Clothing Staples Every Woman Should Have in Her Closet
35 comments 
UPDATE (Feb 27 2013): If you like this article – you should ‘Like’ Confessions of a Product Junkie’s brand new Facebook page to get updates when there are more fashion how to’s and articles like this one.
Do you ever look at your closet, full of clothes you’ve been curating for years, and think “I have nothing to wear!”? If you never have this problem then you probably have a well-balanced wardrobe full of basics and staples – or your own personal stylist. Either way, kudos to you! You can skip this post entirely!
But if you’re like me, and most other women out there, you can probably relate to that feeling of dispare when you ransack your closet and somehow still can’t imagine constructing a flattering outfit.
The frustrating part is that men have no trouble throwing outfits together! Why? Because men don’t buy impractical clothes. They buy things they know they can wear with everything they already own.
I know, I’m describing a boring shopping philosophy that goes against every trend I’ve reported on, every outrageous pair of shoes I’ve suggested you buy, every glorious neon handbag I’ve ogled in a Nordstrom window… But it’s just the plain truth that before you can seamlessly incorporate trends and fun pieces into your wardrobe, you need a wardrobe full of basics.
So to help us all get dressed for any imaginable occasion, I’ve put together a list of clothes that I believe every woman should have some variation of in her wardrobe. If she owns clothes like these, and the proper “basic” accessories (the accessories edition of this series is coming next!), she should have no problem getting dressed for any occasion or finding something to wear with everything else she owns.
Tops:
2) Silk or chiffon blouse (recommendation here and here)
3) Chambray shirt (recommendation here and here and here)
4) Flannel shirt (recommendation here and here)
5) Striped top (recommendation here)
6) White and gray V or scoop neck tee shirt (recommendation here)
7) Basic tank tops
You may also enjoy: 10 ways to wear jeans and a tee shirt
If you work in a formal office, you’ll want to add more blouses to your collection than what I’ve suggested here. If you’re working at a more casual office, or you’re a student, load up on tee shirts and tank tops that you can layer with cardigans and jackets (like those shown below in Outerwear).
You may also enjoy: The Ultimate Guide to Wearing a Chambray or Denim Shirt
Bottoms:
2) Black pants (recommendation here)
3) Dark-wash trouser jeans (recommendation here)
4) Black leggings (recommendation here)
5) Pencil skirt (recommendation here)
6) Pleated or a-line skirt
For a formal office, you’ll want doubles of numbers 2 and 5. And you’ll probably want a couple more pairs of slacks (because trouser jeans won’t quite cut it.) If you’re in a casual office or a student, you probably want to own more jeans than what I’ve suggested here.
Outerwear:
2) Black or brown leather jacket (recommendation here)
3) Black blazer (recommendation here)
4) Peacoat (lots of recommendations here)
5) Trenchcoat
Choosing a flattering peacoat or trenchcoat:
If you’re tall or have wider hips: Look for a pea coat that sits above or right at your hips. Longer pea coats will elongate your torso and emphasize your hips.
If you’re shorter or have narrower hips: Look for a coat that hangs past your hips and above your knee. This will add length to your body and give you some curves.
If you’re busty: Look for a coat with minimal detailing at the top. Avoid double breasted styles, because those will emphasize your chest (and likely be too tight).
If you’re flatter chested: Look for a coat with more detailing at the top, such as large flaps, buttons, ruffles, etc.
You may also enjoy: How to Wear a Leather Jacket with a Dress
Dresses:
2) Cocktail-style LBD (recommendation here and here)
3) Comfortable maxi dress
4) At least two casual sundresses
5) Dress you could wear to a summer wedding (reccomendation here)
6 & 7) At least two dresses (that aren’t black!) that you could wear to a winter wedding, holiday or cocktail party (recommendation here, here, here, and here)
8) Two “Vegas dresses”/ party dresses/ New Years dresses (recommendation here)
You can probably tell that I’m a big fan of dresses. Maybe you don’t need as many as I suggested here. But if you follow this list, you’ll have something to wear for pretty much any occasion. And for basic dresses on a budget, check out Dorthy Perkins, ASOS, Shopbop, and ModCloth.
