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What are your 5-10 must-have wardrobe essentials?

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AmeliaG

Brilliant_Rock
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Jan 8, 2011
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I'm looking for some satorial inspiration here. I need a wardrobe change and I don't want a bunch of pieces that don't work well together.

If you had to choose, what would be your 5-10 absolute wardrobe essentials? Extra points if you share where you got it and how you wear it.

What advice would you give for someone who needs to stock up on a new wardrobe?
 
Black dressy trousers goes well for formal and informal work days and any colour or design shirts.
Black shoes goes with any colour outfits.
I always aim for wrinkle free everything even though they aren't truly wrinkle free. They do make the ironing a lot easier though.
 
1.Cocktail black dress
2.White shirt
3. Black or grey dress suit
4. A pair of jeans that fit very well
5. A coat of excellent quality in a neutral color
6. A skirt in medium length
7. Cotton t-shirts in different colors,preferably without prints
8. A trenchcoat in beige color
9. Accessories...Belts, scarves, hats, jewelry...They can transform all of your above neutral pieces in many different ways and make them look completely different!
10. Shoes...Black and brown boots, black pumps, ballerina flats for the winter and high heel and flat sandals for the summer

I can't really suggest any stores because i live and shop in Athens Greece, but i'm sure that you can find many of those pieces in a decent quality even at chain stores like Zara. Also, during my trips to Canada i noticed that Banana Republic and Mango had interesting pieces in good prices! Good luck :wavey:
 
I'm back for some more tips:

The above items work well together and can definitely be worn with other pieces that you already have in your wardrobe.
The black trousers and the medium length skirt can be combined with dressy tops and look amazing for going out at night. If they are worn with a white or other light color shirt, they are very appropriate in most working environments.They can also be worn with more colorful and casual tops and still look amazing.
The black dress can be worn from the morning until late at night, depending on the shoes, bag and accessories that you will combine it with. It can be a true chameleon!
The dress suit is very important for work or other occasions in which you wish to look very serious and elegant at the same time. If you get it in black color, you can wear it almost every day with a different color shirt and accessories and you will look as if you're wearing a completely different thing ;))
The coat and the trenchcoat are my absolute musts...They can be thrown over anything and make it look good, if they are of good quality and they fit nicely on your body.
Hope this helps!
 
HI:

Black suit with slacks. Black skirt. White blouse. Bold bright solid colored blouse +/- bold colored print blouse.

Black shoes 1.5 inch heel. Black boots to knee same heel height.

Black or dark grey or chocolate brown dress--above knee. Dress could have a small pattern or solid.

Square scarf. Preferably with multiple colors.

Solid black wool coat. Preferably with belt--that would be suitable to wear with or without. Nice if lining also snapped in or out.

ETA:

Cashmere sweater--any color since it would match above basic colors.

cheers--Sharon
 
I love getting really great accessories to pair with my basics. The accessories make me feel like I'm up-to-date and adding my own little flair, and they're less expensive and thus easier to update when need be.
 
I am trying to built a pretty minimalistic wardrobe - fewer, better quality items that work very well with one another. I found Project 333 (33 pieces of clothing to be worn for 3 months) a great resources with a lot of ideas. There is no way I am doing it per the rules, though.
 
If I had to choose, and was limited to only 5 wardrobe staples:

Black trousers or a black skirt
Dark wash jeans to wear with heels
Black cardigan or blazer
Colorful (solid color) cardigan
Black or white top to go with everything.

B-O-R-I-N-G

I don't dress like that. We all need clothing that reflects who we are and makes us feel good.

I used to work with a woman who would buy five new outfits in the fall, and five new outfits in the spring - - right down to jewelry, belts, etc. She spent some money; her clothes weren't cheap. BUT. . . she would wear each outfit, the same way each time, on the same day each week. Yup, if it was Tuesday in the summer, it was pink sleeveless sheath day with the bead necklace. The next day would be the khaki striped shirtdress and the wooden faux African necklace. She retired in 1992. I still remember each outfit and which day it was worn. She didn't wear "key pieces" or "basics" and she was still boring.

