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Does your wardrobe need some work ladies? When you are shopping for clothing essentials to build a winning wardrobe keep these general tips in mind. They will go a long way in making your wardrobe outstanding! And while you are at it, learn to relax in, polish, accessorize and finally put your look together with these timeless fashion ideas that easily take you from daytime work or casual mode to nighttime glamour in no time at all! So without delay, let us get started.

Building a Winning Wardrobe

So how do you build a winning wardrobe exactly? First you need to know what to look for when you are shopping. The key is to always choose well-fitting garments that you feel good in and that suit your body type. Aim for clothing in classic in timeless styles and stay away from trendy clothes, as they likely will not be trendy for very long. To get the most from your money, consider investing more in fashions that you get the most wear from, for example the ones that will take you through the long seasons of the coldest weather, such as autumn through winter. This means in particular spending more on outer wear such as coats, jackets and boots as opposed to shorts, tee shirts and bathing suits for the summer months.

Three or four tops are really all you need to get your wardrobe off to a winning start. Go for sweaters (pullovers or cardigans or both) and/or blouses, depending on what your taste gravitates towards. Or maybe you could buy a bit of both. You also might want to invest in one or two basis short sleeve tops to wear under a blazer to work or to wear under a sweater for casual wear.

For the bottom half of your body, suit up with three bottoms such as two pairs of pants and one skirt to get off to a smashing wardrobe start. If you are not fond of wearing skirts then stick with pants. It is advisable that at least one of the pairs of pants should be black because black is a staple in the world of fashion. Black also goes with everything, is a conservative color that can also be sophisticated and black flatters practically every figure. Navy or grey would be good choices for your other pairs of pants. As far as the skirt goes, you cannot go wrong with a black skirt either. The same principles that apply to black pants also apply to skirts.

No wardrobe would be complete without at least one suit. Every woman needs at least one suit for those occasions, whether they be social or work oriented when nothing else will do. Suits are classic but they are also professional and can be charming and graceful when you fancy them up with just the right kind of jewelry and shoes. Choose a suit that is a blazer and pants or even better, a suit that is a blazer and pants. But whatever you do, do not make a habit of splitting a suit by wearing the pants alone for example. This is a fashion no no! Most likely if you do this then that will mean that the pieces are dry-cleaned separately and that is bad news for the life of the suit. When one piece of clothing gets more wear than another you lose the suit look that you wanted in the first place when you bought it. It will then become very obvious to other people that one piece of your suit is worn more other than the other! Do not let this happen to you!

Every woman needs a flair of creativity in her wardrobe so when you go shopping look for a fun or novelty blazer or jacket to jazz things up a little just do not buy anything that is trendy or is too loud (in other words is ghastly in color or design). It is recommended that you look for a novelty blazer in either a texture or a tweed material. Try investing in one that will give you a burst of color but will not blind people. Look for a jacket or blazer that you can wear with any of your pants, including your casual ones and your jeans.

Accessories are so essential to the building of any wardrobe and be aware that accessories of all descriptions including jewelry of every kind, shoes, belts, brooches, handbags, scarves and shawls tend to be the hottest items every new fashion season. Have fun with the variety of accessories that are out there and realize that accessories are the key to adding more personality to your outfits as well as affording you the opportunity to modify how an outfit looks.

So with these basic tips for shopping for clothes in mind, what do you need for the casual and the polished look? Read on for some ideas for the smart fashionista in all of us women!

Casual Attire

What does casual mean to you? Casual means, comfortable and relaxed and it signals clothing with a lived in feel. But this does not have to mean messy or untidy by any means. Get with it girlfriend! Casual is where it is at!

Must-Have Sweaters- Five Stylish Options

1. Cozy cable-knit turtleneck
2. Polished short-sleeve crewneck
3. Colorful cardigan (excellent to wear in place of a jacket in either spring or fall)
4. Classic V-neck sweater
5. Black turtleneck (it is the everyday cannot go wrong sweater)

Shirts

-Crisp white shirt
-Flowing black button-front shirt (I know you will reach fro this one time and time again!)
-Pinstripe shirt (invest in one with thin stripes)

Pants- A casual staple in any wardrobe

-Jeans (any cut, however boot cut does not flatter most ladies figures)
-Straight-leg check pants
-White or off white pants (they are not just for summer anymore ladies, wear with confidence any time for casual flair! Have you never heard of winter white?)

