Not so basic basics – with Franc
Despite my colorful and pattern-dominated wardrobe, believe it or not I still rely on basics to complete my looks. However, I think basics can have a bad reputation sometimes, they can be labeled as boring or too minimal – well I’m here to tell you, there are plenty of ways to style basics to make them appear not so basic. Hence, today’s post!
I recently partnered with Franc, a Canadian fashion brand that prioritizes sustainable and affordable clothing. Over the last two years, I’ve been trying to educate myself on sustainable clothing and accessory brands. It’s allowed me to shop smarter and invest in pieces that are better for the environment.
Franc’s basics embrace comfort and an effortless approach to fashion. Today, I’m showcasing how I’ve styled two of their pieces: the white tee and tracks shorts in four unique looks. And let me tell you, these looks are anything but basic. So let’s dive in.
The White Tee
If I can be perfectly honest, I can never get enough white tees. They go with everything! However, I used to opt for the cheap and lesser quality option – and I found, they don’t last beyond a few wears. They get holes, the fabric doesn’t look as flattering and they start to get discolored.
When I spotted Franc’s Classic Crewneck Tee I was intrigued. The fabric is thicker and the fit is more flattering than any other white tee I own (not lying). It’s been on a constant rotation in my wardrobe and I’m happy to report, no flaws thus far. A white tee is a closet staple and one that is so easy to style in so many different outfits.
Look one: not so basic summer casual
You can’t go wrong with a white tee in the summer. I often go for the tucked in look – whether it be in a pair of shorts, jeans, pants or a skirt. For this weekend-ready outfit, I did a front tuck into a pair of striped pants. The white tee grounds my look without it feeling too busy. To round out this outfit it was all about playing up on trend-accessories of summer – a black, woven visor I scored off of Amazon, my beaded ASOS purse and a pair of slip-on pointed block heels from Zara.
Look two: not so basic work attire
This next outfit featuring my white tee is perfect for work or play! When I don’t do the tuck, I opt for the knotted tee look. It’s so easy to do and adds a little intrigue when you pair it over a pair of pants or a skirt. In this outfit, I’m surprisingly wearing a dress that I scored from Old Navy. I fell in love with the tropical print and love to trick people into thinking it’s a skirt when I layer a top over it. This is my favorite work-appropriate outfit when paired with a pair of flats (these neon designer look-a-likes are from Amazon) and a fun handbag (another designer/STAUD look-a-alike I found on Amazon). I love this effortless and unique way to style a basic!
Track shorts
Honestly, I haven’t owned track shorts since I was in middle school so when I spotted these I thought they’d make for a fun challenge to dress up and dress down. These Franc Track Shorts are probably the softest pair of shorts I own! I also loved the maroon color – I don’t own anything like them. Although they are more on the fitted side, they aren’t too short so they still feel appropriate to wear outside of the gym.
Look one: not so basic date attire
It was such a fun challenge to come up with a unique way to style these track shorts in a way that felt elevated enough for a day spent shopping, at a blog event or going on a date. I decided to let color and pattern be my guide for this outfit and I’m so excited with how it turned out! I paired my track shorts with a striped wrap blouse that features a pop of maroon to tie in the color of the shorts. To dress up this look even further, I layered my lilac Topshop blazer over my blouse. As you all know, I’m never afraid to dabble with multiple colors in an outfit. I encourage you to experiment and play with color when you can – even if you think it ‘doesn’t go’ it likely does!
This blazer instantly elevated my outfit to look date-night ready. As always, accessories are a must so I opted for my black studded flats (also designer look-a-likes from Amazon) and my black beaded ASOS bag to keep this outfit anything but basic and appearing too casual. My statement earrings also help weave in the purple color palette of this outfit.
Look two: not so basic summer style
I also wanted to showcase an outfit that wasn’t too dressed-up and something that I’d likely wear when hanging out with girlfriends at happy hour or bopping around town running errands. Look no further than pairing your track shorts with an oversized jacket – this denim beauty is from ASOS and custom hand-lettered by my dear friend Whitney of W. Design Shop. I love being able to rep my blog on a jacket that just embodies my personality and brand! Underneath, I went simple. My fitted and cropped striped top from Abercrombie & Fitch ties in the color palette perfectly and easily tucks into the front of my track shorts to show off the front tie and rouching of the shorts. As I mentioned above, a great way to elevate these track shorts is what shoes you pair them with! I’m sure you are getting sick of seeing these Boohoo chunky sandals (I call them my Spice Girl shoes) that I’ve been practically living in all summer, but they go great with this look. I love the added height boost they give me in shorts while still embracing all the summer vibes.
I hope this post encourages those of you that love and live in your basics to experiment with weaving them into outfits you normally wouldn’t consider. Basics are the foundation of any outfit and the options for styling them are practically endless! Tag #notsobasicbasics when you post your outfits so I can see how you style yours!
*Collaboration note: Thank you Franc for collaborating on this product sponsored blog post! All thoughts and opinions expressed on West Coast Aesthetic are my own and every collaboration is done with absolute integrity.
Photography note: *Click the images to enlarge. If you repost these photos please provide proper credit to West Coast Aesthetic and Jenna Bechtholt Photography, thank you! xo