The Elements of a Basic Wardrobe

You Need These

A few well-coordinated pieces will see you through a number of situations.

Go through your closet, keeping only those things that pass 3 questions:
Do I love it?       Is it flattering?       Is this the image I want to project?

• 1 dress (a working woman may want to add one more that can be worn with a jacket by day or with a wrap for evening events)
• 1 three-piece suit (jacket, pants and skirt) Wear together or to dress up the following items.
• 5 solid colored knit tops with varying necklines – V or curved – depending on your harmony lines, turtleneck, boatneck and so on and with varying sleeve lengths
• 1 collared shirt or blouse
• 1 pair of slacks, chinos or cropped pants in a neutral color
• 1 pair of modern (unembellished) jeans in a deep denim wash. (Save the light ones to clean out the garage.)
• 1 tweed, suede or wool jacket that goes well with all of the above
• 1 dressy short jacket, coat, cape or shawl
• 1 coat in navy, camel, brown, black, or dark green
• 1 bag or tote in beige, brown, black or gray
• 1 pair of strappy heels for evening in a dark neutral color or a metallic
• 1 pair of midheel leather or suede boots in dark brown, black or gray
• 1 pair of flats in a useful neutral
• 1 pair of pumps in a dark neutral
• 1 pair of sneakers or walking shoes

The bottom line: if it doesn’t look good on you, it’s not in style.