So, I guess my point is don't spend too much, because if all you do is buy a few things, you will tire of them. And so will everyone else. Shop wisely, shop discount, shop thrift. And don't let someone else tell you what your wardrobe "staples" should be.
 
Do you need a work wardrobe, a casual wardrobe, or both? I wear business casual clothes to work and honestly I try to spend as little as possible on work-only items (black dress pants, for example) but will spend more on tops I can wear to work and outside of work (silk tops are my fave).

For work, depending on the office standards for your profession and personal style, I'd get:
-Black dress pants (my favorite are the Martin Skinny from Banana Republic: http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=764402002)

-Black oxfords or flats (my favorite oxfords are the Frye Carson: http://www.zappos.com/frye-carson-oxford

-A neutral cardigan, and I usually get these on sale at J. Crew: http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Navigation...0~all~mode+matchallany~~~~~cardigan/65370.jsp

-A few dressy tops that can go with jeans or work pants. Again, I usually get these on sale from J. Crew: http://www.jcrew.com/womens_feature...~90~all~mode+matchallany~~~~~blythe/37871.jsp

My favorite work clothing sources are J. Crew, Banana Republic, Gap, and sometimes Ann Taylor or Loft.

For casual outfits, I would get the following:
-Black or dark skinny jeans, or both-J. Brand are my fave but you can find these almost anywhere and at any price point: http://www.shopbop.com/maria-high-r...08177&extid=SE_froogle_SC_usa-JBRAN4014536421

-Casual button ups-I wear my denim one all the time: http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/shirtsandtops/casualshirts/PRDOVR~44875/44875.jsp

-Some black boots. Again, this is dependent on your personal style, but I have a pair similar to this and they work well dressed up or down: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/france-sarto-quiet-bootie/3392408?origin=category&BaseUrl=Crop You could also go for more of a riding boot and wear them with skirts, too (my older sister has these and loves them): http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/enzo-an...fashionColor=Dark+Grey+Leather&resultback=342

-A semi-classic coat, depending on where you live. I like wool coats, and since I wear a lot of solids I have a plaid one. This is a cute plaid one I found on the Nordstrom website, but a solid would be great too: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/sam-edelman-wing-collar-wrap-jacket/3368804?origin=category

My favorite casual clothing sources are J. Crew, Nordstrom, Shopbop.com, Saks and local boutiques.

And then you can get several scarves, necklaces, etc. to mix it up. Again, catch these on sale at J. Crew, Banana Republic and elsewhere, or stop in Target and see what they have.
 
I think it really depends on your style, are you a formal dresser or someone who prefers the casual look? For me (since I am a formal dresser) the list is as follows:

1) Crisp White Shirt (I get mine from Brooks Brothers)
2) Accessories: Pearl Earrings and Pearl Necklace (instantly makes an outfit look more put together, I suggest getting white freshwater pearls to start since it is easy to match and not very expensive)
3) Pair of Black Pumps (no chunky heel)
4) Tropical Wool Navy Blazer (easy to dress up or down and match, makes me look less ratty when flying!)
5) Pair of dark wash jeans that fits well
6) Black/Neutral colored handbag that allows you to transition from day to night easily
7) LBD
8 ) Fitted Wool Coat in a neutral color (or if you are adventurous, a pop of color looks great)
9) Understated, quality watch, nothing blingy or OTT
10) A Grey or Navy Dress suit

I focus much more on Fit and Quality now than when I was younger, because it makes a large difference in my overall look and how polished I feel. Sales and outlet shopping definitely helps to keep the costs down!
 
Lots of good tips ladies. I'm in a career transition so I don't need a corporate wardrobe yet. Right now I'm looking for a put together look that doesn't take a lot of time but doesn't look like Holly's former co-worker either. I admit to being a bit lazy in this regard though. The idea of buying five outfits in the spring and five outfits in the fall sounds so appealing. I'll hold myself back though.

I've resigned myself to needing structured, fitted clothes even for casual wear because of my petite but curvy body shape. I have two looks - really well put together (structured clothes) and slobby (loose fitting, casual clothes). I'm too petite to pull off the slobby look and I don't feel good about myself. But to make the structured look work on a day-to-day basis without spending a lot of time and money is going to take some forethought and planning. Has anyone else had this problem? How did you tackle it?

