What item of clothing should every wardrobe contain?

[coffeetofunction]

I'm going to spend time this year building my wardrobe up & I wonder what items people think every woman needs in their wardrobe?

I think a good pair of fitting jeans & a black blazer...

What else?

White blouse.

Good quality knitwear ( caresses Woolovers pure new wool jumpers ) that can be washed

Long sleeve t-shirts in a range of colours.

Matching underwear

Leather biker jacket
And a well tailored winter coat.

I would say navy blazer rather than black.

A black pencil skirt and a smart coat.

Leather biker jacket and a brilliant pair of boots.

Black trousers

Cashmere cardigan and jumper
A good well fitting winter coat
Well fitting jeans in whatever style suits you in indigo and black
A warm scarf and hat
Leather gloves
Leather biker jacket
Well fitting blazer

Control pants

a smart and relatively plain dress, in black, navy or grey. One that can be dressed up or down, for all 'evening out' or 'smart lunch' type situations. (My "little black dress" is on its last legs, thinking of changing it to a little navy one next time as then it can be dragged out for things like "evening wedding invites")

For the non-winter wardrobe:

A couple of jesery 'wash and wear' summery dresses that aren't too strappy so can be fine in the UK - worn with sandles on hot days, with ballet pumps and cardies on spring 'sunny but chilly' days.

A flattering and supportive swimsuit or tankini.

A couple of pairs of tailored shorts that cover your bum cheeks but aren't "girl guide leader" and are in material that don't show your patterned pants through.

A belted trench for spring/autumn

oh and Toast is right, everyone (who doesn't have a perfect 6-pack) needs control pants!

Good nude undies a smooth bra and pants.

Nnnnngghhh. Aaaaaarrrgggg. No, it's no good, I've got to say it. WHATISTHISOBSESSIONWITHBLOODYBIKERJACKETS!! They're AWFUL! There is nothing that says 'i am a woman of a certain age who is trying to be Kate Moss/ Pearl Lowe/ insert sleb certain age woman here am therefore stylish' than a biker jacket. NO!

Items that you can't wait to put on...not "oh this will have to do"

I have quite a lot :)

*...and am etc...

Argh!

I have a black blazer. I think I have worn it about 3 times. I think blazers look great on some, but not all. I don't think I look good wearing one, so reckon that shouldn't be on a 'have to have" list personally....

Got to agree with MrsSkinnylegs on this one

Scarves! Winter wooly ones, cotton summery ones. Relatively low cost so you can own a variety.

I look ridiculous in jeans! and find them uncomfortable, so would not consider them a must-have for every wardrobe. I have a vanishingly small number of occasions on which I would need or want a black blazer, so that's not a staple in my opinion either.

I think everyone should have an outfit that they can wear to parties, or out for meals - basically what I grew up calling a 'best' dress - though it needn't be a dress - it could be a skirt and some pretty tops, or smart trousers and tops to go with - as long as they make you feel happy and special and confident.

No one's making you wear one MrsSkinny.

I think parkas are worst offenders of the category you're describing

this partly depends on your lifestyle - i need a woolly hat and thick coat and a good waterproof coat - but if you work in a city, and have no outside sports, i can't imagine they would be so key.

i like nice vest tops and these are missing so far. you can wear them under jackets in the winter or by themselves in summer. Plus a plain black pencil skirt as they can be used for a wide variety of purposes/outfits

Good shoes and a great bag. Accessories to dress up plain staples.

ah yes WildFlowers - minimum - one 'grown up' handbag, one 'evening clutch' bag (ideally both will be very plain so you can use over and over without it being obviously the same ones if you only have one of each).