Tee shirts- excellent for layering purposes

-Long-sleeve tee shirts (the sky is the limit when it comes to colors, use your vivid imagination and buy many)
-Short-sleeve tee shirts (especially for the warmer months, of course!)
Tees are a must for everyone just make sure you buy one in black and one in white as they will look great worn together but also worn separately. Mix and match girlfriend!

The Polished Look is Classic and Sexy!

Are you out the door and on your way to work or a business meeting? Or perhaps is it time for a much-deserved night on the town with your man or your best gal pals? Whatever the case may be, you will look your most polished and put together with these fine pieces of apparel.

-Classic shift dress (nothing works better)
This dress is stream lined and black and is always a winner!

Skirts

There are three that make top marks:

1. Tailored pencil skirt
2. Dressy A-line skirt
3. Flirty tweed skirt

It is important to note that the most flattering skirt length is considered to be just above the knee, or just brushing the middle of the knee.

Evening Dress

Always think elegant when it comes to your choice of evening dress.

Floor length dresses are back in style again. Some say they should never have gone out of style at all. A floor length dress that is simple in design is the way to go. As far as color is concerned, a color such as metallic gold is a classic and timeless and also suits most skin tones.

Undergarments

A discussion of wardrobe basics would not be complete without a look at undergarments. Let us face it, sometimes undergarments are the clothing we love to hate and at other times they are our saving grace.

Seamless bra and panty set (this is a must for any woman)
Panty styles- choose brief, bikini, thong or a combination thereof

Cami- Sexy camisoles are such wardrobe essentials. Whatever you do own more than one in a variety of colors. Be mindful of the fact that neutrals such as beige, white and the fashion staple black are the best colors to start with. Once you have these you can build toward more vibrant colors such as red, plum, green and so on.)

Chic pantyhose colors- Hosiery is mega important ladies and you know it. Staple colors to keep on hand for both day and nighttime wear include black opaque, black fishnet, black sheer, nude fishnet and nude sheer. Be aware that sheer pantyhose are the absolute best for showing off your legs for a night out. For cold winter wear to work you might want to invest in a pair or a couple of pairs of tights (which are very much like the leotards we wore as young girls).

Footwear

-Sleek pointed toe pump (if your feet are not too pained by the point)
-Tailored low heel (pump shoe)
-Flexible suede loafer
-Metallic strappy heel

-Dressy walking boots (riding style is both practical and attractive)
-Knee-high high heel boots

Tip-Wear neutral metallic shoes with both dressy and casual styles.

Accessories

Practical and Stylish Bags

-A structured leather tote is a must for daytime (black or brown are the absolute best color choices)
-Classic metallic clutch (for evening glamour)

Sunglasses

-Classy tortoise shell frames
-Sporty metal shades (the frameless kind are excellent for afternoon fun)

Watches

-Polished black leather band watch (suitable for daytime, work, etc.)
-Two-tone metal band watch (excellent for nighttime wear)

Belts

-Thin textured belt
-Black and brown reversible belt (for an assortment of different looks)

And the Style Continues!

What you wear on the outside is just as important as what you wear on the inside so when it comes to jackets, coats and the like, here are some suggestions that you do not want to miss!

Outerwear Ideas

-Statement- making jacket (a classic is a duffel style)
-Tailored three-button coat
-Classic trench (full or three quarter length, both are good choices)
-Corduroy (brown or black, however not all women can pull off this look!)

Pair your coat with a sleek pair of gloves (the color is up to you)

Finishing Touches

-Stylish wrap (coordinate the color with your outerwear)
-Printed scarf (red is always vibrant and so alive looking and it sets off a neutral colored coat beautifully)