ETA: thanks thing2of2 for the retail suggestions; I'll check them out. Right now, I'm just trying to figure out an approach.
 
HollyS|1350326451|3285724 said:
I used to work with a woman who would buy five new outfits in the fall, and five new outfits in the spring - - right down to jewelry, belts, etc. She spent some money; her clothes weren't cheap. BUT. . . she would wear each outfit, the same way each time, on the same day each week. Yup, if it was Tuesday in the summer, it was pink sleeveless sheath day with the bead necklace. The next day would be the khaki striped shirtdress and the wooden faux African necklace. She retired in 1992. I still remember each outfit and which day it was worn. She didn't wear "key pieces" or "basics" and she was still boring.
Click to expand...

This seriously made me laugh out loud!

Now that she's retired I have this vision of her closet with six differently colored sweat suits (one with a sparkly cat embroirded on the back for Saturdays) and two church dresses that she alternates.
 
Dee*Jay|1350334536|3285835 said:
HollyS|1350326451|3285724 said:
I used to work with a woman who would buy five new outfits in the fall, and five new outfits in the spring - - right down to jewelry, belts, etc. She spent some money; her clothes weren't cheap. BUT. . . she would wear each outfit, the same way each time, on the same day each week. Yup, if it was Tuesday in the summer, it was pink sleeveless sheath day with the bead necklace. The next day would be the khaki striped shirtdress and the wooden faux African necklace. She retired in 1992. I still remember each outfit and which day it was worn. She didn't wear "key pieces" or "basics" and she was still boring.
Click to expand...

This seriously made me laugh out loud!

Now that she's retired I have this vision of her closet with six differently colored sweat suits (one with a sparkly cat embroirded on the back for Saturdays) and two church dresses that she alternates.
Click to expand...


Ha! Nope, her current wardrobe is even more boring than it was.

After she "retired", she had to go help her husband in their business after his CFO became ill. So, since all the other employees of this business wore uniforms, she bought navy blue slacks and blue striped shirts from Land's End to wear everyday as her "uniform". She still wears these on a daily basis, even after selling the business. If she dresses up for church, funeral, wedding, etc., she wears a black suit. She wore her black suit to my wedding. :bigsmile:
 
AmeliaG|1350331185|3285787 said:
Lots of good tips ladies. I'm in a career transition so I don't need a corporate wardrobe yet. Right now I'm looking for a put together look that doesn't take a lot of time but doesn't look like Holly's former co-worker either. I admit to being a bit lazy in this regard though. The idea of buying five outfits in the spring and five outfits in the fall sounds so appealing. I'll hold myself back though.

I've resigned myself to needing structured, fitted clothes even for casual wear because of my petite but curvy body shape. I have two looks - really well put together (structured clothes) and slobby (loose fitting, casual clothes). I'm too petite to pull off the slobby look and I don't feel good about myself. But to make the structured look work on a day-to-day basis without spending a lot of time and money is going to take some forethought and planning. Has anyone else had this problem? How did you tackle it?

ETA: thanks thing2of2 for the retail suggestions; I'll check them out. Right now, I'm just trying to figure out an approach.
Click to expand...
Get a couple of well fitted blazers, one light and one dark, that look good both closed and open. Don't forget shoes that look polished. With those two things you can pull of polished look with a pair of jeans and a tshirt, a dress, slacks, etc.

I am quite curvy with a petite upper body but long legs :? so finding well fitting but still comfy and easy clothes is a nightmare. However whenever I put on a well fitting blazer I immediately look much more put together and people often have positive comments. Also it hides a multitude of sins (eg muffin tops, badly fitting t-shirt, etc).

Don't forget jeans if you wear them, get a pair dark washed that fit your body and your life will be so much easier.
 
natascha, do you have any designers that you particularly favor?
 
