“But I Don’t Have Anything to Wear?”: Creating Staple Wardrobe Pieces

Have you ever walked up to your refrigerator, opened at the door and stared? Food is on the shelves, a few bottles of juice and water stare back at you, yet, you have no idea what to eat. Sometimes, this stare down can occur in our closets as well. You are ready to get dressed, but somehow you feel as if your closet is barren. What’s a girl to do?

I very much relate to this dilemma. Standing, thinking, “What in the world am I going to wear?” All the while, that short sleeved, teal blouse with the cowl neck is whispering, “pick me, pick me!”

To prevent this déjà vu experience every time you step into your closet, there are some key pieces every woman should have to make the most out of their wardrobe.

Tops

You can never have too many white pieces in your closet; especially when it comes to tops. White symbolizes purity and innocence; but white also stands for completeness. I can’t think for another way to make your wardrobe more complete than to own white pieces.

Casual White Tank-

This is a great piece to pair with your favorite skinny or boot cut jeans when running errands, shopping at the mall or visiting your local coffee shop. Combine this piece with your favorite wedge heel, sandals or boots to polish off the look.

Dress White Tank-

Dress tanks are great for dressing up your favorite pair of jeans (for example, a front sequined tank); or a silk white tank to wear with your dress pants. Pair with a blazer or lightweight cardigan to finish off the style.

White Button-Down Blouse-

A classic white button down blouse is versatile to wear many other pieces; a pencil skirt, a pair of jeans or dress pants. You can also dress it up with a jacket or a chunky necklace.

Alternatively, the above garments in black, should accompany the white pieces.

Jeans

Jeans are in almost everyone’s closet. As a society, jeans are one of those comfort pieces we go to when making clothing purchases. Jeans are a multi-purpose piece; you can dress them up or down. Dark denim, like an indigo hue, are perfect since the color is slimming and works great if you want a comfortable, dressed up look. Rock these with stilettos and an asymmetrical cut blouse for a fun night on the town.

Jackets/Sweater/Coats

There should be basic outerwear pieces to complement your outfits. Use them to dress up your look, or for warmth in cooler weather. A nice blazer for women (black would be the most useful color); a lightweight and medium weight cardigan and a nice coat, such as a pea coat, in both short and long lengths (for colder climates). Since we are discussing staple pieces, colors such as grey, black and white are best as they complement other hues very well.

Pants/Skirts

For pants, you will want to buy a quality garment, made with a higher end fabric. The extra dollar will be well worth the length of time you can wear the piece. A straight leg or wide leg pant depending on preference is nice to have. Again, black works best since it is flattering with other colors.

Pencil skirts are another classic piece. Like dress pants, they work well in the professional environment and can transition into the evening if needed with a quick change of the top or accessories.

Dresses

I think we have all heard of the LBD- little black dress. It has become renowned as the end all and be all of dresses to own. It can be professional one minute and dressed up the other. Additionally it works well with all the other colors of the rainbow. Paired with nice stilettos, a bolero jacket or a nice wide belt, this piece just works! When purchasing, I would look for a nice slender silhouette that hugs the body in the right places to complement your shape, and skim loosely where needed.

Shoes and bags

Like the LBD, the same applies to the shoes and bags; LBS (little black shoe) and LBB (little black bag). For the shoes, chose something comfortable and classic in style. Flats and heels are great options (I’m partial to a 4 inch heel myself).

For your bag, I would stick to clean lines and shapes such as a satchel or a lady bag. Hobo bags are great and stylish; however, they tend to be more casual in appearance. Look for a style that can transition from day to night if needed.

As you can see there is a trend, black, white, (and sometimes grey) as well classic shapes and styles. These work best since they can be worn in any season, no matter what year it is. In addition, the colors work best with everything else. You almost cannot go wrong.

I would also add that at least two pieces of each type of item would be ideal to own for the longevity of the garment.

If you already own some of these pieces, great! If not, happy shopping! I know I am always looking for an excuse.