You can always fall back on them.
It’s easy to be swept up by trends. And, don’t get me wrong, I love trends! I write about trends for a living, after all, but some sartorial moments come and go so fast, it simply doesn’t feel right to try them. So, I often stick to the basics—those staple pieces that stay, a.k.a., they don’t come and go in the blink of the eye. However, I sometimes forget how good these timeless fashion items look, and Zoe Saldaña just reginited my love for them in one simple, elegant outfit.
Saldaña can wear it all. Give the actress an all-brown look with fiery red boots, and she’ll make you want to wear the same thing. Give her easygoing jeans and leather ballet flats, and she’ll convince you it’s the coolest combo in town (hint: it is!). Dress her in a white button-down and black maxi skirt, and you’ll be reminded of how iconic the pairing is. That’s exactly what happened to me.
Open Edit Tailored Column Skirt
$70 at Nordstrom
French Connection Alexis Cotton Poplin Button-Up Shirt
$78 at Nordstrom
The actress stepped out for the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations for Emilia Pérez, her latest film project, in an impossibly classic two-piece combo that’s reginited my love for the look. She wore a black column maxi skirt that’s a dressier alternative to black trousers, which she paired with a “stale” staple that’s not so stale anymore: a white-button down. While the essential shirt has received plenty of makeovers in its time, with brands releasing updated versions that featured cropped, boxy silhouettes, I especially like how Saldaña sexied up the basic by wearing it half unbuttoned. Genius!
A simple black skirt—or dress—paired with a white button-down will never go out of style. You can wear it again and again, but both pieces are still versatile, offering endless ways to wear them. The black skirt can be teamed with an oversized knit for a cuddly-cute combo that’s perfect for fall, while the white button-down works with baggy jeans and sneakers, too.
All that to say, these wardrobe heroes are a must-have for year-round wear. Shop lookalikes of Saldaña’s pieces below.
Get the Look:
Mango Cotton Button-Up Shirt
Shop now: $50; nordstrom.com
Treasure & Bond Boxy Oxford Button-Up Shirt
Shop now: $70; nordstrom.com
Open Edit Boxy Cotton Button-Up Shirt
Shop now: $55; nordstrom.com
Babaton Chisel Maxi Skirt
Shop now: $148; aritzia.com
Mango Front-Slit Skirt
Shop now: $80; nordstrom.com
Open Edit Smooth Edit Maxi Skirt
Shop now: $60; nordstrom.com