It’s depends largely on how old you are and what the dress code is where you work. Is it a professional dress workplace where most of the men wear ties daily and everyone has a jacket hanging in their office to throw on top of whatever they are wearing just in case there is a meeting? Or is it business casual (slacks and shirt, but no ties and the women don’t wear jackets)? Or is it casual (jeans and nice top).

But since you aren’t working in the corporate world yet. Here are my thoughts. Geared toward winter/fall since that’s where we are at.

2 pairs of jeans. Expensive ones that have some stretch to them, and are well fitted through the waist and hips, and are hemmed for you. If you are a heels girl, then hem both to your inseams PLUS average heel height AFTER washing them once. If you switch between heels and flats often, do one hemmed to each length (after washing). If you are a flats girl, hem both to your flats (after washing). IMO, both should be dark wash. And one should be more ‘boot leg’ and the other should be tighter so you can wear boots over it well.

One pencil skirt . Hemmed to just above the knee. That length will work for out and later on be okay for the office as well. I prefer black or charcoal, and nice quality. Alternately, if skirts aren’t something you like to wear but slacks are, then get a pair of slacks. Gray or navy are great. Again, hem to whatever shoes you wear the most. I prefer non-dryclean ones because they wear well and don’t run up the bills. Or you can get a nice long skirt like a maxi skirt. Or just get a third pair of jeans.

2 nice cardigans you can throw over most your items. Whatever color suits you. Something with nice details, buttons. One should be a nice neutral, the other something fun like bright green or red. http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/clothes-sweaters/25299942.jsp

1 nice blouse. Like these. Spend money on it and care for it well and they will work with jeans/skirt/slacks. And it should look great with or without your cardigan (coordinate with cardigan). http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/shirtsandtops/blouses/PRDOVR~99344/99344.jsp http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/clothes-blouses/24555252.jsp and
http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/clothes-blouses/25164476.jsp and http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/shirtsandtops/blouses/PRDOVR~18569/18569.jsp and http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/clothes-blouses/25059783.jsp

1 cozy sweater. If you can wear cashmere splurge for it. Works with jeans or slacks. http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/clothes-sweaters/25190935.jsp or http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=86856&vid=1&pid=233785042

And one dressy sweater one like this for example: http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/clothes-sweaters/25826157.jsp,,,,, something you can put on with your slacks/skirt and feel grown up and ready to take on anything from drinks with friends, to a holiday party.

1 nice dress. It doesn’t have to be black. If you look better in navy or gray--buy that. YOU wear the dress, the dress doesn’t wear you. It should be a style that suits your personality. Something with nice details/tailoring/seams. If you like to dress up and party: http://www.whitehouseblackmarket.com/store/browse/product.jsp?maxRec=63&pageId=1&viewAll=&productId=570054982&prd=Ruffled+Sheath+Dress&subCatId=&color=&fromSearch=&inSeam=&posId=6&catId=cat210002&cat=Dresses++Skirts&onSale=&colorFamily=&maxPg=4&size= or if you are more laid back:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/felicity-coco-short-sleeve-pointelle-sweater-dress-nordstrom-exclusive/3347227?origin=category&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=Navy&resultback=3537
Or more tailored:
http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=50129&vid=1&pid=233609002
I adore this one:
http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=42231&vid=1&pid=233895002

Two comfy long sleeve Ts: http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/knitstees/longsleevetees/PRDOVR~23997/23997.jsp or http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/knitstees/longsleevetees/PRDOVR~67757/67757.jsp

And if you like sweatshirts, get one nice one of those, but fitted and grown up: http://shop.lululemon.com/products/clothes-accessories/women-jackets-and-hoodies/Define-Jacket-32453?cc=0001&skuId=3320389&catId=women-jackets-and-hoodies

You should also have a few nice basic tanks/camisoles in basic colors/prints to throw under the cardigans/sweatshirt and switch out their looks.


I didn't include shoes or handbags in that list:

IMO you need 4 pairs of shoes:

1. Whatever color works for your dress. A pair of high heeled pumps. If your dress is gray or black or even navy, black heels work but you can get navy or gray heels too, especially if you will wear them with your jeans or they also work with your other dressy pieces like the dressy sweater or the blouse above.

