Jodie's Closet by Jodie Aboud: 07/01/2013

Wardrobe essentials are the building blocks to a solid and functional style.

Examples of wardrobe staples are the basic v-neck tee, little black dress and dark wash jeans. They're simple, versatile and can be worn with almost anything, at any time of the year!

So how do you know if your wardrobe is lacking the essentials?"

It may not be that obvious to you, but a sign could be that you spend more money on buying new clothes rather than wearing them.

Here are the common tell-tale signs:

You feel like you have nothing to wear despite your stuffed wardrobe
You tend to buy a lot of new clothes and accessories that are usually worn a few times
When putting together an outfit, you may feel that your look is boring, or that you've worn it in the same way in ages

If you found one or more of those points familiar, then your wardrobe really needs a reality check with some trend-proofing!

What Exactly is a Wardrobe Essential?

Most of the staples are basic and versatile - and some pieces are essential for the various inevitable occasions such as job interviews and your conservative auntie's 60th birthday bash.

Trend proof - you can wear them on all occasions without sacrificing style
Flexible - you can change the whole look of it by adding a couple of accessories
Your wardrobe foundation - without them you'll end up feeling like something's missing. It's like not having underwear which is essential
Style savers - use them to tone down a dressy or an excessively trendy outfit
Outfit multipliers - with for example 12 basic garments you can create up to 80 outfits! (This is called 'Wardrobe Capsule')

How Does Wardrobe Essentials Work?

They're not as exciting as the current fashion trends but wardrobe essentials ups the flexibility of your style and wardrobe - which takes away a lot of the frustration we're often faced when putting together clothes.

Think of your wardrobe staples as blank canvas which you can build your outfits on.

For example, if you're wearing a plain simple black dress, you can put the "frosting" on there with statement jewelry and a pair of trendy shoes.

The closet essentials are also your outfit fixers. You can use them to tone down a too trendy or flashy outfit! Like say, if you wore a ruffled striped shirt and would like to make it less frilly, just add a plain cardigan or V-neck sweater.

You can never go wrong with plain staple pieces. They're classics that never get outdated and go with absolutely everything.

New & Updated Wardrobe List

I realized that many of the wardrobe essentials I had listed on this site prior to November 2010 were a bit limited and I've come to understand that not everyone likes black. If you've reviewed the Guide to Seasonal Color Analysis you may already know that most Springs and Summers don't suit it either!

Now before you start updating your closet with the indispensables, here are some tips on how to make the process go smoothly:

Guidelines for Buying Wardrobe Essentials

The first thing you might want to do is to review the contents of your drawers and closets. This is where Closet Organizing comes into the picture. You also want to make sure that you buy essentials suitable for your lifestyle and climate.
Get at least 2 of each, 3 is even better! It's nice to have a spare t-shirt when the one you're wearing gets a ketchup stain
After securing 2 of each type, add even more but in various styles (eg. different necklines and waist styles. Such as a basic tee with front placket - also known as Henley or grandpa t-shirt)
Secure each essential in your neutrals first (both light and dark neutral) and then move over to your best colors (eg. if you're a Winter add true-reds, hot pink, purple, etc.).
Make sure that the details and style of the staples are versatile! Avoid any fancy details and colors on your wardrobe basics - stick to simplicity first. This ensures that you'll be able to wear them with any style and outfit.
Your most expensive wardrobe essential (eg. wool coat) should always be a neutral color.

Best neutrals for cool skin tones: Black, navy, grey, snow and soft white. Silver. Anything blue-based.
Best neutrals for warm skin tones: Brown, navy (for the deep and warm), olive, camel, cream. Gold. Anything yellow-based.

Black is considered a staple for classy fashionistas, but it can look horrible on you if you're a Summer or Spring (Clear Spring and Cool Winters are an exception). But the trick is to wear it with a color from your palette, or away from the face if possible.

The Chic Fashionista/ Source