UPTOWN TV – Episode 1
Items That Every Woman Should Have In Her Wardrobe
When building a timeless capsule wardrobe start thinking about purchasing clothes as building your own personal portfolio. You want to buy pieces that are timeless, long-lasting and represent you. A capsule wardrobe enables you to always look your best while ensuring you to have something fierce and fabulous to wear to every occasion.
If you think having a capsule wardrobe is boring…think again! Having fewer pieces leaves you in control and also enables you to spend that bit extra and go designer! It’s the ultimate guilt free indulgence!
So my top 12 must have items to take your wardrobe from over-crowded and dull to Carrie Bradshaw to die for status:
1. Little Black Dress
The perfect LBD is timeless wardrobe essential. Think Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. It can take you to almost every occasion with effortless glamour. Dress it down and wear it during the day with flats or accessorise it at night with a statement necklace and strappy heels. The LBD will always keep you fresh, fabulous and sexy!
The key to selecting the perfect little black dress is simple…it has to be the one that looks best on you. You want to feel impeccably chic, elegant and sexy every time you slip it on, so one that compliments your body and shows off your best features is important.
Labels that do the little black dress to perfection: Chanel, D&G and Prada.
2. Gorgeous Day Dress
A Day dress will have you looking sophisticated, feminine and elegant without being overdressed. A classic shift dress, t-shirt dress or the wrap dress – are perfect examples of this. Alternatively, this Autumn / Winter 2010 both Louis Vuitton and Prada revisited the 1950’s and 60’s wasp waists and full circle skirts. This fun, feminine silhouette will make a stunning style statement for day!
Luscious labels for beautiful day dresses include: DVF, Miu Miu and Elizabeth and James.
3. Crisp White Shirt
The crisp white shirts always look immaculately fresh and stylish no matter what the occasion or season. Find one that works on your body and minimises any areas that you wish to cover.
Check out Stella McCartney for crisp perfection.
4. Well fitted Dress Trousers
Trousers are a must for every wardrobe. A pair that falls straight from the widest part of your hip will cut a flattering silhouette and make a style statement. Choose trousers in a dark shade of timeless black, navy or gorgeous chocolate. Luxe wools and silks will create the perfect tailored swing as you walk. Right now trousers have made a return to smart leg lengthening styles (forget harems pants and slouchy sweat pants). These ultra flattering styles make for fail safe glamour day and night.
See Marc Jacobs and Chloe for lust worthy styles.
5. Sexy Jeans
As everyone knows a great pair of jeans, that are flattering and sexy, will take you anywhere you want to go. There are many options available to you from wide leg, skinny leg, high waisted, low rise – so it is imperative to try on as many pairs as you can, ask for advice and choose the ones that compliment you most. The key areas to look at are: cut, rise, colour, length and size.
Sassy jeans labels Seven for All Mankind and True Religion will have you bootylicious in no time.
6. Beautiful top or Blouse
An all occasion top is essential to bring out your own style edge. Choose one that will work with your other wardrobe samples and makes a statement about you.
Go bold in prints or colour or keep it simple, feminine and elegant. Designer blouses are like no other.
7. Gorgeous Jacket or Blazer
A fitted jacket or blazer will keep you warm and also act a perfect accompaniment to any outfit. Perfect for the office over your dress trousers and blouse, over jeans and white tee for a catch-up with your girlfriends or over a LBD for a hot date. A well cut blazer adds an instant hit of sophistication to any look.
You can’t go past a to die for Chanel tweed jacket! It has to be the top choice (the only choice) and the jacket every other jacket wants to be! Enough said.
8. Classic Trench Coat
The classic trench coat can be worn everywhere with style and ease. Wear it to the office, to get grocery shopping or the opera. It always works!
The trench coat is the makeshift of the Burberry brand and they do them flawlessly. You cannot go wrong there!
9. All occasion Skirt
When choosing your all occasion skirt, it is important to thing about how you will wear it. Be sure you can dress it up with a blazer for the evening or dress it down with a denim jacket for day. To keep your skirt relevant for years to come, go with a modest length – just above the knee.
Most designers have a great version of the all occasion skirt. Vivienne Westwood’s sexy take on the pencil skirt or Celine’s simple leather skirts. There will definitely be one to perfectly fit you and your style.
10. Your perfect dream Handbag which will compliment your wardrobe
Who doesn’t need a gorgeous handbag to hold all of their belongings while enhancing their outfit. This season handbags have taken a turn toward grown up, simplicity. The logos and bling have been replaced with classic, smart styles you can wear for years to come.
Love love love Prada handbags that will be elegant and coveted for years to come. But if you want to go truly timeless the Chanel 2.55 quilted bag is the only way to go.
The last two items on my list are shoes. The more expensive shoes are generally means the higher the quality and better the comfort for your feet. Two types of classic shoes which I believe you should invest in are:
11. A classic pair of sexy Black Heels
Black heels without saying go with every outfit, they make you feel sexier instantly after slipping them on and they also do wonders for your body silhouette.
Make an investment and go with Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin or Jimmy Choo. Carrie Bradshaw didn’t get to where she was going in anything else.
12. Chic, comfortable Ballet Flats
Looking fantastic while being comfortable is important and who can go past ballet flats for pure ease and sophistication.
Marc Jacobs and Lanvin create divine ballet flats that look simply gorgeous. Or why not go all out with traditional Chanel black and white ballet flats – your feet, wardrobe and style will thank you for it.
When making your capsule collection purchases wardrobe planning does make a world of difference.
Start off my looking at your wardrobe and decide which of these items are missing and prioritise from there. Be sure to represent your own style within these 12 categories too. Choose a colour plate that you love and looks best on your complexion. Plan your capsule wardrobe around two or three neutrals (eg; navy, grey, off white) and one or two accent shades, like red. By knowing your individual colour direction it makes building your capsule wardrobe easy and stress-free!
Always purchase the pieces that work like magic on your body shape. Why invest in pieces that don’t accentuate the areas of your body that you love. And don’t be afraid of the size – choose the size that fits you best now…. you will look 100% better for it.
When it comes to a capsule wardrobe think less is more! Good quality, classic pieces can be reinvented time and time again. A capsule wardrobe is an investment in your wardrobe and most importantly in yourself.
One response to “UPTOWN TV – Episode 1”
Great advice, I think you can really update and keep your capsule wardrobe on trend with well chosen pieces and key accessories, for example this season, injecting some animal print pumps into your look would totally update it.
Check out my site for an upcoming AW10 capsule wardrobe
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