2. Get an awesome pair of non-black boots: Gray/chestnut brown they should be ones you can pull over your jeans. Heeled or flat, whatever suits your style.

3. one pair of metallic shoes, if you wear flats then cute ballet flats, like silver/pewter that work with everything you own: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/joan-david-eila-flat/3373980?origin=category or http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/maria-sharapova-by-cole-haan-air-bacara-flat/3378248?origin=category&BaseUrl=Ballet or http://tieks.com/metallic-pewter.html

4. Whatever you consider an everyday basic. For me since I broke my ankle it's Uggs (hideous but comfortable), before my foot broke it would have been a nice pair of wide heeled low pumps/loafers. Loafers are back in.


And then there is the purse. One nice neutral bag.
I have a few bags. Most of them work with most of the colors I wear. Yours should too. Burgundy or dark brown or gray are nice neutrals for fall/winter if black isn't your style.

Something like these is a good balance between budget and style:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/cole-haan-rounded-small-hobo/3325431?origin=category&BaseUrl=All+Handbags
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/topshop-stripe-suede-leather-convertible-clutch/3378079?origin=category
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/kate-spade-new-york-cobble-hill-tenley-crossbody-bag/3267597?origin=category&BaseUrl=All+Handbags
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/sloan-alex-angie-leather-hobo/3376300?origin=category&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=3486
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/sloan-alex-angie-leather-crossbody-bag/3392270?origin=keywordsearch&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=0
 
I agree with Gypsy, she has given some fantastic tips!

Non iron shirts and blazers would be useful in achieving the fitted/structured look without too much effort. When I was revamping my wardrobe I identified what I needed the most by how versatile the item can be, how often will I wear it, and if it can fill a vacuum in my wardrobe. As such, I was willing to splurge on a navy blazer because of the reasons above and I feel quality and fit is important in achieving the polished look (shirts that doesn’t fit as well can be hidden under blazers or altered at a much cheaper price than blazers).

If you have a limited budget, I would suggest splurging on 1 or two items on the list that you know you will get a lot of wear, and building up your collection along the way. With Black Friday sales next month and the Christmas season, it’s a pretty good time to shop.

Like thing2of2, I suggest JCrew and Nordstrom, as well as Saks Fifth Ave. I know some people have had luck with BR and Land’s End for non iron shirts. If you are feeling more spendy, Thomas Pink, Loro Piana and Burberry (for coats) are brands worth considering.
 
I am a HUGE fan of cardigans! I probably own about 30 of them, but I'm too embarrassed by the number so I have never actually counted :lol:

While I am all for splurging on items that last and and will be worn often, I personally love to dress some things up for a season or two and then pitch it out. Target has some awesome cardigans and they're actually having a sale now (in my area at least). Yesterday I bought a 'boyfriend' cardigan and a nice regular cardigan in a fun print, for $15 each.

http://www.target.com/p/merona-women-s-ultimate-cardigan-polka-dot-sweater-assorted-colors/-/A-14038607#prodSlot=large_1_29
http://www.target.com/p/mossimo-supply-co-juniors-long-sleeve-cardigan-assorted-colors/-/A-14035034#prodSlot=large_1_30 (I bought this one in brown and am wearing it today!)
 
You ladies make me feel underdressed. :lol: I own only one pair of shoes which are my black dress all weather mocs worn all year round, I wear black wrinkle-free khakis every day, with only the shirts being different each day. I have scarves to add some interest once a while with the occasional blazer/cardigan/sweater. No need to worry about what to wear each season or the time of the year.
 
Chrono|1350411817|3286442 said:
You ladies make me feel underdressed. :lol: I own only one pair of shoes which are my black dress all weather mocs worn all year round, I wear black wrinkle-free khakis every day, with only the shirts being different each day. I have scarves to add some interest once a while with the occasional blazer/cardigan/sweater. No need to worry about what to wear each season or the time of the year.
Click to expand...

