Want to learn how to dress well?
Here is today’s secret style tip:
The well-dressed woman only needs twelve legendary and practical wardrobe pieces that’ll give maximum impact with minimal effort.
These essential style elements include: a beautiful overcoat, an all-occasion blouse, delicious dark jeans, basic black pumps, and Audrey Hepburn’s magical little black dress.
Here’s how to unleash your inner Jackie O with these never-fail style standards and incorporate these 12 wardrobe basics into your own closet.
1. Stylish Trench Coat or Seasonless Overcoat
A trench coat is a stylish favorite found in colors beyond boring taupe or basic beige. In fact, a chic all-weather coat is a major component of an elegant style uniform. This classic piece mixes menswear tailoring with classic feminine touches easily.
An elegant coat is a great wardrobe basic that adds a pop of color to your best monochromatic head-to-toe look. Stores from Target to Bergdorf Goodman sell lightweight coats that are weatherproof, colorful and stylish.
2. Crisp White Shirt
A white shirt worn with jeans and a sweater for a casual outing (or paired with a full ball skirt for a black tie event) is fashion perfection personified.
Regardless of the occasion, a crisp white shirt—whether worn with menswear-inspired French cuffs or a lady-like bow—is the perfect classic wardrobe item that never disappoints the wearer.
3. Little Black Dress
The little black dress will be forever remembered as a featured co-star in the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s and the genius design heirloom of style guru Coco Chanel.
The classic little black frock is easily dressed up with a string of pearls and sexy strappy pumps or dressed down when paired with charming ballet flats and a silk scarf tied at the neck.
4. Ballet Flats or Loafers
No woman, even if she is an infamous shoe-loving patron like Imelda Marcos, can withstand the pressure of wearing 5-inch heels all day long.
To keep your feet pretty–and free from bunions, corns, and calluses—add a pair of loafers or ballet flats to your wardrobe basics.
5. Designer Black or Brown Leather Handbag
A designer bag is a treat that every woman should experience once in her lifetime.
The smell of the supple leather, the weight of the metal clasps and the luxury found within the linings and compartments of a designer bag is no match for the simple stitching and pleather used in constructing an imitation leather purse.
A fine leather designer handbag–if maintained and treated with proper care—is a precious wardrobe investment that can last for many years.
6. Well-Fitting Bra
A bra that fits well is not a luxury, but a necessity. According to a leading bra retailer featured on Oprah.com, 85 percent of women wear the wrong bra size.
To prevent breast spillage and unsightly bulges of flesh peeking out of the front of your blouse, find the proper bra cup size and width for your body. The right bra can reduce pounds and improve posture, instantly.
7. Slim Skirt
A slim skirt is a style tip that can whittle away pounds faster than the Lemonade Diet.
Whether you prefer the pencil skirt or another skirt incarnation to highlight your female form, every woman should have a knee-length skirt to wear with ballet flats, blazers, crisp white shirts, and twin sets.
8. Dark Boot-cut Jeans
Jeans are so amazing that noted designer Yves Saint Laurent once remarked about this wardrobe basic: “They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity — all I hope for in my clothes.”
Dark book cut jeans flatter every figure and can switch from day to night effortlessly. Who are we to disagree with Mr. Saint Laurent?
9. Versatile All Occasion Top
Every woman needs a top that can look great under a business suit during the week and worn with jeans on the weekend. Select a fabric for all seasons, in a color that flatters your skin tone.
10. Sunglasses
If you don’t want to spend 30 minutes making up your face, a chic pair of sunglasses combined with glossy lips and a quick swipe of blush will have you paparazzi-ready fast.
How do you select the right pair of shades? The right pair of sunglasses will complement your hair color, skin tone, and shape of your face.
11. Tailored Blazer
Nothing says “I am polished, professional and chic,” like a well-fitted blazer. Just like a designer bag, a woman should invest in a quality blazer with exquisite tailoring and a figure-flattering silhouette.
12. Black Pumps
The right pair of black pumps can add inches to your height…and self-esteem.
Designers from Jimmy Choo and Tory Burch to Steve Madden and Nine West carry interview-ready and nightclub appropriate black pumps for the label-loving designer snob and the bargain-hunting fashionista.
These style staples comprise a delightful cadre of wardrobe items that a well-dressed woman needs to look effortlessly chic.
Use this list of must-have wardrobe elements to give you confidence in a style emergency or to upgrade your current wardrobe from drab to fab.
My favorite timeless style tips and these 12 wardrobe basics present a wealth of chic outfit combinations to the woman with limited closet space and a large fashion imagination.
Fashion & Style Critic
June 12, 2009I think that the best wardrobe basics do not include the little black dress. So many people talk about Coco Chanel and her Ford design, and I think it is a tad bit boring. However, your writing is pretty good, so I’ll be back to read more.
Katy Blackyard
June 14, 2009The best information i have found exactly here. Keep going Thank you
Stephanie S.
July 6, 2009Hello. I think the article is really interesting. I am even interested in reading more. How soon will you update your blog?
Sarrah
August 18, 2009nice tips. all 12’s must haves always needed. thanks for this post
Sara
December 2, 2009This is the perfect article. I’m printing it out and enclosing it with a card for my mother for Christmas! Her present from all of us will be the purchasing of one item from every category for her. We plan to go to Rebecca & Drew for the crisp white shirt and the blazer, and to Linda’s for bras, but are definitely open to advice for where to go in NYC for expert help with jeans!
New Designer Fashion
December 13, 2009Hey there I discovered your webpage by mistake, I was surfing around Bing for New Designer Fashion for Women when I came upon your site, I must say your webpage is really cool I truely think the theme, its amazing!. I don’t have the time right now to totally read through your website but I have bookmarked it and also signed up for your RSS feeds. I will be back in a day or two. Thank you for a great blog.
Lorna Sission
January 30, 2010You write very well. You will Keep the others really engaged for some time 🙂 Regards, Lorna
Michelle Wood
May 19, 2010I think that you have a great list. I have only one item that I think should be added to your list, that would be a great wrap dress. It is very slimming. The wrap allows for a custom fit for all. It can worn with the blazer and flats for business, add heels and funky jewelry for gong out in the evening or just the flats for everyday.
We carry a number of wrap dresses that are made to flatter the plus sized woman at lagrandedame. Thanks for the great list. We should all keep it in mind when we are shopping.
huse
October 10, 2012Pretty nice post. I simply stumbled upon your blog and wanted to mention that I’ve really loved browsing your weblog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I’m hoping you write again soon!