Vegan Investment Pieces: The Building Blocks of a Good Wardrobe

If you want your wardrobe to stand the test of time, making investments every once in a while will be a necessity. View investments as the basic cornerstones of your style, around which you can build the rest of your wardrobe. These pieces are the “bones” of your wardrobe, and they need to be durable, well-made, and fit your personal style. As such, they need to be chosen carefully – and if there is one time you should spend a bit more money, this is it. Investment pieces will not only endure through the years, but they will also elevate your outfit each time you wear them. Here are a few styles that will make dressing much easier – and that are well worth the splurge.

By Sascha Camilli: writer, speaker, activist and vegan fashion expert.

A Durable Vegan Winter Coat

This might be a seasonal piece, but it's one that is likely to stay in your wardrobe for many seasons, and it serves a purpose beyond looks: it needs to keep you warm. Will's Vegan Store's wool-free design in Oeko Tex-certified cotton features a thermal lining made in Italy from recycled polyester to guarantee maximum warmth. Stylish and highly resistant, it is certain to be a cold-weather must-have. Shop all vegan coats.

A Good Vegan Handbag

This is most people's idea of an investment piece, and with good reason: a well-made bag in a colour that is easy to match will be a priceless companion in your everyday life. LUXTRA's tote bag is crafted from premium vegan leather, has internal pockets for all the essentials, and will pair effortlessly with any outfit. Shop all vegan tote bags.

A Well-Made Sustainable Day Dress

Day dresses are a must-have due to their versatility – a good dress can easily take you from morning meeting to evening cocktails, and it transcends seasons. VILDNIS' recycled style will walk that fine line between daytime cool and after-dark sophistication. Bonus: 10% of sales from this tiger-print dress are donated to WWF's “adopt a tiger” programme. Shop all sustainable dresses.

A Pair of Long-Lasting Vegan Boots

Similar to the bag, a pair of they-go-with-everything boots can be an invaluable addition to your wardrobe – the right pair, like these Chloe boots from Allkind, serve as both a basic essential and a stand-out statement piece. Wearable through most seasons, a good pair of vegan boots is the foundation of a good outfit. Shop all vegan boots.

A Stylish Sustainable Jacket

Need a lighter jacket to wear all Spring and Summer long? This simple but chic cotton style can be thrown on over warm weather dresses, or paired with light knits for cooler evenings. It's made from GOTS certified organic cotton – the global standard that includes ecological as well as social criteria, which are backed up by independent certifications of the entire textile supply chain. Looking out for GOTS certified products means that you can have peace of mind that the products you're purchasing are organic, right through from fibre production to processing and manufacturing and all the way to packaging and distribution. Shop all vegan coats & jackets.

A Wear-It-Forever Watch

Not just a timepiece – a good watch is also a perfect accessory that will add polish and elegance to the aforementioned jeans-and-t-shirt combo, or perfectly complement a structured dress and heels. Votch's gold-toned vegan leather style fits the bill, and comes with the bonus of being free from PVC and incorporating recycled and renewable materials. Shop all vegan watches.

Fair Trade Jewellery

Perhaps the ultimate investment piece, jewellery can be a truly special purchase. Whether it's a gift from a loved one or from yourself (why not?), a piece of jewellery not only adds interest to your style, but can also be linked to beautiful memories. Choosing Fair Trade is a wonderful way to ensure that your item was produced in safe conditions, and those who made it were treated with respect. One such choice are these ethical and sustainable earrings from Julia Thompson Jewellery. Shop all ethical jewellery.

Eco-Friendly Sunglasses

Sunglasses, an investment? Well, think about it: what other piece do you toss around your handbag and sometimes treat a bit carelessly – yet always take with you? A pair of durable, well-crafted sunglasses can provide not only much-needed relief from the sun, but also a perfect addition to your outfit. Pala offer a cat-eye pair that is made in biodegradable bio-acetate, with lenses made from plant resin. Just add to any daytime look, and you're good to go. Shop all sustainable sunglasses.

By Sascha Camilli

For more like this, take a look at our Investment Pieces Edit.

About Sascha

Sascha Camilli is a vegan fashion writer, speaker and activist. Her book Vegan Style is out now on Murdoch Books. For more about Sascha, you can read our interview with her. You can also follow her on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Cover image by LUXTRA

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