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?

[MarshaBrady]

A great coat

[Apatite1]

LOL. you got the lot!

[Milmingebag]

Apple catcher knickers
Parsnip leg jeans
Obligatory Parker coat
Artfully tied scarf
Block heel /biker Mum boots
Satchel
Brogues
Selection of Boden's fun print items of the season.
Mint velvet biker jacket
Grey jumper. Just a lot of grey really but cashmere is especially moist making.
Breton.

Accessorised with-
Three toned highlights in caramel,toffee and ash with half an inch of black roots.
Lipgloss in corpse like nude tone
Bracelets from Pandora.

Finished off with a spritz of something from Jo Malone



have possibly summed up every single style blogger for 'mums' with those offerings

[Bonsoir]

Blazer? God no, loads of people (me included) look a complete fright in a blazer.
Ditto biker jackets.

Some sort of jeans (not necessarily denim) that fit extremely well and flatter your figure are a must. Winter and summer versions.

Boots that are easy to wear with said jeans.

Several really nice wool "big sweaters" in different plain colours, with a variety of scarves and necklaces to accessories.

A perfect of-the-season coat.

[MakeMeWarmThisWinter]

I am being thread police I know but I wish people would only post one item as asked for - more fun. I cba reading the entire contents of posters' wardrobes. Sorry!

I say a good winter coat. Hides a multitude of wardrobe sins.

[Madaboutthrows]

Easy to wear dress that you can just throw on when needed

Unless you can afford high dry cleaning bills and fancy washing instructions you need easy to care for pieces

[42bunnytails]

Occasion

[42bunnytails]

And 'shoddy' shoes can equal £100 heels if you can't walk in them, they are wrong for the ovation or you end up with your feet covered in plasters.

[silverjohnleggedit]

My blazer never gets worn....bloody thing just haunts me, I feel like princess Di when I wear it and that's not a good thing!
I think you need thermals, good knickers and bras.
Well made shoes/boots and a good quality coat. Everything else you can blag but shoddy shoes and coat and poorly fitting underwear will ruin your whole look.

[MaryWestmacott]

HellsBells - to be fair, most aren't be specific on what type of something you should get, and are mentioning basics - so well fitting good quality jeans, but that could be skinny, bootcut etc. A wool coat - that could be a variety of styles.

Personally, I wouldn't add white shirt or blazer to the 'basics' list, although I would add some plain shirts in a colour that suits you and a lightweight jacket/coat for the in-between weather, that could be a blazer shape, mac or as someone upthread said, a channel style.

I wouldn't put skater dresses on a 'basics' list, because they are fashionable now and aren't likely to be a 'last you 5-10 years' item without looking dated, whereas a belted trench mac or a pair of black boots could easily last you that long, or if they don't last, you could replace with something very similar and still look good.

[coffeetofunction]

Gosh lots of ideas!!.... Off to boux ave tomorrow for some new bras,

[pinkfrocks]

A decent wool coat - ideally one that can be worn for 7-9 months of the year. A smartish coat lifts a pair of jeans and can be dressed up or down.

A good handbag

A good pair of boots- ankle of whatever.

A pair of well fitting black trousers

[hotbutteredcrumpet]

Decent underwear!

[hellsbellsmelons]

It really depends on you and what suits you.
Look at these responses, I'm just not getting it at all.
I like my skater dresses with tights and cowboy boots (yes I know)
Or bootleg jeans with a nice top.
Fitted dresses with heels for work.
White blouse a blazer is just soooo NOT me!
Biker jacket, no no no.
But I do have biker boots which I love.
A good pair or 2 of jeggings with tunic tops and nice heels.
We are just all different and like different things and suit different things.
I don't think there is a standard.

[Apatite1]

There can't be one piece of clothing that suits everyone, we are all so different.

So I'm voting for no vpl pants.

[VictorineMeurent]

No white shirt for me, makes my skin look blotchy and pink.

[zinnia]

What WildFlowers said. I am a firm believer that a good bag and a good pair of shoes make an outfit.

Agree with most of above, would also add a Breton-style stripy top and classic grey marl sweatshirt, just because between them they go with pretty much anything.

Do think a lightweight jacket in navy or black (according to preference), whether a blazer shape or not (eg a Chanel-style round-neck if that's more your style) is really useful; can wear with jeans and a t-shirt, or over a skirt + top or a dress, under a coat when it's cold etc.

[Ohwhatfuckeryisthis]

A nice waterfall cardigan.
says the woman with three of the things

[Eastpoint]

A plain wool/cashmere jumper to keep you warm & instantly make you look smart - can put a necklace or scarf on to add personality.
A dress/smart top & trousers you can wear to weddings or other smart daytime events, with sleeves so it can be worn winter or summer.
A dress/smart top & trousers you can wear to parties or a smart restaurant.
Something plain you can wear to funerals.
If you have two smart outfits as above you don't need to go out hunting for clothes when you receive invitations. The same applies to having a funeral outfit - sadly also a necessity.

[ninawish]

so with you Skinny on the biker jackets - when they (alongside biker boots) very first became trendy before I knew they were trendy I went to a meeting (I work in media so rammed with hyper trendies) I genuinely wondered why 3 of the women my age (ie 40s) were wearing clodhopping biker boots alongside their Botox (my family are into motorcycling so I grew up with racers and found it most bizarre to see women plonking around in the things) and also thought why the heck are you wearing leather biker jackets??? makes me cringe now to see them on anyone who isn't either protecting their skin and riding a bike or a youngster into fashion

[GreyjoysAnatomy]

I honestly think that other than a decent bra and an outfit comfy enough for slobbing about the house in, there really isn't any one item that should feature in every wardrobe.

My go to clothes are either skinnies, cowboy boots and slouchy jumpers or skater dresses with cardis and leggings/tights. I also wear a strappy vest top under everything every single day. That is what looks good on me, but that won't necessarily be the case for another woman.

I think as long as you have clothes that fit well, look nice and are weather appropriate, you're doing fine

I also agree on the biker jackets, they are awful

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

I know it's clique to say but every women needs an LBD. They suit all occasions. I've worn my for work and for a night out, and I look entirely differnt

[42bunnytails]

Also all my 3/4 length sleeves seem to shrink, one really stupid top now has sleeves that creep above my elbows when I'm driving. It's feels very odd, apart from being cold!

[Doobigetta]

Totally agree about white shirts. They must be the dullest, least imaginative clothing ever. They aren't even comfortable, and they don't look good. And the combination of "classic shirt" and jeans screams "Suburban American Mom" to me. I've no idea if real suburban American moms wear them, but every single one on telly does.

[Hopefully]

42 I laughed at 'without fucking 3/4 sleeves.' I feel the same about half sleeves (those weird just-above-the-elbow things). It's either a t-shirt or it's got long sleeves. Don't fuck around with this middle ground business.

looki I had this weird fear when I saw my words in bold at the top of your post that it was going to be followed by 'this woman is talking a load of shit,' or words to that effect. I like it more that you agree with me .

Biker jackets are awesome