How to Build a Wardrobe…

For most ladies that work in office settings, business attire makes up 75-90% of our wardrobes!  With that being said, it’s important to make the most of our wardrobes by buying staples and being able to mix and match those important pieces. Because you want these pieces to stay in your wardrobe for years to come, remember that quality or quantity is key!  If you have to buy one staple item per month (or every couple of months), but that staple piece is of the highest quality, you will thank yourself later! These items get the most wear (and tear) out of your wardrobe and need to be durable enough to stand the challenge!

What is a staple?  A staple is that garment that is classic (never goes out of style), fits well, and can be worn in a variety of ways.  When building your “staple” wardrobe, try to buy neutral colors that can be worn across various seasons— black, tan, white, beige/ivory, gray, etc.  Also, look for fabrics that are not tied to one specific season (i.e. virgin wools, cottons, twills, poplins, knits, etc.).  Buying classic silhouettes is important and try to stay away from overly “trendy” styles that are just around for a season or two.  For dresses and skirts: A-line, straight, and pencil skirt styles translate from season to season; and for pants: bootcut and straightleg can be worn with boots, pumps, wedges or flats (I would only buy wideleg or skimmer-length after buying the important staples first). You should always have a variety of collared (and collarless) blouses that can be worn under a cardigan, vest, or blazer.  For casual Fridays (or, at least for those of us that are fortunate to have “jean” days), keep a classic jean jacket (which can be worn with a maxi dress or casual skirt), basic 5 pocket jeans (for me, my go-to is Levi’s Curve ID in skinny and straightleg styles), and cardigans in the hot months that can go over your tank tops. 

 My staple work wardrobe is as follows:

• black pencil skirt
• khaki straight skirt
• black sheath dresses (capsleeve and sleeveless)
• black The Limited slacks (bootcut, wideleg, and slim/ankle length)
• pinstripe slacks (both are bootcut— grey pinstripe and brown pinstripe)
• khaki pants (both pairs are khaki tan color—straightleg and slim/ankle length)
• collared long-sleeve button-up shirts (white, black, white with navy blue stripes, and light pink)
• basic long-sleeve cotton cardigans (white, black, dark pink, chocolate, tan, and teal)
• black peplum blazer (cotton twill so that it can be worn across several seasons)
• print thin lapel blazer (again, cotton twill)
• 3 pairs of black leather pumps (peep-toe pair, platform pair, pointy-toe pair, round-toe pair, and slingback pair)
• 1 black leather tote bag
• 1 brown canvas tote bag
• 1 silver and white face watch with black leather band
• 1 gold bracelet watch
• Stud earrings (oversized white pearls, silver balls, and gold balls)

I have listed my wardrobe as an example to give you an idea of simple (but basic) items that can be worn season after season for years to come! I have also listed some pieces below to give you a starting point!