Wardrobe Essentials

Trinny and Susannah are the battle axes of British style, when they get their cruel fingers on a poor unsuspecting housewife and start prodding her I feel like only good can come of the situation with their wealth of knowledge. All their tips on what top will make your boobs look big/small and which trousers cut off your leg are great and have helped me alot with my quest for style. However, I was forever left confused about what exactly I should buy for my wardrobe until I came across the enlightening blog of Dilly. Here is a woman who has it sussed and I advice you spend some time studying this link below http://womanwardrobeneeds.blogspot.com/2005/06/staples-for-every-womans-wardrobe.html


Dilly's blog got me thinking about what I use my clothes for and how I live my life. It's important that your clothes reflect your lifestyle and that you don't have what I call the reverse cinderella symdrome with eight beautiful ballgowns in your closet but no ball to go to! I would challenge you to make your own list of essentials and taylor them to your lifestyle. I don't have an office job, infact I'm a poor lowly student, so never ever have the need for a suit and would not include it in my list until perhaps I start my career. Even for an interview I wouldn't wear a suit; black trousers, a crisp shirt and a v-neck sweater are appropriate for my age and the jobs I go for.


It's true that whatever your size and budget you CAN look great. The trick is to learn what suits your shape and know what to invest in with your hard earned cash. So, once you've got your essential list (curtesy of Dilly's blog) think how to adapt it to your shape and lifestyle. Here's how I adapted my list....

1. I have no need for a suit so I scrapped this from the list BUT black trousers ARE indispensible. I bought a pair from Next for £22, their a wide leg cut because I find this helps lengthen my legs and skims over my saddle bags they have a wide waistband that help protect against muffin tops. I wear these for ever occassion under the sun including less casual ones such as chilling with the boyfriend or a trip into town. I also wear them under my wrap dress for a very trendy look.

2. Jeans. These are the best invention known to man/woman as they are SO versitile. You can take one pair of dark blue denim jeans and dress them up or down. As you know my search for the perfect pair is in the hanging at the moment as I've found THEM but am still saving my pennies. I aim to have two pairs eventually; one for casual and one for special. Bootcut is without a doubt the way forward for me as they balance my tummy out and for the specials I might considor a funky pocket. I feel at the tender age of 21 I can probably get away with a bit of glitz on my posterior for at least another five years.

3. Boots. I love beautifully crafted boots, long boots, that make your legs look sexy and trim. Definately go for black if you like it but I am incredibly fond of brown leather. I have a pair of long brown leather boots but they are a little narrow, next autumn I think I'll get a black pair as long as their not tarty looking or too shiny. I don't like pointy toes as they cramp my totsies so the mission for the perfect boot may be long and hard. I feel they really to HAVE to be long otherwise you can't wear them with skirts and where's the fun in that!?

4. Smart black court shoes. I probably would have left these off as well but an interview last year deemed them suddenly essential. Since purchasing a pair I've discovered they'll be called for at my graduation ceremony (yey) and of course the dreaded school placements for my future teacher training course (eek)! Again pointy shoes I always think look a little witchy and harsh so I opted for a cool long boxed toe with a silver bar. I also went for quite a high heel as i don't want those Year 11 boys towering over me too much in class when I'm dishing out detentions! Hehe! ;-)

5. The black dress. A black jersey dress is indispensible to me. Mine is a scoop neck with t-shirt sleeves and a sophiticated slit at the back. Think Audrey Hepburn. Knee length is of course the way to do it. The fabric doesn't cling and the cut accentuates my waist and curves. Good luck in your search, I found mine in Monsoon of all places for a snip at £50. I wear it to dressy events with my cute red shrug and even to lectures dressed down with boots. This isn't my LBD, it's my day to night black dress, my little black dress is of a completely seperate function. My LBD has a heart shaped bodice and tight slinky skirt, think more Marilyn than Audrey, sexy not innocent. The LBD isn't as neccessary for all women as the sophisticated one but mine went down a trest at my 21st and I'll probably be doning it for New Years Eve.

