Monday, October 12, 2009

Back to Basics

I've been talking about different ways to update your wardrobe, but what I really think we need to touch base with today is the basic essentials every girl needs in her closet.  These are the foundation pieces that you build your looks around.

1. A suit (don't be afraid of the suit!) - preferably in a dark, neutral colour (so it works with anything), with a good, lean fit.



2. A little black dress - something that fits you well and can be dessed up or down, a length above the ankle is best.



3. A white button-up dress shirt - this is one of the most versatile pieces of clothing, it can work with jeans, under your suit jacket, or even over your LBD (aka Carolina Herrera).



4. Two great pairs of jeans - one for flats and one for heels (have them hemmed to the right length), you can have two different washes (light and dark) for different looks, but make sure you have a dark pair since it is more versatile.



5. A pencil (or whatever shape flatters your figure) skirt - it should be simple and classy.



6. Some classic sweaters - turtleneck, scoop, v-neck, whatever your preference (or some of each would be great), as well as a neutral cardigan.



7. A couple of tees - these don't have to be expensive but make sure the fit is good.  You should have some tanks, and some with short and long sleeves.  They should also be in neutral colours.



8. Two coats - a classic trench and a more relaxed jacket (think weekend wear).



9. Classic heels - you can never go wrong with a good pair of pumps.



10. Flats - make sure they are more on the neutral side so that they will work with a multitude of looks.



Now that you have the basics, you can add in other more trendy items to take your look in different directions.  You can dress most of these pieces up or down depending on where you are going.  For example: if you were going to the office, you could pair your suit jacket with a white tank, pencil skirt and pumps, or for a date night, you could wear your LBD with heels or flats and then add some cute, sparkly jewellry (from Forever21 for cheap!) to make the look more flirty, and for relaxing on the weekend, you could pair your jeans with a comfy sweater and flats.

The best thing about having these basics is that you can buy cheaper items that are "in" and add them to your look and still look chic not cheap.  Now that is the ultimate goal of a ressionista! 

-SB

P.S. Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canadians!! 

Image Source: Shopbop

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