Black khakis everyday and only one pair of shoes?!?! Holy smokes! Well, at least you don't spend a ton of time trying to figure out what to wear!! :lol:
 
Chrono|1350411817|3286442 said:
You ladies make me feel underdressed. :lol: I own only one pair of shoes which are my black dress all weather mocs worn all year round, I wear black wrinkle-free khakis every day, with only the shirts being different each day. I have scarves to add some interest once a while with the occasional blazer/cardigan/sweater. No need to worry about what to wear each season or the time of the year.
Click to expand...

That sounds like me as well. I do have other pairs of shoes, I just don't wear them.
 
Thanks ladies for all the helpful hints! I've printed out this thread and I'm taking it shopping with me! I've saved the webaddresses too (thanks Gypsy, Staceysparkles, and thing2of2) I just want to see how clothes fit on me in a store before I order anything online. (It's been awhile since I tried on new clothes).
 
AmeliaG|1350416329|3286483 said:
Thanks ladies for all the helpful hints! I've printed out this thread and I'm taking it shopping with me! I've saved the webaddresses too (thanks Gypsy, Staceysparkles, and thing2of2) I just want to see how clothes fit on me in a store before I order anything online. (It's been awhile since I tried on new clothes).
Click to expand...


The key take aways are this.

1. Get clothes that REALLY fit you well. Tailor them to achieve this look. 15 bucks worth of tailoring something can be better than spending 100 bucks on two pieces.
2. If you are going to have only a few items make sure your pieces coordinate well with one another. When you are buying key items like a one nice blouse-- make sure it will work with that nice cardigan you splurged on last week. Or with that great jacket you found on-sale and had tailored for a better fit. You can spend 150 on a blouse that already works with your jacket and boots. But you can't spend 150 on a blouse if you have to buy a pair of shoes AND a new jacket for it.
3. Coordinate does not mean match. Do not get all black, gray and white because it all matches. Even if you spend 10,000 on 10 items your wardrobe will be boring if you do this. Make sure you get something with a print, or with lace, or with bright color. Something with details like awesome buttons or seams that make the piece unique.
4. CHEAP does not mean VALUE. I'm not talking buy brand names but, for example, target cardigans were recommended above. Now I buy clothes from Target, a few of their items are great buys especially their tank tops and stuff like that. But for cardigans they kinda suck. Their cardigans shrink, lose color and ball up after just one or two washes. They lose buttons, or their button holes become loose. In short, they are a terrible VALUE. The price might be cheap. But the VALUE is low. You are MUCH better off paying 80 bucks for a merino wool cardigan from Banana Republic (who has them every year). It will last you 3 seasons or MORE with proper care. I have bought ONE cardigan from Banana Republic each year for the last five or size years and ALL OF THEM (except for one year where the quality was problematic and they returned it for a full refund) are still looking amazing. Same thing with anything on sale. When something is really reduced you can be talked into buying it even if it doesn't work. Remember, that 30 dollar top is not a deal if A) it falls apart the first time you wash it and B) you have to buy new shoes and a jacket for it.
5. Spend money on key items, but buy for quality not brand name. You can get really nice jeans that wear well at Nordstrom Rack. I do this for my husband. The jeans he wears are 250 at Nordstroms. 99 bucks at the Rack. Perfect. BUT when you DO spend money: make sure you LOVE IT. It fits you PERFECTLY. And that it is worth the money in terms of fabric and construction. Do not pay 250 bucks for a brand name acrylic blend sweater. At that price you should be buying cashmere. Do not pay 150 bucks for a beautiful shirt of polyester georgette. At that price you should be getting silk. This goes back to value. A lot of our clothes these days are synthetics. And some synthetics are great. Others stain funny, hold in odors, and shirk before you know what hit you. And just because it's wool doesn't mean it's nice. There is some crappy wool out there. Learn to differentiate between the feel of nice quality and crappy quality fabrics. All this takes is a couple hours in a NICE HIGH END FABRIC STORE. Here in San Francisco for example you would go to Britex. Spend time touching silk versions of satin, georgette, chiffon, crepe. Touch wool crepe. Touch wool gabardine, and other suiting. Touch REALLY nice fine cotton lawn. Then touch the cheaper fabrics that looks similar-- polyester crepe and satin, etc. You will be surprised how much you can learn just buy touching the bolts of fabric and looking at the prices of items relative to one another.
6. Some things are NOT worth spending money on. For me it's tank tops and camisoles. I have 30 of the things and I refuse to spend more than 10 bucks on any of them. I go through them too fast and the high quality ones are rarely any different in terms of wear than the low quality ones. Some "flash fashion' items are the same way. The stuff that's uber hot one day, is gone the next. And H&M or Target has a GREAT looking version of whatever it is for 25 bucks or less. You are gonna wear it two times total so quality is irrelevant. Don't spend money on that item. But the cheap version from H&M, not the Saks version for 300.
6. Pay attention to the care labels on your clothing and take care of them according to the instructions. If something falls apart after you wash it according to the label, return it. That's what returns are for.
7. Pay attention to styles that flatter you. I look nice in 3 styles of dresses. I keep an eye out for those. Especially at sales. Knowing what it is about a piece-- is it the length? The taper at the waist? Is it the rise of the pant? Is it the neckline? That flatters you makes shopping a lot less stressful. Once you know that "boatneck" does not belong on YOUR neck, then you can avoid that style. Or maybe boatneck looks fabulous on you. Then you hunt for that.