6. Earrings. I don't like silver hoop earrings I think they make me look common and cold as I have a long face and Roman nose. With my Eastern European complexion hooped earrings always seem to make me look like I should be gazing into a crystal ball. I opt for silver earrings but my old favourites are simple dangly bars in a Mackintosh design, simple yet stylish. The rest of the time I wear diamond studs, this way my look is always detailed and classy. If I wear an eyecatching necklace I don't wear dangly earring unless they really complement, less is more, I stick to the studs.

7. A black cardigan. My version of the black sweater. I saw this round necked cardi in Monsoon and fell in love with it once I'd tryed it on. It has a lovely silk lining so hangs beautifully and the large buttons give a bit more interest than a pull over. That said a v-neck sweater is better as it goes with more tops. I need to buy one.

8. A trendy wrap dress. I never manage to find a print skirt I like but my lovely butterfly print wrap dress is a staple now. I think most skirts make me look dumpier than I am and generally dresses have a better line on my apple shaped body. My quest for a flattering skirt is trying. Out of the two skirts I do own one gets more wear than the other, this is because it's a denim mini and the other is a heavy but flattering pale blue flared cord skirt. The latter although shows of my butt to to it's best is a bit bulky around the middle but the mini is fab, I've had it since I was about 16 and it still fits and looks great with boots and tights in the winter. A wrap dress and denim mini definately replace a print skirt in my essentials list. Remember an a-line skirt can make petite women look dumpy this is why I have no success, go with something clingy on the bum and flared at the hem.

9. A trendy jacket/blazer. I'm not sure about this one for me??? I used to borrow my roommates all the time and it was lovely as it nipped in my waist and my great for finer weather and nights out. I just need to find one in a colour I'll use often as black seems too well black for a trendy blazer. Any suggestions???

10. My pink signature sweater. The colour of choice for Lizzie Lou and a great alternative to the black cardi.

11. The silver bangle and amber ring = my trademark accessory.

12. That elusive evening top. I've never found one I love, they always make me feel like a tart and I'm lost on this one too. BUT I am absolutely sure I need at least one as I never have anything to dress jeans or my black trousers up with for an evening out!

13. Many t-shirts in all colours thta suit. Black, white, pink, blue etc being the best for me.

14. A winter coat. I've got a funny dark turqouise blue one with huge lapels. It's cool but unfortunately a lot of girls on campus thought the same thing when they spotted it in TopShop. Because it is such an unusual colour I'm thinking of getting a black coat this winter with a nice lining and cut (e.g. spend some money) so my coat doesn't become too memorable.

15. One skin coloured and one black bra. Make sure you've got them and they fit and don't show through tees. I also love a pretty and simple white one.

16. Of course you need underwear and lots of it. Remember, no holes, no stains and no VPL! Get yourself to M&S pronto and buy black and white only. I love cute knickers but own far too many and sometimes I struggle to find a pair without a bow or lace that ARE practical.

17. All hail the candy pink pashmina. Whatever your colour you need one of these, great for warmth at a posh do or as a scarf when casual. Garanteed to enhance any outfit and the wearer to a higher social class lol!

18. Evening clutch. Big enough for mobile, keys, a pouch of money/card and your lippie. I love Radley bags and have a dark brown leather one which won't go out of fashion cos it's such a classic.

19. Daily handbag. Whatever your style or colour preference. Mine is cheap but smart from Next. I like to change my handbag yearly so don't buy expensive ones as I'd get bored of carrying the same one for too long. It is after all something you carry daily.

20. Going out shoes. Mine are round toed low wedges but the most brilliant thing about them is that their orange! Crazy I know but fun! I think if your shoes can make or break any outfit. These shoes serve the function of personality portrayor, their a really pretty colour and a fab fit. The low wedge means I can wear them for hours.

21. Sunglasses. Mine are brown because I have a fair complexion but if you you can take it on your face go black tres chic!

22. Bikini - I like halter necks with support and tie string bottoms to make my legs appear longer. For my holiday this summer I'd like to get a 'lounging' and 'active' bikini' so that means one total glam and one practical yet attractive.
AND other things such as shorts and trainers for sport.

23. Cropped trousers if you've got the leg length for them are a great style essential for spring/summer. I however am not leggy SO I try to find a reasonable alternative in cute khaki shorts for summer days and stick to light weight trousers for when I need to cover up.