Money is tight right now but I have spoken with a lot of young, professional women who are trying to build their career wardrobe but can’t afford to “just put in the bag.” As a professional and former retail manager, I am going to share my top ten items that every woman should have in her closet. The #1 thing that you need to be mindful of is not becoming a slave to labels. The designer is not nearly as important as the fit.
- A business suit that makes you feel like a million dollars. It should be a dark color and can be a skirt/jacket or pant/jacket combination depending on what feels most comfortable. This is going to be a staple of your wardrobe so you should plan to spend a little more on it than some of your other suits. If necessary, spend the extra money to have tailored so that it fits perfectly.
- A solid color skirt that goes with everything. I have a flowy black skirt that I pair with tee shirts and flats but it also looks perfect with a nice top and heels. It is one of my go to pieces when I travel because it is so versatile. Make sure this skirt is ideal for your body type (i.e. pencil, a-line, biased).
- A pair of well-fitting dress pants. These will be very similar to the skirt mentioned in #2. You need to decide if you will wear them primarily with heels or flats or if you want to invest in two pair. It is important to make this consideration because you want them to fall perfectly with your shoes. There is nothing more tragic than seeing a woman whose pants are too short or too long
- A little black dress. We all hear about this dress and she is worthy of the rumors. You need her because she can be dressed up for an evening dinner or dressed down for Sunday brunch. This number should be so versatile until the accessories create her identity. I have a black sheath that I pair with a belt and pearls for church, a dinner jacket and cocktail ring for a banquet and even a shawl and leopard flats for a dinner meeting.
- Comfortable underwear. I know we all want to feel sexy but sometimes sexy is not comfortable. You need to make sure you have a stock of underwear that will get you through the day without feeling like murdering anyone or without your boob falling out. Panty lines can be a distraction for some men so consider underwear that are designed to not create a line if you don’t feel comfortable in thongs.
- Dark colored heels that are at least 1 1/2 inches high. I know some women hate wearing heels but they are somewhat of a necessary evil. A nice comfortable pair of heels will help to elongate your body, improve your posture and give you a sense of confidence like nothing else in the world. Some women prefer higher heels which I think is great, as long as you can walk in them. Second to ill-fitting pants is seeing a woman unable to make it to the door because her heels are too high. It isn’t that serious. Always think comfort over looks because if you feel good, you will look good.
- Basic tees in black, white and your favorite color. I buy new staple tees in these colors every season. Long sleeves for fall and winter and short sleeves for spring and summer. I do so because the necklines (vneck, crew, etc) change and I like for the color to look fresh. These tees are great with your business suit (in a business casual environment) and will look great with your other staples. Refer back to #5 and make sure your bra works well under the tees. Bad bra + cute tee = disaster!
- The perfect jeans. I am not ashamed to admit that I have no problem spending upwards of $100 on a pair jeans. Crazy you may think but the perfect jeans will make your booty look so delicious until they will be worth the splurge. Jeans can go from day to night, be dressed up or down, travel with you and even see more girl’s nights out than any other piece in your wardrobe. I have a pair that have earned the money I spent through the free drinks they have earned.
- Comfortable flats. I have reached the age where I think comfort first when getting dressed in the morning. I recently invested in a cute pair of leopard Sam & Libby flats. They make me smile on those days when I look at heels and just shake my head no. They are also great for those days that require a lot of walking. Being in business around a lot of men require that I keep up. Some days a pair of heels just won’t do but I refuse to sacrifice being cute (lol).
- A fun jacket/blazer. I have invested in several lately but recommend you find one that will work with the bottoms described above as well as your tees. This jacket can be trendy, casual, dressy or whatever will work for your work environment. Paired with different bottoms, shoes and accessories; you can change its look a million times.
I hope this helps you build a professional yet personal and practical wardrobe without breaking the bank. Next week, I will provide “Wardrobe Essentials for Men.”
What are some of your favorite pieces in your wardrobe?
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