15 Fashion Essentials Every Woman Should Own

It’s great to own fun things that accessorize your wardrobe, but without the essentials it’s hard to make a cohesive outfit. Do you find yourself staring blankly at your closet in the morning, clothes spilling out, still feeling like you have nothing to wear? You may be feeling this way because you’re missing the essentials that pull an outfit together. I’m talking about the things that you can throw together and wear with pretty much anything – like a black blazer, the perfect pair of pumps, or a great pair of dark denim jeans.

That’s why I’ve put together a list of the top 15 things that I believe every woman should own. All of these items make it possible for you to move fearlessly forward and wear all those other lonely accessories hanging in your closet, with tags still own, begging not to be ignored.

1. Black blazer – preferably “boyfriend style”
Black is a power color and wearing a black blazer gives off the impression that you mean business. I like the boyfriend blazer because it’s more versatile than the classic fitted blazer. You can wear it as part of a suit, or you can wear it out at night. Dress it down with a t-shirt and jeans or dress it up with a dress or a pencil skirt.

2. Pencil skirt
If you have to buy one thing for business-formal occasions, make it a pencil skirt. For work, wear it with a blazer and pumps. To dress it down, try it with a t-shirt and flats.

3. Dark jeans – skinny or bootcut
Find a pair of jeans that fits you like a glove – not too tight, not too loose. Avoid rips, and make sure it has very little fading. Blogher has some great tips for finding the perfect pair of jeans for you.

4. Plain white t-shirt
A great cotton t-shirt can be worn with pretty much anything (think tucked into skirts, with jeans, scarves, etc.). I’m not talking about a men’s t-shirt you might wear to the gym, I’m talking about a fitted (but not skin tight) woman’s t-shirt. Personally, I prefer v-necks, and American Apparel has some great ones!

5. Black leggings
When leggings came back into style, it was like clothing brands had finally given us the “go ahead” to wear pajamas during the day – they’re that comfortable! But there are some legging rules I suggest you follow in order to keep yourself from looking like you just rolled out of bed. 1) Your leggings should to be thick because otherwise they have a tendency to be a little see-through. 2) And they should be worn with shirts, sweaters and tunics that cover your rear end. (Or they can be worn with dresses, which seems to be socially acceptable but I’m not a big fan of that look.) I really love Bebe’s leggings (pictured above) because they’re high waisted, so they flatten your tummy, and they’re nice and thick. They also last forever!

6. Leather Jacket
I raved about the benefits of having a black leather jacket in this post, so I won’t dwell on that here. But I do want to add that I’m not suggesting every woman go out and drop $400 on a leather jacket. There are actually a lot of faux leather jackets on the market right now that look totally real for well under $100.

7. Two LBDs – A “business-y” one, and a “sassy” one
When you’re going to an event and you feel like you don’t have anything to wear – you can always turn to the little black dress. For business events, your parents’ dinner parties, networking events, etc. you should have a LBD that is modest, classy, and flattering. Your sassy LBD should be a little sexier (but not slutty!), to be worn when you’re “going out.” My general rule for this dress is that if it’s going to be short, make sure it isn’t low cut, and if it’s going to be low cut, make sure it’s not short. Pair either of these dresses with fun jewelry and pumps and you’re good to go.

8. Plain black pumps
Plan black pumps are boring, but they’re a must-have for work and formal events. I’ve gone though about a million pairs over the past few years because I’ve worn them to death. I suggest buying a pair with a decent heel so that it makes your calves look nice with skirts, but not such a high heel that you’re drawing a lot of attention to yourself. These shoes don’t need to be stand out shoes, they’re mostly functional.

9. Neutral pumps in blush and/or camel
I went on and on about how wonderful camel is in this post, so I won’t bore you with my tangent for the second time – but neutral pumps are all the rage right now because they make your legs look long and lean.

10. “Sassy” pumps
These are the shoes that should be the attention-getters. Either the huge heel is what stands out, the color, the pattern (or if you’re really daring – all three!).

11. Sensible (but elegant) flats
A flat can be just as nice as a heel if it’s made from supple leather, it’s timeless, and it’s got a nice shape to it. Look for a pair of flats that is comfortable enough that you’re inclined to wear it on those days when you’re just not in the mood to wear heels.

12. Colorful scarf
Bored with your outfit? Wearing a shit that’s a little too low cut? Cold? Here’s an easy fix for all of your problems: Add a colorful scarf! Need some more inspiration? Texture Silk has some cool ideas for how to tie your scarves.

13. Two-toned jewelry
Two-toned jewelry bridges the gap between all of your jewelry. It’s great! You don’t want everything to be two tones, but it’s nice to have to option to wear silver with gold and not to have to worry about it.

14. An elegant, small black handbag
For events, going out, work… For really anything, it’s nice to have a small black handbag.

15. Something animal print
Animal print acts as neutrals (I know this seems odd). They compliment all colors and can be worn with most outfits. If you haven’t already, I recommend adding an animal print scarf and pair of flats (or heels) to your wardrobe to spice up boring outfits. But note: As a rule of thumb, you shouldn’t wear multiple animal print items together at the same time – that’s too much.

Did I miss omit anything from this list that you consider to be a staple that every woman should own? Let me know in a comment!