re doing is cool too but it’s not why I keep going back. I keep going back because the quality is there, the prices make sense, and I can build an entire wardrobe around their basics without feeling like I’m compromising on anything. That’s the dream right there.
If you’re looking to build out your wardrobe with pieces that actually work together and don’t break the bank, I’d definitely recommend checking out Everlane’s basics collection. Just remember to check the sizing guide and maybe sign up for their email list because they have sales pretty regularly. Your future self will thank you.