Accessories like a nice well maintained leather purse make a nice impression. That's all there is too it. It's not about what the brand is or what the buckles says. My go to purse for fall is by a brand very few know Kooba, and not very expensive at retail $500, but the leather and construction are fabulous on it and the style is versatile. I've been carrying it for, this will be my third year. And I got it on sale. Handbags change seasons and go on sale. And frequently you can get nice ones at 30-40% off if you wait a few months. More expensive brands of shoes are typically much more comfortable than their cheaper counterparts. Look at reviews for shoes (Zappos is great for this) and make sure the ones you buy are going to wear well and be comfortable. You only have two feet and you are going to be standing on them all your life. Take care of them and don't abuse them.
 
Cashmere sweaters are a winter essential and luxury for me. Right now I probably have 10 cashmere sweaters in various colors and styles. I can wear them with dress slacks, skirts, or jeans - just about everything but chinos - and they dress pretty much anything too. Besides, they feel so good on, and I feel so good wearing them!

I get most of my cashmere during holiday sales or at end-of-the-season clearance prices, but I also check early in the season to see if there's anything I'm willing to buy at pre-holiday prices. Last year I picked up two wonderful sweaters for a song at Marshall's, very late in the season.

Unfortunately I don't have any warm-weather staples that are as versatile as my cashmere sweaters.
 
1. A nice, fitted pair of dark jeggings/stretch jeans. These look bomb when worn with tunics, sweaters, heels, sneakers… whatever.
2. A black blazer.
3. A longline white camisole.
4. Nude Spanx.
5. A go-to pair of black pumps.
6. A go-to LBD.
7. A longline/tunic length deep V-neck sweater to wear over that #3 cami.
9. A good, comfy, A-line dress that can be both casual with sandals or flats on, or dressy, when worn with pumps and the proper accessories.
10. Soft leather, black flats.
 
1. Jeans that make your ass look amazing.
2. A perfectly fitted brassiere.
3. A LBD that you've had professionally tailored.
4. A jacket or coat (depending upon climate) that can work double or triple duty.
5. Structured button-down in a neutral color that is flattering to your skin tone like white, blue, or blush.
6. Trousers that work with the jacket or coat, as well as the blouse.

Every other garment you buy should be a fill-in. Shoes, handbags, and accessories, including jewelry, are fill-ins and can be either seasonal or season-less.

For most, this is just not a realistic wardrobe. Many women's bodies go through changes week to week, month to month, year to year, etc. I feel it's necessary, if you are purchasing expensive pieces meant to last 10-15 years, to visit your tailor/seamstress at least once a year to ensure proper fit. Ha! Not many of us have time for that, which is why RTW (ready-to-wear a.k.a off-the-rack is so popular.) My personal philosophy now that I'm in my 30's is to try to buy only things that I know will last at minimum 5 years. My filler pieces are typically undergarments (tank tops, panties, hosiery, etc.), casual wear (based on my current exercise activities, so could be yoga, running apparel, basic sweats), weekend/travel (I want lightweight pieces that are packable and easily layered), and as I stated above, shoes/handbags/accessories. These categories are where most people overspend. You really have to do some research to find the best, most durable pieces.