A wardrobe without basics is like a home without a foundation, it’ll crumble before it’s even livable. Or wearable. Whatever! You get the point. Of course, we can’t forget about shoes, handbags, scarves and jewelry – which is where my next post about basic accessories comes in. Stay tuned!
I’d love your input!
Do you feel like there’s anything important that I missed? I’m curious, how many of these basics do you already own? Leave a comment on this post and let me and my readers know!
UPDATE (Feb 27 2013): If you like this article – you should ‘Like’ Confessions of a Product Junkie’s brand new Facebook page to get updates when there are more fashion how to’s and articles like this one.
Nice article. They are really nice to enhance the glamour of any wardrobe. But I don’t have half of them. I like to wear those that I really like. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for this article!! I am such a spazz when it comes to dressing myself, and aside from cheap maternity clothes I haven't bought new clothes in 2 years!. I just had my first baby and my wardrobe is so ready to be refreshed and I had no idea where to start! Thank you thank you!! :)
Just found this post through pinterest! It's very helpful, and I'm definitely as big a fan of dresses as you are!
I love this post! My only request would be that you use some of these basics and put together sample outfits for those of us that are “stuck in a rut” with our clothing choices! Please and Thank You!
Thank you for this post! I can so relate to looking at my closet full of clothes but still having nothing to wear! I keep on buying things on impulse without really thinking about the whole picture/how it will fit into my wardrobe/what other clothes they will look good with. I'm trying to change my style majorly and really needed these tips! Looking forward to reading about the accessories I really need! I suck with accessories big time! Thanks :)
Came across this from pinterest. The must-haves are a little boring! I don't see any good bold pieces. I think it would be great to do a sample outfit post for all the ladies that can have all those items and not know how to mix it up. I do notice that almost all of my dresses are prints, most of my skirts are solids and I have tons of cardigans to mix things up. Or maybe… I just have 10-50 of each 'must have' item and my closet is overflowing.
they are supposed to be 'boring', they are the staple pieces in your wardrobe that you can pair with stand outs to make a sensible outfit yet trendy outfit for years.
What about shoes and accessories
dont forget a jean jacket!!!
Essential!
[...] not always as successful as I would like. Recently, I came across this great article by Confessions of a Product Junkie including the staples and basics that every woman should have in her closet. Hopefully you will [...]
These are great. How about some basic shoes we should all have too. I could use some tips.
LOVE this article! I agree that a jean jacket (or a more informal jacket) should be included in these essentials. I also think you should have included at least one sweater that isn't a cardigan. These can be used to turn summer dresses into winter wear. I love dresses as well. They are so comfortable. Thanks for reaffirming why i always have plenty to wear. :)
I totally agree with all of these!!!
I would add shoes to the list just because people at times need a full mental picture of complete outfits but besides that this is perfect.
i already own all of these things + obviously a ton more. i am suddenly realizing i am a shopaholic lol
I need to do the full monty, and here's a kicker: going to be loosing a bunch of weight AND graduating soon. Both goals are set for April. My area of study is going to be a style challenge from the word go, since I'm majoring in Industrial Maintenance. I need to establish a style that shows I know how to dress as well as be tough enough to handle whatever the workday will throw at me. Got any ideas?
This is a great piece and it goes to show that if you mix and match with just a few key pieces you can have a large and versatile wardrobe!
Could you tell me where I can find jackets #2 and #4? love them!
you missed a shoe, bag and accessory section
ie every girl need a black clutch, a big stand out bag, a dressy clutch…
ie, flipflops, black pumps, strapy summer sandals, sneakers, a pair of sexy boots, a pair of casual boots …
ie. casual scarf to wear with a card, dressy watch, diamond (or cubic zarconia) studs, a standout necklace piece…
Really very nice and I would use some tips.
[...] of my most popular posts have been about clothing staples and I always get a lot of followup questions about how to put those staples together and build on [...]
LoveLoveLooooove This Article so helpful and easy to digest! XDDD Thank you!
I am delighted that I came upon this blog, I could not discover any information on this topic prior to visiting your post.
Marvelous!!! I am really impressed to find out this site as well. Every cloths seem to me very nice and awesome. Besides this, some cloths are affordable prices. Thanks for your great presentation.
First comment! Yes! Hehe this is great though. A helpful article. I don't have about 1/2 of these things.