5 Wardrobe Essentials No Woman Should Be Without

Before you go shopping for the latest spring fashions, take a look in your closet to make sure you first have the essentials. If you already have them, are you happy with them, or do you dread having to wear them? Your wardrobe should be a reflection of who you are, and should enhance your self-confidence and body image.

A Black Cocktail Dress
The "little black dress", although not necessarily worn very often, should be a staple item in your closet. You just never know when you'll be invited to a nice dinner, a cocktail party, or some other special event. While it need not be "black", the black dress suggests a simple elegance, and can be dressed up or down, depending on the jewelry and accessories you wear with it.

Find a dress that is flattering to your figure and that you feel beautiful in. Spaghetti straps are always nice, but your might prefer a tank dress or a halter. A cocktail dress traditionally falls and inch or so above the knee, but you can go shorter or longer, depending on your personal preference. The dress, itself, could be quite simple, and the accessories can make your look bolder, or keep it conservative. The little black dress is one of the few wardrobe item that can be both sexy and conservative at the same time.

A Business Suit
Whether or not your job requires that you wear a suit, it's still something that's very useful to have. Even if you are a stay-at-home mom, or just work part time, you never know when a suit can come in handy.

Suits are expensive, and it's worth investing in a nice one. You'll be wearing it on job interviews and at formal events where the cocktail dress might be inappropriate (a funeral, for example). If you are a stay-at-home mom and your husband has a full time job, then you might need the suit for a work event that he invites you to. If you're a career woman, then buy a "power suit"-- something that boosts your confidence in important meetings and on business trips.

Comfortable, Flattering Jeans
Finding a pair of jeans that is both comfortable and flattering can be a challenge. You might have your favorite "around the house" jeans that you wear on weekends, and then your "these make my butt look so good" jeans that you wear out with your friends or on casual dates. There are so many brands and styles of jeans out there that you can certainly find a pair that fits both situations. There is no need to squeeze yourself into a pair of jeans and then have to suck your stomach in so that they stay zipped-just because they look good on you. Find a pair of jeans with a little bit of breathing room that are also flattering to your figure.

Many women dread shopping for jeans because of body image issues. One thing to keep in mind is that every brand and style is sized a little bit differently, so your size in one pair might not be your size in another pair. Try not to get hung up on your size, and get something that looks good and feels good. The sales associates will usually try to encourage you to buy smaller sizes to make you feel good about your figure. Try taking a friend with you if you think you need another opinion.

A Bathing Suit
Even more so than jeans, many women hate bathing suit shopping. Instead of dreading bathing suit season, you'll look forward to it if you have a suit that you really like. Nowadays, there are so many different options for bikinis, that you can reveal as much or as little as you choose. The boy short bottoms are a great alternative to bikini style bottoms, making you feel less like you are wearing underwear in public. Sarongs are also very popular, so you may want to find one that matches your favorite suit.

Tankinis (tops that are longer and cover more of your torso) are in style and are great for women who don't want to show their stomachs on the beach or at the pool. The Victoria's Secret catalogue sells bikini tops and bottoms separately, and sizes most of their bathing suits like bras and underwear. If you are like most women and have a different size top than bottom, than you can order something that fits. Victoria's Secret bikini tops provide the same support as their popular bras and are adjustable so you can create the perfect fit.

Sexy Lingerie
Speaking of Victoria's Secret, no woman should be without some sexy lingerie. Whether it's in the form of sleepwear or a matching bra and underwear set, sexy lingerie will make you feel good about yourself.

If you're single and you sleep alone, you might not see the need for this. You might just prefer to be comfortable. Sexy lingerie isn't something you wear all the time, just for those days when you need to feel good about your body and your femininity. If you know you are wearing a really pretty bra underneath that shirt, it will make you feel better about yourself throughout the day. Who cares if no one else sees it? Dress for yourself, and dress to feel good about your body.

If your wardrobe is missing one of these essential items, then it's time to do some shopping. Take that tax refund or the money that's been collecting dust in the bank account and treat yourself. You might not have a specific occasion on your calendar where you can wear these items, but you don't want to be caught unprepared. You can dress to impress, but ultimately you have to be comfortable in what you're wearing to exude real confidence, so try and balance the two during your next shopping trip.