A few of my favorite sources:

J. Crew--casual and weekend/travel, dresses, jackets/coats because they offer tall sizes (and petites)
Ibex--casual and weekend/travel (check out the Izzi pant, you'll never go back to sweatpants)
Prana--casual, yoga, undergarments
Wacoal--bras (I've been lucky to find a couple at TJ Maxx in recent years, but only after having been measured and buying the correct size. If you're just buying for the label without actually knowing your size it's not a bargain!)
American Eagle Outfitters, Target--tank tops (who DOESN'T need them?)
GAP--still my go-to for very basic, well-constructed tees and other plain Jane staples...I've owned a particular GAP turtleneck now for going on 18 years

Handbags...if you're into Italian leather...a very small, Portland, OR-based company named Ellington has some absolutely beautiful, quality bags. I am in no way affiliated with this company but I've seen their things and wow, TDF. Puts any designer bag to shame, and priced VERY fairly.

Shoes, Jeans, Accessories...that's the fun stuff that makes shopping a pleasure, and gives each outfit you put together its own unique style! I like to check Pinterest's Women's Fashion category for new ideas every once in awhile.

Have fun. I agree with Holly, don't let anyone else dictate what your wardrobe consists of. Find your staple pieces, and then experiment with all the cool accessories and footwear you find in little mom and pop boutiques during your travels. Develop your OWN personal style and make no apologies. :wavey:
 
Ah, just started the joys of clothes shopping NOT! I hate when nothing fits me.

Quick question: What's LBD?
Another quick question: Why are tapered ankle-length pants considered a no-no for petite, curvy ladies? I tried on some last night and really liked the streamlined silhouette but the sales lady gave me some strange looks.
 
I'm not going to read others' responses before I do this, so I won't be influenced by more fashionable people. :cheeky:

I have a pretty basic, classic wardrobe. I don't have to dress up a lot for work, but only wear jeans on Friday. I live in Minnesota, so these are pieces that I use year-round in layers. I'm also (go ahead and hate me) a pretty classic size 6 or 'small' in almost everything.

Button down shirts - white, pale blue, blue/white stripes, some with a hint of color, but no florals
Scoop and v-neck t-shirts, mostly solid colors (black, grey, white, a few fun colors like pink, chartreuse, yellow)
Black and navy shift dress - basic flattering shape
Cardigans - in colors to match or contrast with my shirts/patterned dresses (navy, tan, burgundy, etc.)
Camisoles for layering - some in colors/patterns, some with lace or other details at the neckline or bottom hem so if they peek out underneath something it looks cute
Khakis, slim fitted pants with some stretch, corduroys for winter
Nice dark denim jeans that can be worn for work and play
Pencil skirts - black and tan, plus a denim one that can be dressed up or down
'Fun' jewelry and shoes to add a pop of color to an otherwise basic outfit (white button down shirt, khakis, black flats - but add a bright coral or turquoise statement necklace or earrings, and it looks very pulled-together without being overdone, or shiny red shoes like I'm wearing today with a navy striped shirt/navy cardigan and khakis)

Most of my clothes are from the Gap, Old Navy, J.Crew, Target, and some from Anthropologie (dresses) and Banana Republic.

If you're looking to give your wardrobe a zap of life, I *highly* recommend doing something I did last year with my sister's help (someone with a good eye for what actually looks good on you is key!). We went through literally every piece of my wardrobe, with her pulling out pieces and holding them up for me to see--me not touching the items was also helpful, because if you touch something, it's harder to let it go! If I loved it and wore it a lot, it stayed, if not, it went. This thinned out my wardrobe significantly, made a lot of breathing room in my closet and drawers, and helped me see what pieces I was 'missing.' I realized I really wanted a few things, but no more t-shirts or dresses, so that helped me when shopping.
 
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